Calling All High School Dancers: Apply to YoungArts
Are you a high-school-aged dancer with your sights set on a professional career? The annual program by the National YoungArts Foundation—which helps affirm and nurture performers’ exceptional talents—could be a serious launchpad for your future.
A recent YoungArts dance winner. Photo by Jason Koerner, Courtesy YoungArts.
Each January, YoungArts finalists gather for a week of master classes and performances in Miami, where they’re evaluated for a chance to win up to $10,000 or be selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts—one of the most prestigious awards for emerging artists who are high school seniors. In the past, greats like Bill T. Jones, Jacques d’Amboise, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Debbie Allen have even taught recipients.
And it works. YoungArts alumni have gone on to phenomenal careers and include Complexions Contemporary Dance co-founder Desmond Richardson, award-winning choreographer Camille A. Brown, The Royal Ballet principal Sarah Lamb and “So You Think You Can Dance” winner Ricky Ubeda.
Want to follow in the footsteps of these amazing artists? If you’re between the ages of 15 and 18 or in grades 10–12 in high school as of December 1, 2016, you’re eligible to apply to YoungArts. Dancers can register in one of seven categories (ballet, choreography, hip hop, jazz, modern, tap and world dance), and applications are currently open until October 14. Who knows? In the future, maybe we’ll even be writing about you as a past YoungArts winner who’s making waves in the dance world!
For tips on how to put together the video portion of the application, plus insight from past winners and master teachers, check out the video below.
