High School Dancers: Apply Now for YoungArts Awards

What do Desmond Richardson, Gillian Murphy, Ida Saki and Sarah Lane have in common? They were all National YoungArts Foundation winners as teenagers. The foundation gives select young artists once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to study with renowned mentors (we’re talking the likes of Bill T. Jones and Jacques d’Amboise), as well as access to college scholarships, fellowships and performance opportunities. Winners also have a chance to be featured on the HBO series YoungArts Master Class. In addition, the foundation nominates exceptionally talented dancers for the U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts—the highest national award given to artistically talented high school seniors.

To be eligible, applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 18 (as of December 1, 2014) or in grades 10–12, be a United States citizen or an international student studying on a student visa, and demonstrate exceptional talent. All dance genres are welcome. Applications for 2015 are open through October 17 and are available here.