Scholarship Supports Dance Travel
Fund has made a difference to Shenandoah Conservatory dance students for decades
Since the late 1990s, the Shenandoah Conservatory dance students have been able to travel to workshops and other dance industry opportunities with the support of the David C. Scott Scholarship Fund.
“I think the money has made summer study opportunities possible for many dance students who would not have been able to afford them otherwise. Even though we do not provide full coverage for any of the projects, we are able to provide enough to make many of them attend. This includes summer dance workshops in the U.S. and helping with summer Global Experiential Learning travel to Europe,” said Christina Halpin Chair in Dance, Dance Division Chair and Associate Professor of Dance Maurice Fraga, M.F.A.
The fund recently awarded the university more than $14,400 to support these opportunities. Between the late 1990s and today, the fund has granted the university a total of almost $160,000.
Many of the students, specifically when it involves travel abroad, have never been outside of the U.S., so this financial support has helped many students and families afford these amazing dance-centric trips. In other instances, students were able to attend workshops with people they are interested in, helping to build their network for future job opportunities.”
Christina Halpin Chair in Dance, Dance Division Chair and Associate Professor of Dance Maurice Fraga, M.F.A.
Most recently, student dancers attended the Doug Varone summer intensive in New York City, as well as headed overseas.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance student Lauren Scott ’27 was one of two students who traveled to Spain for two weeks this past summer to participate in a BarnaArts dance intensive, with the help of the foundation’s funding.
“I cannot speak highly enough about this experience; it was truly life changing. I not only got to meet new people and make connections with them, but also grow closer to my Shenandoah peers,” she said. “This trip just really opened my eyes to new possibilities for myself in and out of dance. Katie Vickers and Albert Quesada were such amazing leaders and educators who challenged and nurtured us. This is a program that I would absolutely take part in again!”
