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YoungArts Applications Are Now Open

Suzannah Friscia

November 28, 2001

Calling all high school-aged dancers! On Tuesday, the National YoungArts Foundation announced that the application to become a 2016 YoungArts Winner is now open. Since 1981, the nonprofit has nurtured and supported promising young talent in the visual, literary, design and performing arts.

And it really is the opportunity of a lifetime: Winners have had the chance to work with mentors like Mikhail Baryshnikov, receive access to major scholarships, be nominated as a U.S. Presidential Scholar of the Arts and perform at leading venues like Washington, DC’s Kennedy Center and Miami’s New World Center. A group of YoungArts alumni, including Complexions Contemporary Ballet’s Desmond Richardson and “So You Think You Can Dance” winner Ricky Ubeda, have joined this year’s application campaign to encourage young artists to participate. Other alumni include American Ballet Theatre’s Sarah Lane and Miami City Ballet’s Callie Manning.

To be eligible, you must be between the ages of 15 and 18 (as of December 1, 2015) or in grades 10–12, and be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or international student studying on a visa. The application is open until October 16 and can be found here.