Pursuing ballet, contemporary, hip hop, or any other dance style takes passion, and often significant financial support. That’s why we’ve curated some of the best dance scholarships for students in 2025, helping you cover the cost of your training, education, and career development. These dance scholarships come from trusted schools, organizations, and foundations that are committed to supporting dancers at every stage of their journey.
Want to find even more scholarships beyond this list? Let Scholarship Institute match you with opportunities tailored to your goals and simplify your search today.
Creative Art Society Iva M. Turner Visual Arts Scholarship
Offered by the Creative Art Society in Southeastern Michigan, this scholarship supports graduating high school seniors and college students from the Downriver Metro Detroit area pursuing degrees in the visual or performing arts.
- Eligibility: Applicants must be 2026 graduating seniors or alumni of a Downriver area high school, or current Downriver residents enrolled in higher education, pursuing a degree in the visual arts.
- Award: $1750 in prizes
- Dates: Applications open on November 1, 2025
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Princess Grace Awards
These prestigious awards provide scholarships, apprenticeships, and fellowships to emerging artists in dance, theater, and film, supporting their professional development and creative growth at accredited institutions or companies.
- Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S.-based artists working in theater, dance, or film directing, nominated by a nonprofit organization, university, media arts center, or past Princess Grace Award recipient. Self-nominations are not accepted, and each artist may only receive one nomination per year.
- Award: $15,000 cash grant paid directly to the artist
- Dates: Applications for 2026 open in January
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NHSDA Artistic Merit, Leadership and Academic Achievement Award
This award honors graduating National Honor Society for Dance Arts members who demonstrate excellence in artistic merit, leadership, and academic achievement, offering scholarship funds for their continued education in dance.
- Eligibility: Applicants must be high school juniors or seniors (ages 16–18) inducted into the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) secondary program, studying dance at a school, academy, performing arts center, or community center with an active NDEO Institutional Membership.
- Award: $1,000 for winner, $250 for finalists
- Dates: Applications for 2026 open in October
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Entertainment Community Fund
Through its Professional Development, Undergraduate Studies, and Alex Dubé Graduate Degree Scholarships, this program supports current and former professional dancers pursuing higher education or career transition training.
- Eligibility: Applicants must be high school juniors or seniors (ages 16–18) inducted into the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) secondary program, studying dance at a school, academy, performing arts center, or community center with an active NDEO Institutional Membership.
- Award: $1,000 for winner, $250 for finalists
- Dates: Applications for 2026 open in October
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Mad Grad Scholarship
The Mad Grad Scholarship provides financial support to students pursuing education in the visual or performing arts.
- Eligibility: Applicants must be pursuing majors or minors in the visual or performing arts and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- Award: $1,000
- Dates: Applications deadline is Aug 10, 2025, with winners announced on Sep 10, 2025.
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The Doan Foundation For The Arts Scholarships
The Doan Foundation is dedicated to empowering young artists from marginalized communities by providing financial support, mentorship, and opportunities to pursue careers in the arts. Through these scholarships, the foundation works to break down economic barriers and nurture creative talent within underserved populations.
- Eligibility: Open to students from marginalized communities who are pursuing careers in the arts, with special support for high school seniors in San Diego County through the First Gen Artists Scholarship Fund.
- Award: Multiple scholarships ranging from $500–$1,000
- Dates: Applications reopen on Sep 1, 2025
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Types of Dance Scholarships Available
With seemingly unlimited scholarship options available, you may be unaware of the different types of scholarships that are out there. Scholarships are divided into categories to appeal to specific demographics of students who are more likely to win the award. Various scholarships list particular criteria students must meet, such as challenging financial situations or excellent academic performance. It’s important to know which type of scholarship you’re applying for so you know which ones you have a higher chance of winning.
Below are several types of dance scholarships that cater to different styles and levels of expertise:
- Performance-Based Scholarships: Awarded based on talent and potential as demonstrated through auditions or performance videos.
- Academic Scholarships for Dancers: For dancers who also excel academically, combining their dance prowess with strong academic records.
- Choreography Scholarships: Targeted at those who wish to pursue careers in dance choreography.
- Competition Scholarships: Offered to dancers who participate in specific dance competitions.
- Cultural Dance Scholarships: Aimed at students who specialize in specific cultural dance forms.
