NHSDF Student Scholarships

Scholarship Application

Students, please review all pertinent information and forms before submitting your Student Scholarship Application by February 6, 2023. No on-site registrations will be accepted. No exceptions. 

Eligibility

• College scholarships are only open to students in grade 12.
• All other scholarships are open to students in grades 10-12.
• A maximum of 10 students per school may audition.
• Students who are not at an advanced technical level should not audition.
• Students in grade 12 auditioning for scholarships must have already applied to the colleges who are offering scholarships.
  • Students must contact the dance divisions of those institutions and notify them of their participation in the National High School Dance Festival auditions in advance of the Feb. 6 deadline. Students should call the institution directly for any additional information
• Students may only audition for those scholarships they can accept based on dates, travel and financial obligations

Audition Policy

Auditions are open only to students who have registered prior to the festival. No exceptions. Each student who will participate in scholarship auditions must be capable of executing the criteria listed. 

Audition Classes

• Festival scholarship auditions will take place on Thursday, March 2, 2023, beginning at 7 a.m.
• Teachers please note: students will be placed into one of five audition classes.
  • Classes will run between 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • The supervising teacher will be informed of audition times and audition numbers of each student prior to the festival. If you have not received this information prior to the festival, please contact us.
  • If you are planning to send students to these auditions, please make appropriate travel plans to ensure arrival in time for your scheduled audition class.
  • Please do not request specific audition times (your anticipated arrival time into Pittsburgh will be taken into consideration). 
  • If the Scholarship Committee has not contacted you regarding your audition time by Feb. 22, 2023, please contact the National High School Dance Festival Coordinator immediately. 
• Students will participate in classes consisting of ballet and modern techniques. There will be a brief improvisational element at the end of the modern segment.
• A mandatory warm-up class will begin 45 minutes prior to each audition class, during which students will be given warm-up exercises to prepare them for the ballet and modern components of the scholarship auditions. 
• Each audition class is 75 minutes total.
• Appropriate audition attire is required.

Audition Expectations

Ballet Components and Criteria

• If you have had at least two years of pointe at an advanced level and feel comfortable wearing pointe shoes for the entire ballet portion, you are encouraged to do so. 
• There will be no barre component to the auditions. 
• Combinations will include the following and will be the same for all auditioning:
  • Adagio - includes extensions moving in and through body positions, port de bras and epaulement
  • Multiple tours and balancés on relevé
  • Peteite Allegro including batterie
  • Grand Allegro

Modern Components and Criteria

• The combination will include the following and will be the same for all auditioning:
  • Spine work: contractions, spinal succession and tilts
  • Floor work: rolling to, from and on the floor
  • Tilts, spirals, recovery, fall and rebound
  • Combinations with big directional changes, turns, jumps and floor work
• There will be a brief improvisational segment at the end of each audition class. 

Attire

• Appropriate audition attire is required. 
• No warm-ups or sweats are permitted. Convertible tights are preferred. 
• Ballet skirts are not recommended. 
• Ballet slippers are strongly encouraged for the ballet component unless you are wearing pointe shoes. 
• As a reminder: if you have had at least two years of pointe at an advanced level and feel comfortable wearing pointe shoes for the entire ballet portion, you are encouraged to do so. 

Selection and Notification

• Immediately following your audition class, recruiters will either contact auditioning students via the audition call board (notice board) in the lobby or notify the head teacher if a conference is necessary.
• All conferences should be completed by 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
• Scholarships will be awarded based on the stated criteria from each institution.
• Recipients will be selected either by a representative from the institution awarding the scholarship or by their designee.
• Some students will receive acceptance into a program that may or may not be accompanied by a scholarship.
• During the festival, we strongly encourage students and teachers to visit the recruitment fair. Recruiters really enjoy talking to you and sharing their programs. 

List of Scholarships

Summer Scholarships | College/University Scholarships | Certificate Scholarships

Audition Schedule

Please check back for 2023 information

National High School Dance Festival Schedule of Events

Start	Finish	Event	Location
7:00 a.m.	7:30 a.m.	Registration for Students in Class 1	GRW Lobby
7:45 a.m.	8:15 a.m.	Mandatory Warm Up for Class 1	GRW 2
8:30 a.m.	9:45 a.m.	Audition Class 1 - Ballet and Modern Combinations & Improv	GRW 1
8:30 a.m.	9:00 a.m.	Registration for Students in Class 2	GRW Lobby
9:15 a.m.	9:45 a.m.	Mandatory Warm Up for Class 2	GRW 2
10:00 a.m.	11:15 a.m.	Audition Class 2 - Ballet and Modern Combinations & Improv	GRW 1
10:00 a.m.	10:30 a.m.	Registration for Students in Class 3	GRW Lobby
10:45 a.m.	11:15 a.m.	Mandatory Warm Up for Class 3	GRW 2
11:30 a.m.	12:45 a.m.	Audition Class 3 - Ballet and Modern Combinations & Improv	GRW 1
12:45 p.m.	2:00 p.m.	Lunch Break for Recruiters
12:45 p.m.	1:15 p.m.	Registration for Students in Class 4	GRW Lobby
1:30 p.m.	2:00 p.m.	Mandatory Warm Up for Class 4	GRW 2
2:15 p.m.	3:30 p.m.	Audition Class 4 - Ballet and Modern Combinations & Improv	GRW 1
2:15 p.m.	2:45 p.m.	Registration for Students in Class 5	GRW Lobby
3:00 p.m.	3:30 p.m.	Mandatory Warm Up for Class 5	GRW 2
3:45 p.m.	5:00 p.m.	Audition Class 5 - Ballet and Modern Combinations & Improv	GRW 1