The Sierra Madre Dance Center Scholarship Foundation believes in the impact dance can have on an individual's life and how it shapes a person's physical and emotional growth. The goal of this 501(c)3 institution is to support SMDC’s dance community by upholding the tenet that anyone can have the opportunity to participate and grow in artistic education. Dance is an essential art form that gifts the dancer with more than just physical prowess and technicality. It facilitates creative expression, strength, personal discipline, and communal engagement through intentional movement and musicality.
Therefore, SMDCSF aims to work throughout the year to provide families in need of support with a way to participate in SMDC’s dance instruction and performances. Our scholarships are primarily awarded to applicants who treat classes at SMDC as a priority, who maintain SMDC as their home studio, and have shown their commitment through their time and financial sacrifices. We also understand that our program might not be the right fit, or priority, for every family. If you feel that Sierra Madre Dance Center is the right place for your child to gain their dance and artistic education, then please continue with the application process.
Please review these important criteria before applying:
1. The scholarship will not cover any of the recital, competition, performance, or costume fees. These will need to be paid for by the family or through another benefactor/sponsor.
2. SMDC Scholarships will cover a percentage of the class tuition, ranging from 25%-100%, and is variable depending on the family's circumstances and amount each family can contribute. Once the scholarship has been awarded, each family will be expected to follow the studio payment policies. Please remember that this is a private program and there are many factors that will affect the amount of each scholarship. Not all applicants will receive a scholarship.
3. This application will require families to provide certain materials (i.g., two months paystubs, recent federal tax return, and evidence of any other tuitions or extracurricular activities currently underway) for the board to review in order to make the most appropriate decision regarding tuition assistance.
4. Only one application is needed per family, although each dancer is required to answer questions in the application.
5. The Ambassador Program, which is our student teaching program, will be required of those over the age of 11 and will go towards their family's scholarship amount.
6. In addition to tuition reduction, SMDC will accept bartering and volunteering that will be beneficial to the studio. Some examples could be costume sewing/fixing, handyman services, studio maintenance/cleaning, advertising, etc. Please let us know below if there's a specific skill you have that can contribute to the studio. Note: there are only so many services that we can accept, so please don't be offended if we aren't able to use your talents at this time.
7. All scholarship awardees are expected to arrive to class on time, maintain respectable classroom etiquette, be a positive example to others, and put forth their best efforts in each class.
8. SMDC reserves the right to rescind any scholarship at any time.
SMDC will give you an answer within three weeks of receiving your scholarship application. If for some reason you do not hear back from us, please email us. Also, please respect the decisions that are made and know we will do all we can for our dancers and the studio. We have limited funds throughout the year, and scholarships are partially awarded based upon the greatest evident need. Scholarships are not open for negotiation, unless we are bartering for a service you will be providing.
*If you are receiving a scholarship discount, then your dancer's Ambassador hours will be included in the scholarship amount and will not be a second discount added to your account.