- Merit-Based Scholarships: Merit-based scholarships are scholarships awarded to those who show exceptional academic performance. They are based on the student’s level of success and do not consider financial status. Test scores and GPA are the most common ways to assess merit, but merit-based scholarships are not always limited to grades.
- University Scholarships: Colleges or universities distribute university scholarships to help students fund their studies. Many of these are entrance scholarships, so students don’t need to apply to be considered for the award. Your admission into the university or college, by default, makes you eligible.
- Government Scholarships: With government scholarships, different agencies register with the government and offer scholarships for students. Governments may offer scholarships for international students to study in their country.
- Private Scholarships: Private scholarships are scholarships funded by individual donors or privately-owned businesses. Depending on the donor, these scholarships are awarded based on academic merit or financial need. However, most private scholarships have strict eligibility requirements, such as being from a developing country or only for minorities in specific areas of study.
- Financial Scholarships/Bursaries: Also known as bursaries or need-based scholarships, financial scholarships are a form of aid to enable students who require financial assistance to attend colleges or graduate schools. Financial scholarships are independent of merit scholarships. In some cases, students may qualify for both merit-based and need-based scholarships depending on the program or university.
To make your search easier, Scholarship Institute offers resources and curated scholarship listings to help you find the opportunities best suited to your goals and background. Whether you’re a high school senior or a college student looking to support your dance education, exploring these options can help open doors to your future.
How to Find Dance Scholarships to Apply For
To locate dance scholarships, consider the following resources:
- Dance Schools and Academies: Many institutions offer scholarships to talented students to attract the best talent.
- Dance Organizations and Foundations: Organizations such as the National Dance Education Organization often provide scholarship listings.
- Arts Councils and Cultural Organizations: Check with local and national arts councils as they frequently support artists, including dancers, through scholarships and grants.
- Online Scholarship Platforms: Tools like Scholarship Institute make it easy to browse and apply to scholarships tailored to your interests and background. Their curated listings help you find dance-specific opportunities without having to sift through unrelated awards.
It’s essential to conduct additional research to ensure any website or scholarship you discover is legit and accepted by the school or university you want to attend or are currently attending. You could also contact your school’s financial aid office to see if they offer any relevant internal scholarships.
Tips For Winning Dance Scholarships
- Perfect Your Audition: Many dance scholarships require an audition piece. Ensure your performance is polished and showcases your best skills.
- Maintain a Strong Portfolio: Keep a comprehensive portfolio that includes your performances, press mentions, letters of recommendation, and any awards or recognitions.
- Apply Widely: Don’t limit your applications to the most well-known scholarships. Apply for as many as you qualify for to increase your chances.
- Tailor Your Applications: Customize your application materials to reflect the spirit and requirements of each scholarship.
Finally, when applying for scholarships, give your best effort. Hard work pays off, and you need to be willing to go the extra mile to reach your goals. There are countless other applicants with similar skills and interests, so you need to be able to prove what makes you stand out and what makes you worthy of being declared the winner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dance Scholarships
How Can I Improve My Chances of Winning Dance Scholarships?
As mentioned previously, the best way to improve your chances of winning dance scholarships is to be prepared and confident. Take time to research the scholarship to ensure it’s valid and that you match all of the qualifications the scholarship sets out. Turn your full attention towards the essay and any other tasks you must complete. Lastly, be confident and don’t allow potential rejection to get to you. There are many scholarships out there, and while applying may be exhausting, it can be well worth it in the long run.
How Many Dance Scholarships Can You Get?
There’s no limit to how many dance scholarships you can be awarded from a school or external sources. Getting a “full ride” (which means your entire tuition is paid off in scholarships or by the university) is possible at any performing arts school. After all, it’s money you earned. So, even if you have applied to a few already, don’t hesitate to apply for more scholarships!
Are There Scholarships for Specific Styles of Dance?
Yes, many scholarships are available that target specific dance styles, such as ballet, modern dance, hip-hop, and cultural dances. It’s important to search for scholarships that cater to your particular area of expertise or interest.
Can Non-Major Dance Students Apply for Dance Scholarships?
Some scholarships are exclusively for dance majors, while others are open to non-majors who demonstrate exceptional talent and commitment to dance. Always read the eligibility requirements carefully to determine if you qualify.
Are There Scholarships for Dancers At All Levels of Education?
Yes, scholarships are available for high school students, undergraduates, and graduate students in dance.
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