Susan Van Pelt Petry, Chair

department scholarship funds

The department has the following scholarship funds for the use by the Scholarship Committee. Unless otherwise stated, scholarships from these funds are awarded to dance majors based on financial need, merit, and growth potential in the dance major program.

Click here to make a gift to the OSU Dance support fund. Thank you.

The Helen P. Alkire Scholarship Fund was established in honor of the founder of the Department of Dance at OSU. Scholarships from this fund are awarded to majors whose study emphasis is in performance and choreography. The Stella J. Becker Scholarship Fund was established in honor of the late OSU alumna, dance teacher, and choreographer from Bexley, Ohio. The Presutti-Madison Scholarship Fund was established by Janet Madison, an alumna, in memory of her mother, Lucy Presutti, to provide support for archival research in dance. The Rosalind Pierson Scholarship Fund was established in memory of department professor M. Rosalind Pierson, a gifted dancer, teacher and mentor. The Catherine Elizabeth Woods Dance Scholarship Fund was established in 2006 to honor the memory of a young dancer and performer. Catherine is the daughter of OSU Marching Band Director, John Woods, in the School of Music. The Karen A. Bell Dance Fund honors Karen's 30 years of service to the university and reflects her foundational leadership in arts outreach.

Raise the Roof: Building Renovation Fund
As part of our planned renovation process, the Department of Dance is seeking to raise the central portion of the top floor of Sullivant to help construct a centerpiece, state-of-the-art, and professional facility. Click here to read more.

The Vera J. Blaine Special Projects Fund was established in honor of Vera J. (Vickie) Blaine, department chair from 1982-1995 and professor emerita, to support creative projects in dance.

The General Dance Fund supports student projects and scholarships, faculty professional development, and strategic initiatives that advance our programs and facilities.

The Dance Preservation Fund was established in 1994 to further the recording of dance through awards to current students, graduates of the department, current faculty and emeriti. Visiting artists, researchers, and notators who are in residence in the Department of Dance are also eligible for funding. Approximately $15,000 is available annually for this purpose. Application to the Dance Preservation Fund should be made this year by April 6, 2012. Application review will be made in early May by the Dance Notation Bureau Extension Committee appointed by Susan Petry, Chair of the Department of Dance. Notification of results will be made as soon as possible after that, and no later than May 31. Submit application and any questions to Lucy Venable.

The purpose of the Dance Preservation Fund is to support projects such as:

• the notation/recording of dances yourself or bringing in a notator and/or videographer
• the checking of notation scores already written
• the staging of dances from score in order to check the score
• the staging of dances for the purpose of recording them through video and/or notation
• research in dance/movement analysis and dance notation
• video recording dance (usually in connection with notating it)
• the teaching/promotion of notation
• editing, updating, copying, etc., scores
• development of computer programs having to do with the above which can involve people from other disciplines; equipment, personnel
• conferences and/or publications involving the above
• subsidizing workshops
• other projects judged by the review committee to be in keeping with the purpose

We are developing increased scholarship support for our most competitive students particularly men and other underrepresented groups and for 1st year support of MFAs and post doc support for our new PhDs. Capitol funds are also sought for significant renovations and changes in our facility, Sullivant Hall. For finding the most rewarding match for your interests and values, please contact Susan Petry, Chair at 614-292-0984, or the College of Arts and Sciences Development Office at 614-292-9200.