Our annual Dancesport Bursary Awards celebrate the exceptional talent of young society-trained dancers and their teachers, who are shortlisted for the awards through participation in competition events throughout the year.
Financial bursaries are given to students and teachers awarded 1st and 2nd place in Juvenile and Junior under two genre categories; (1) Disco, Freestyle and Rock’n’Roll and (2) Ballroom, Latin and Sequence.
Financial awards
Financial awards are made to 1st and 2nd place winners in each respective category and can be used to support further personal dance training.
1st place awards are named in honour of ISTD members who have contributed significantly to the development of the genres:
DFR
Juvenile - Jean Cantell Award
Junior - Janet Clark Award
BLS
Juvenile - Margaret Connon Award
Junior - Anne Lingard Award
Teachers of winning competitors also receive a bursary fund for their school, specifically designed to engage in development opportunities, community activity or to support students in financial need.
Suggested uses for teachers’ bursary awards include, but are not limited to:
- Provide free classes at local schools, secondary, primary, and SEN;
- Buy in expertise to deliver a unique experience for students;
- Support class and exam fees for students in financial need;
- Provide items of uniform for students in need
- Provide class support for the inclusion of students with particular needs
- Community engagement workshops (care homes, community groups);
- Competition/festival entry fees for students in financial need;
- Free workshop/taster/open day event;
- CPD for teachers in their school.
- Please note: Teachers must hold a current, fully paid ISTD membership.
How to take part
Competition Framework
Disco, Freestyle and Rock’n’Roll
The bursary competition takes place annually at Grand Finals whereby all 1st place winners of eligible age from the set dance category will compete against one another in a final competition in the Juvenile and Junior categories. Adjudicators select 1st and 2nd place in each age category to receive a bursary fund.
Ballroom, Latin and Sequence
Competitors taking part in Ballroom, Latin and Sequence events and place 1st to 6th up to Bronze events, and 1st-3rd for Silver and above, are entered into a league whereby competitors collect points according to where they place. Points can be collected from entry into all three genres and through participation in multiple events running throughout the year, beginning in April and the final event taking place in March. 1st and 2nd place is awarded in each age category to the competitors that have collected the most points by the end of the final competition.
Age categories
The age is taken from the student's point of entry into the nominating event.
Juvenile: 11 years and under
Junior: 12 up to and including 15 years
If you have any questions about the Dancesport Bursary Awards, please contact bursaries@istd.org
