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In honor of the legacy of Fred Danieli, the SMAPA Scholarship Fund was created to provide support for students with an interest and ability who would not otherwise be able to afford classes. No child should be denied exposure to, or the experience of the arts because of a lack of funds.
• Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts (SMAPA) will be accepting scholarship (tuition assistance) applications for the fall semester. Applications will be accepted through August 20, 2011 and all recipients will be notified before the start of classes. Preschool (Ages 2-5), junior (ages 6-11) and prep division (ages 12-18) students are eligible to apply. Fall semester begins Monday September 12, 2011.
• To obtain a scholarship application form go to our forms page and download and complete our application.
Scholarship assistance is given to children based on need, interest and ability. It is expected that recipients attend classes on a regular basis and are committed to the discipline of the art form in order to avoid forfeiture of their scholarship.
The General Scholarship Fund supports students in need of tuition assistance. A formal application is submitted and tuition assistance is determined based on family size and income.
The Joyce Copeland Scholarship supports an individual student between the ages of 10 and 12 who demonstrates exceptional ability in dance and for whom tuition assistance is essential in order to continue training.
The Performance Workshop Ensemble (PWE) is a merit based scholarship in which all students who participate receive full one year scholarships for all their training. PWE members are gifted and talented students between the ages of 12 and 18 who are invited into the ensemble based solely on merit. They must fulfill all the required classes, rehearsals and performances in order to remain a member. The scholarship is renewed each year that a student remains in compliance with all the criteria.
THE PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP ENSEMBLE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The Performance Workshop Ensemble (PWE) Scholarship Program is a merit-based program created to encourage and support gifted and talented pre-professional level students at Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts (SMAPA). Qualified students between the ages of 12 and 18 are selected based on ability and given the opportunity to receive intensive, comprehensive developmental training in dance at no cost to them or their families. In return, they give back to the community by sharing their talent through arts-in-education performances in Montclair and neighboring communities. Choreographic works are created for them by professional choreographers who share their expertise and wisdom. Through this artistic mentoring, PWE members grow as artists while building skills and gaining performance experience.
SMAPA is a not-for-profit tax-exempt 501(c)(3) whose mission is to provide inclusive, comprehensive training in dance and related theater arts. The cost of training can be overwhelming for young dancers and their families, which makes SMAPA’s PWE Scholarship Program so vital (annual scholarships are valued at $3,000-$5,000). Serious training in the field of dance requires a high level of commitment and dedication. The PWE requires a minimum of five to 10 classes per week in various dance disciplines, depending on the age and developmental level of the student. It is important for a young dancer to be proficient in a variety of essential dance styles such as ballet, modern, and jazz. For this reason, we meet with each scholarship student and his or her family to plan a specific course of study appropriate for that individual.
Because the PWE Scholarship Program has been funded for the past three years by the Stone Foundation and other private donations, the requirements have become more clearly defined. PWE members must maintain a commitment to excellence and are responsible for full participation in the Ensemble’s rehearsal and performance schedule. All PWE scholarship awards are contingent upon the understanding that a student’s first commitment is to their academic education, followed by commitment to their dance training. If a student is willing to make this commitment, and has the ability and passion to follow the rigors of pre-professional training in dance, then he or she will be considered for membership into the Performance Workshop Ensemble. The scholarship lasts for one academic year and is revisited each June. Provided the student has met all requirements, their scholarship will remain in place for the following year.
The level of dedication necessary for successful participation in the PWE involves sacrifice on the part of both the students and their families, such as having to give up certain extracurricular activities and social commitments. While parents may have concerns about the sacrifices and the uncertainty related to the pursuit of a dance career, SMAPA’s goal for PWE members is to be prepared either to gain admission to college or to begin a professional career. PWE alumni have attended undergraduate programs including Vassar College, Fordham University (Ailey/Fordham BFA in Dance), SUNY Purchase, and George Mason University. PWE students also explore careers related to the field of dance such as arts management and arts production (costume design, lighting design, stage management, etc.), allowing them to discover a multitude of career possibilities apart from dance performance.
Students selected to participate in the PWE are prime candidates for careers in the field of dance and related theater arts. Their opportunities and potential are limitless. The faculty and staff of SMAPA look forward to providing the young people who come through our doors with the opportunity to pursue their dream – wherever it may take them.
“ADOPT A DANCER” APPEAL PROGRAM
SMAPA’s Scholarship Fund needs to raise $60,000 annually to continue serving over 100 children currently receiving merit and need-based scholarships. We can reach our goal with your contribution! Read the brochure and learn more about this new program, how you can adopt a dancer, and about some alumni successes.