Scholarships at a school

[Guest Megari]

My daughter was offered a ballet scholarship. Upon acceptance of the scholarship we were told it would be terminated if we told anyone at her school. We kept it to ourselves and did not even tell close friends at ballet. This was an uncomfortable situation because several families were aware we could not afford to pay for all the classes my daughter was taking. We were able to tell ballet friends about a scholarship to an out of state Summer Intensive but it was not awarded by the "home studio".

 

My daughter will be at a different school soon and I do not know how this issue is handled there. What do you do when someone asks point blank "Is your daughter on scholarship?" Is it generally known that some students are on scholarship? I would be interested to know how other dance schools handle this.

[Clara 76]

Megari,

 

I would simply say to anyone rude enough to actually ask you if she's on scholarship, "Why on Earth would you want to know?"

 

It's simply none of their business.

 

If you want a somewhat tamer response you could simply say that you were able figure out a way to afford her classes. Then, ask them any question about themselves to change the subject.

 

Good Luck with that!

 

Clara

[vrsfanatic]

Students and parents alike would be better off not to have these conversations at all. It is no one's business. It is between a director and the family. That is it! I know of some schools that do not even let the faculty know who is on what kind of scholarship.

 

If the scholarship is a named scholarship, such as the one awarded by the Nureyev Foundation or the Princess Grace Foundation, then this is another thing altogether. These prestigious awards, given to only a handfull of dancers worldwide, are given a great deal of press.

 

There are varying kinds of scholarships, but in general they are grouped into two catagories, those that are funded by a foundation, corporation or private donor and those that are not. Generally, those that are funded require disclosure so the donor may receive recognition and the ballet school may receive publicity for the honor. All scholarships are sponsored by someone, be they need based or talent based, unless the school is functioning at a deficit. It can get "sticky" if the paying students and their families, feel that their tuition is paying for the scholarships of other children.

 

There also can be hard feelings when the children of parents who make more money are never given the type of recognition or consideration simply because they may seem to have more money. A scholarship for talent is one thing and a scholarship for financial reasons is yet again another. If the scholarship is one based on financial need, then the student would never be considered without already having the talent!

[Momof3darlings]

Our studio has the same policy, no telling of the award of scholarship. There was one scholarship that was public and was one awarded in honor of the owner's mother at the end of the year program each year. That one was for dedication and attitude as much as anything else. All other scholarships (need, merit) were kept very quiet.

 

I agree with Clara. I would diffuse the question. A simple, "why do you ask?" might reflect back on the person asking. It really is none of their business. And the very fact that the owner's asked that you keep it quiet means there is good reason to do so.............

 

vj

[Guest Megari]

Thank you. This insight is very helpful. The summer scholarship is awarded by a foundation the Agneta Liljedahl Ballet Scholarship Fund. It is offered to dancers mostly in the Florida area. This is the one we were able to talk about freely.

I will continue to redirect the conversation when it comes up. I agree that it is never POLITE to ask but I do not want to step on any toes with my response. We will follow the lead of the new school when my dd gets there. Perhaps, the question won't be asked there. The scholarship there was offered without knowledge of our financial situation. I have to say I feel more comfortable about that.

[PleeA]

I guess we were lucky, because the 2 times that my daughter was awarded a scholarship at her studio, not only did they tell everyone, but they engraved it on a plaque on the wall! I guess I don't understand the secrecy. I guess I could understand if a scholarship was given due to financial need, but a merit based one? Why is that a secret?

[Mel Johnson]

Let me just see if I understand this situation, though. We're talking about a student who is going on nine years of age???

[Momof3darlings]

Mel-was an age mentioned? I didn't see one, but could have missed it.

 

PleeA-Merit ones could be secret just because of the very small differences between dancers that made the decision possible in the first place. At least where we came from, that is the case. At larger studios where there are lots of talented students, there may be more questions raised as to why this student over that one. At any rate, I'm sure it is based on what is best at each particular studio and the environment there.

 

vj

[Mel Johnson]

Take a look at Megari's homepage on her profile.

[Guest Megari]

Mr. Johnson, yes, she will be 9 in July. It is possible the studio does not normally consider young dancers for scholarships. This would explain their request to keep it quiet.

[Treefrog]

I agree -- the best answer if anyone asks is "Why do you want to know?" It's really no one's business if your DD takes more classes than someone else thinks you can afford -- for all they know, she has a rich uncle or a secret admirer.

 

As for why the funder would ask you to keep it secret -- who knows, but that's their business. When I was in high school, I received an award that was so secret, no one knew it existed. It would have been very prestigious had it been made public, but the benefactor chose to keep it private. I guess she felt that it was honor enough for the recipients to know how special they were.

 

As Mel says, in your case we are talking about a kid who is not yet nine years old. I don't see that it's a major deal one way or the other.

[Mel Johnson]

Well, I'm looking at a major deal here. I opened that homepage, and the first thing I'm met with is a photo of an eight-year-old on pointe! I call that trouble, and I don't care if the shade of Agrippina Vaganova herself, inbetween cabrioles, put her there.

[vrsfanatic]

I agree with you Major Johnson. I do know that it is against every policy one can think of in Vaganova schooling, to have an eight year old on pointe! Megari, I think you should read Vaganova's book at least, since that is the system you believe your daughter is studying. Also recommended reading, Bararova/Mey and Kostrovitskaya. Just because someone is Russian or has been brought up in the Russian School just not make them a qualified teacher. If I would you I would ask some very serious questions of her teachers.

 

Sorry! Just one very educated opinion.

[Victoria Leigh]

And seconded by another one! When I looked at that photo, I had a feeling she was too young, but no idea she was THAT young!

[Treefrog]

Megari, after looking at your homepage I feel emboldened to ask: are you worried that people will know she's on scholarship or they won't know?