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Student Dance Awards

Our dance awards recognize students who go beyond the studio 鈥� leading, choreographing, researching, performing, and building connections that bridge disciplines and communities. Whether you鈥檙e planning a summer project, pursuing a professional path, or exploring dance in a broader context, these awards offer the support to make it happen.

The Kathy and Charlie DiSanto Memorial Student Opportunity Fund

These awards are offered on a competitive basis to support 吃瓜网 students for dance projects outside of course curriculum requirements but may include independent studies. Projects that have a community-based research or service component will be given preference. Projects that help a student discover new connections across disciplines will be strongly considered. These opportunities might include, but are not limited to, creative projects, internships, dance education, and research studies.
Complete the DiSanto Opportunity Fund Application

Guidelines for the DiSanto Fund

The following guidelines outline eligibility, application requirements, and selection criteria for students interested in applying. 

These awards are aimed to serve a broad spectrum of dance interests. Both short- and long-term projects will be considered. Award amounts will range from $200 to $2,500. There are two opportunities to apply each academic year, the due date is the last Friday in October and May 1st. First-Year-Students through Juniors are eligible to apply. 

  1. Projects need to be outside of course curriculum requirements.
  2. Projects that have a community-based research or service component will be given preference.
  3. Projects that encourage discovery and new connections across disciplines will be strongly considered.

Consider the following and think in terms of experiential learning:

  • Think about the type of experience that you want to pursue and what you hope to gain from it.
  • Look for ways you can integrate dance with your academic work outside of the department.
  • What might you do in terms of civic engagement?
  • How will the work you do impact the 吃瓜网 community?

Please submit to the Dance Department Chair:

  1. Application Form 鈥� Complete
  2. Application Essay 鈥� Attach a brief essay (1-2 pages) describing the relevance of the experience to your educational goals. Describe your preparation for the experience and how the experience will enhance your Dance education and the community. As well as how the experience puts your studio/classroom learning into practice or that deepens your knowledge or understanding of Dance. Please provide a specific description of the activities and responsibilities associated with the experience.
  3. Letter of Support 鈥� from Faculty Advisor for this project
  4. Itemized Budget 鈥� Attach a list of expenses you will incur
  5. Final written report 鈥� Should reflect your learning outcomes and the impact your experience had on you and those you worked with. Also please include a final budget of expenses incurred. 

  • Quality of the Application Essay
  • Substance and rigor of the experience
  • Consistency of the experience with the student鈥檚 academic goals and degree of preparation
  • Special consideration will be given to proposals that that have a community-based research or service component and help a student discover new connections across disciplines.
Past recipients:
  • 2024: Amelia Brownell '26 鈥� Participated in Dance Works Chicago's Dance360 summer intensive
  • 2023: Faith Anderson '25 鈥� Organized a summer dance intensive with a focus on exploring the interconnectedness of dancing and physical disabilities at Dance Studio & Theater in Connecticut
  • 2023: Eliza Barba-Wheelock '24 鈥� Engaged in an internship at Saratoga Performing Arts Center with a focus on dance education and community outreach
  • 2023: Caleb Ballantine '25 鈥� Participated in the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago "Create" Summer intensive
  • 2021: Caitlin Koto '22 鈥� Taught a dance class for age 55+ adults in the greater Saratoga community in the summer of 2021. She developed the class over the spring 2021 semester as a free virtual community movement class and was invited to continue and expand on her program throughout the summer
  • 2021: Samantha Retell '22 鈥� Collaborated with the Greenberg Childcare Center to engage young children in a weekly dance and creative movement class. She also collaborated with local library programs to offer free outdoor dance classes to the greater Saratoga community
  • 2020: Silas Seno Mitchell '21 鈥� Explorations on Identity and Community Through Art and Movement in the Context of Social Distancing: How we can Close Emotional Distance Despite Social Distance Through Dance
  • 2020: Kathleen Oakley '21 鈥� Dance to Success marketing intern
  • 2019: Kathryn Brodie '22 鈥� Intern with Fine Arts In Rockbridge (FAIR) summer camp and Halestone Dance Studio in Virginia, producing public relations dance videos appropriate for educational and public relations material for the summer camp and dance studio. She also collaborated with other choreographers to create dance films
  • 2019: Libby (Elizabeth) Griffin '20 鈥� Assisted with research at Brown University's School of Public Health to improve the lives of those affected by obesity, mental illness, and addiction 
  • 2019: Elise Partain '20 鈥� Interned at the Ailey Camp in Newark, N.J., during the summer of 2019, helping students in the classroom, assisting with productions, supervising and chaperoning campers, and developing her skills as a documentarian
  • 2019: Allai (Allaistar) Regan '21 鈥� Interned at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, organizing and overseeing educational programs for professional dancers from the Cunningham Trust, the Kennedy Center Dance Lab, and the 2019-2020 Education Session. The Kennedy Center鈥檚 mission is to be, 鈥渃ommitted to increasing opportunities for all people to participate in and understand the arts.鈥�
  • 2018: Madeline Bonin '20 鈥� Dance intern with individuals with disabilities at CapeAbilities in Falmouth, Mass.
  • 2018: Molly Czitrom '19 鈥� National Museum of Dance Archival Research, and intern with individuals with disabilities at AIM Services in Saratoga Springs

