BalletMet Dance Academy is inviting aspiring dancers to audition for a year of fully funded tuition.
The Discover Dance scholarships are for any Central Ohio student interested in pursuing dance. No previous training is required, but the student must be 8-12 years old by September 1, 2016, to participate. Each scholarship covers the 2016-17 year and must be renewed annually after review.
Ambre Emory-Maier, Education Director and BalletMet 2 Associate Director, said she’s personally seen the program benefit students, whether they decide to continue with dance education or pursue other passions.
“The Discover Dance program has had a huge impact on students’ lives,” Emory-Maier said. “It opens a lot of doors for kids in a lot of ways that people wouldn’t really imagine.”
One such student, Vincent Harris, was recently cast in a major motion picture.
“Before I came here, I was kind of shy,” Harris said. “I didn’t talk to a lot of people, but I’ve sort of opened myself up to new things.”
Any interested student can attend one of the following open auditions at BalletMet, 322 Mt. Vernon Ave.:
- Saturday, April 16, 4-5:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 26, 6-7:30 p.m.
Throughout the auditions, BalletMet professionals will screen students to identify those who have the potential to excel at ballet and other dance styles. They’ll examine the students’ feet and ankles to ensure they’re capable of handling pointe work.
Each student should arrive on time in comfortable clothing that allows for movement and should exhibit:
- Desire and commitment to study dance in a disciplined environment
- Ability to get to and from classes on a regular basis
- Financial need* consideration for some scholarship opportunities
If a student is accepted, he or she will have the opportunity to take a weekly ballet class plus an additional class in a variety of dance styles including tap, hip-hop and jazz.
BalletMet’s Discover Dance program, which began in 1987, awards up to 70 scholarships each year with the goal of making dance more accessible to underserved groups in the Central Ohio area.
*Parents may be expected to provide their 2015 tax statements to show proof of financial eligibility for some scholarship opportunities.