Providing scholarships to well-deserving dancers and their families can create endless and life-changing opportunities for a child as well as provide financial relief for struggling parents. Specifically, in today’s current climate where so many families are feeling the constraints of these circumstances, both socially and economically, how do you possibly choose? What is your protocol for selecting scholarship candidates during any given year? Here are some things to ask yourself so that you are able to maintain your business and provide as many awards possible to those who will make the most of the given opportunity.
How will you decide who receives a scholarship? Will it be solely based on talent and skill? Or will you also consider awarding scholarships to those based on need, attendance, progress, good class habits/attitude, desire, etc.?
Will you solely be selecting the candidates or will you include faculty recommendation?
Will candidates and their families have to apply for the scholarship and come to an audition or will you just award those who you and your faculty deem worthy that year?
Can scholarship students be on scholarship for more than one year in a row?
Is there an age range you will consider for the awards?
What in-studio duties are scholarship students responsible for (i.e. weekly cleaning duties, assisting in baby classes, birthday parties, etc.?)
What are the repercussions if a scholarship student is not exhibiting behavior exemplary of a scholarship recipient? What happens if these privileges are abused?
How many scholarships will be given out in any given year?
Where will the scholarship funds come from? Will you hold fundraisers, a gala performance, auctions, accept donations, hold dance-a-thons, etc.?
When and where will you present the scholarships? At the end of the year recital? Last day of classes, etc.?
Will scholarships include an unlimited amount of classes for the year? Will that include recital, costume and competition costs or will that be a separate responsibility for parents?
Good luck to all!
See you in the dance studio,
Jess
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