2025/2026 Performing Arts Scholarship Application- Dance

2024/2025 Performing Arts Scholarship Application - Dance

Application Deadline: March 3, 2025
Auditions/Interviews: March 10 and 11,2025

Please read the following instructions carefully. You must submit all required documents by the March 3, deadline in order to be considered for a scholarship.

You must have submitted to Southern Union an Application for General Admission along with your official ID and meet all admission requirements. You may apply for admission and scholarships online at www.suscc.edu.
You must complete the performing arts scholarship application with the following attachments:
1. Scholarship Recommendation Form
2. Copy of high school transcripts (an unofficial copy will be accepted)
You may audition for a scholarship in more than one area of performing arts, but you may accept only one scholarship. You must complete an audition request form for each area of performing arts for which you wish to apply. Request forms are available for Music, Dance, Theatre, and Technical Support.
You must contact the director(s) – preferably by email – to schedule an audition/interview:

The Scholarship Application form and all attachments, the Application for General Admission, and Audition Request form(s) must be submitted by March 3.

Performing Arts Scholarship Checklist:

Application for General Admission
Official ID
Performing Arts Scholarship Application
Recommendation Form
Audition Request Form(s)
Copy of high school transcript (unofficial copy will be accepted with scholarship application; OFFICIAL high school transcript must be submitted once graduation has been posted on transcript)

1. Performing Arts Scholarship Application

I am applying for a Performing Arts Scholarship in: (Mark all that apply. You may apply for a scholarship in more than one area. However, you may accept only one scholarship.)*

MusicDanceTechnical Support

Name:*

First NameLast Name

SU Student ID Number:*

Example, A01234567

Address:*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Date of Birth:*

Date

Email Address:*

Example, jsmith01@mail.suscc.edu

Phone Number:*

Please enter a valid phone number

High School:*

Graduation Date:*

Date

Use this option to upload your high school transcript:*

Use this option to upload an official ID:*

It will be the responsibility of the student to download and print the verification document below to give to the Counselor or Principal to complete. Once completed you will need to upload the document using the option below.

Use this option to upload the completed Counselor/Principal Verification Form:*

It will be the responsibility of the student to download and print the Recommendation document below to give to the Counselor, Principal, or Instructor to complete. Once completed you will need to upload the document using the option below.

Use this option to upload the completed Recommendation Form:*

2. Dance Audition Form

Dear Dance Scholarship Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in Southern Union State Community College’s Dance Program. Dance auditions will be held on Monday, March 10, beginning at 10:00 a.m. CT in the Dance Studio located in the Renaissance Center on the Wadley Campus. If you encounter an emergency and cannot come to campus on March 10, we will discuss alternate dates and formats for you.

Auditions will be viewed by me, along with one or more college representatives and current dance students. Auditions will be closed to everyone else. A representative from the college’s Financial Aid Office will be available to speak with parents/guardians on the day of auditions, and campus tours will be available upon request.

Below are the guidelines for auditions:

After completing the application and audition forms, contact Sonja Fincher preferably by email (sfincher@suscc.edu), or by phone (256-395-2211 extension 5185), to schedule an audition. The Monday, March 10, audition schedule will be filled before any other auditions are scheduled. If it is impossible for an interested dancer to audition on Monday, March 10, we will discuss possible alternate audition dates and formats.
On audition day, dancers should arrive a few minutes early at the Dance Studio on the lower level of the Renaissance Center on the Wadley Campus.
A brief question-and-answer session for dancers and parents will begin the audition process. The actual audition will be closed to parents and visitors after this session. The audition will consist of a brief jazz warm-up, progressions across the floor, and a short jazz combination followed by a brief ballet combination. Dancers are not required to be proficient in ballet; however, they must be willing to take weekly ballet classes.
After the initial portion of the audition, the dancer will perform a two-minute dance in their best style. Jazz, ballet, lyrical, tap, Irish, modern, and hip-hop are styles often chosen. This well-rehearsed dance should show performance quality and technical aspects. Each dancer should have their music on a CD labeled with name, dance style, and title of music.
Attire: Women: leotard and tights
Men: jazz pants, sweat pants or tights, and white t-shirt*
If these are unavailable, wear practice clothing.
Shoes: jazz shoes or paws, ballet shoes**
**Bare feet for jazz; pointe shoes for ballet are optional.

Before each solo performance, the dancer will have a brief interview where the judges and I can answer questions and get to know the dancer. We are looking for talented, hard-working, enthusiastic young adults with good attitudes and pleasant personalities.

Southern Union has state-of-the-art technology, a supportive administration, a beautiful campus, and qualified faculty. The Dance Program offers instruction in jazz, ballet, modern, and theater dance. Classes are taught from beginner to advanced levels with emphasis on technique and performance. Dancers will perform at the annual Dance Concert, Christmas Concert, and Spring Show as well as at ballgames, pep rallies, and other area events.

Current and former Southern Union Dancers have danced with the Radio City Rockettes, Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Lines, Complexions Contemporary Dance Company, Hong Kong Disney, and Disney World, Orlando. Stephen “Twitch” Boss danced at Southern Union for two years before going on to be a finalist on The Wade Robson Dance Project, Star Search, and So You Think You Can Dance. He has appeared in the movies Hair Spray, Step-Up 3D, and Step Up Revolution and the television shows Ellen and Bones. He appeared in the popular film Magic Mike XXL which was released in July 2015. Former Southern Union dancer Desmond Nunn is currently performing in the national tour of Hamilton. Former Southern Union dancer Ja’Morris Rivers is now a full-time instructor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at The University of Alabama and artistic director of AROVA Contemporary Ballet. Anna Walker Foshee is currently on faculty at Samford University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham and director of Sanspointe Dance Company. Several former dancers are now studio owners, and many are employed as instructors at dance studios across the Southeast. Most of the Southern Union dancers who audition for dance programs at major universities are accepted and often receive scholarships.

Please read the instructions on the Scholarship Application carefully. You must submit all required documents by the March 1 deadline in order to be considered for a scholarship. Please note that in addition to submitting all required documents, you must contact me to schedule your audition; and please use my email, sfincher@suscc.edu, if possible.

I look forward to meeting you and seeing you dance.

Sincerely,

Sonja Fincher, Director of Dance
sfincher@suscc.edu

(256) 395-2211, extension 5185

I certify that all information I have provided in this application is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Dance Awards/Honors/Activities*

Have you taken private lessons?*

YesNo

If yes, years studied:

Teachers:

Did you participate in a dance group at your school?*

YesNo

If yes, describe your activities:

If you should receive a dance scholarship to SUSCC, would you:*

CommuteLive in the dorm

Signature:*

Date Signed:*

Date

It is the official policy of the Alabama Community College System and Southern Union State Community College that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, disability, gender, religion, creed, national origin, marital status, or age, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program, activity, or employment. Persons requiring reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact the Southern Union State Community College ADA Coordinator at (334) 745-6437, extension 5488.