Scholarships for Dance Weeks and Weekends!

The Friday Night Dancers (FND) are offering scholarships to nurture the Glen Echo contra community. Are you interested in a workshop, weekend, or camp week focused on contra music, contra calling, contra dancing, or all three? We are soliciting applications for scholarships for all sorts of dance events, including these:

  • CDSS dance camps! These camps are a paradise on earth, plus music and dancing! Many are in Plymouth, Massachusetts but some are in Michigan, Maine, or Pennsylvania. FND will provide scholarships which will be matched by CDSS. Admission to these camps is competitive, but FND has two free automatic admissions for two recipients. If you are applying with a friend for the two CDSS scholarships, please let us know. FND will not be able to pay for transportation to the camps. 

  • John C. Campbell Folk School intensive workshop in dance calling led by Gaye Fifer, and dance music workshops too! Brasstown, NC July 13-19

  • Augusta Old Time Week, with workshops for dance callers and dance musicians! In Elkins, WV July 20-25

  • Youth Dance Weekend! (YDW) FND will provide up to four scholarships for this Fall weekend (usually in Maine). We will work out details about how much a stipend FND will provide, and if it will extend to defraying any transportation costs.

  • Terpsichore Dance Holiday, is another life-changing dance experience held in Maryland between Christmas and New Year. We will provide a good share of the week’s expenses, and you are encouraged to apply for their scholarship and work programs to help defray the rest of the cost. 

  • Any other dance event or music or calling workshop that you’re excited to attend! Write to us and tell us why this event will make you a better member of our dance community!

The application process is simple–fill out this easy form.

Who are we looking for? People who are good members of the Glen Echo dance community. Do you come dancing regularly? You qualify!! Have you done a workshop to learn calling? Do you volunteer at the dance? Sweep? Do you call dances or play in the open band? Are you interested in learning to play contra dance music? Let us know in the application. We have a preference for people starting their dance journeys, but we do not know how many will apply, so all are encouraged to apply.

As a recognized non-profit, FND cannot award scholarships to FND board members or their families.

Deadlines for CDSS dance camps are coming up soon, so please apply by Feb. 15, 2025 for them.

The deadline to apply for other experiences is June 1, 2025 or until the scholarship funds are exhausted.