The Oleg Moston Award

Established in honor of Oleg Moston, soloist with the Moscow Philharmonic Society for 22 years and beloved accompanist with the 吃瓜网 Dance Department from 2005 to 2011, to recognize outstanding accomplishment and excellence in dance. The Moston award signifies potential in the professional field and is geared toward supporting a graduating senior with professional ambition in transitioning into the post-college dance world.

Past recipients:

  • 2025: Cassidy Tryon
  • 2024: Anna Stribrny
  • 2023: Francesca Griffin
  • 2022: Taylor Johnson and Julia Keys
  • 2021: Silas Seno Mitchell
  • 2020: Libby Griffin and Mattt Moriarty
  • 2019: Monica Steffey
  • 2018: Nola Donkin
  • 2017: Elise Mumford and Olivia Roth
  • 2016: Madeline Morser and Meghan Wojtkiewicz
  • 2015: Kimberly Sauers
  • 2014: Corry Ethridge
  • 2013: Andrew Magazine
  • 2012: Emily Pacilio
  • 2011: Emily Craver

The Margaret Paulding Award

Established in memory of Margaret Paulding, professor of physical education and dance, 1937-1973, and chair of the Department of Physical Education and Dance, 1958-1968, to recognize outstanding student performance, creative work/research, and/or choreography, and/or scholarly activity. The Paulding award exemplifies exceptional student leadership in the field.

Past recipients:

  • 2025: Jacque Forman
  • 2024: Annabelle Aber
  • 2023: Jasmine Karaul
  • 2022: Madelyn Barti
  • 2021: Elodie Linck
  • 2020: Maddie Bonin
  • 2019: Hannah Weighart
  • 2018: Tessa Mindardi
  • 2017: Reina Keifer
  • 2016: Emma Lanier
  • 2015: Kelly A. Polhemus
  • 2014: Cameo L. Lethem
  • 2013: Alison L. Defranco
  • 2012: Rachel Bier
  • 2011: Rebecca Greenbaum
  • 2010: Brendan H. Duggan
  • 2009: Emily R. Sferra
  • 2008: Catherine (Casey) Loomis
  • 2007: Karla M. Hawkins
  • 2006: Allissa Jill Alter
  • 2005: Jacobee Rose Buchanan
  • 2004: Lynda E. Erbs
  • 2003: Felix (Phil) LaBella
  • 2002: Marti Wolfson
  • 2001: J. Eileen Schwartz
  • 2000: Erin Elizabeth Strong

SEE-Beyond Awards

SEE-Beyond Awards invite students to explore new techniques, technologies, or modes of inquiry or expression; to apply their academic-year learning to real-world challenges; and to clarify the interrelationship between their educational and post-baccalaureate goals.

Learn more about the SEE-Beyond Program