Learn About the Princess Grace Award It is There for You!
Every spring some half dozen prominent members of the New York City dance community assemble in a luxurious conference room high above West 58th Street. They are invited to study tapes sent in by young artists who hope to be accepted by the Princess Grace Foundation--USA for their annual award program. The Foundation was established by Prince Rainier in 1982 to honor the memory of his wife, Princess Grace of Monaco, who during her lifetime was intensely interested in helping fledgling artists in film, theater, playwriting, dance, and choreography. The Foundation distributes scholarships and fellowships for students who have been in a non-profit dance school or a university as a dance major. In the case of choreographers the awards will support the costs of producing a piece for a company that has commissioned work. Receiving the choreography award is contingent on creating and performing the specified work.
Nothing pleases the judges more than to see their winners become successful in their chosen field. Everyone likes to be right, but when this group of panelists ultimately decides on the "best," there is an even greater feeling of accomplishment if their choices
prove to be on target. And on target they have been. Past winners include Ethan Stiefel, (principal at ABT),
Isaac Spencer, (Hubbard Street Company) John Lam (Boston Ballet) Alessandra Ball, (North Carolina Dance Theatre) and Terese Capucilli, (former principal dancer of the Martha Graham Dance Company) among others
who have gone on to exciting
professional careers.
"We feel we are partnering with these young artists by helping them financially at the outset of their careers and as time goes on we support them by continuing a long term relationship," said Toby E. Boshak, Executive Director of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA in a recent interview with Dancer Magazine.
"We also continue to support our award winners by bringing Foundation donors to performances or film evenings to cheer their efforts. For example, we attended the Dance Theater of Harlem's opening night, and a performance of The Martha Graham Dance Company and a reception afterwards where the patrons were able to meet the performers. We have also brought journalists to rehearsal studios to observe our Award recipients informally as they work. We do not just give the artists the award and then forget about them."
Ms. Boshak further explained that the funds are paid directly to the winner's institution or school and are not used for the artists living expenses. In the case of 2005 dance recipient, Joseph Wiggan, the funds were allocated to aid his studies at Marymount College. Monies were also awarded to the Jazz Tap Ensemble, the company in which he performs. "One does not have to sacrifice his education to become a dancer," Ms. Boshak believes. Indeed, these are encouraging words for a great many dancers who continue to struggle mightily with the obstacles inherent in this often daunting profession.
With the plethora of gifted dancers across the country pursuing a career and often incurring these monetary difficulties along the way, the financial support offered by the Princess Grace Foundation-USA seems worthwhile investigating if only to alleviate the need for the artist to moonlight at other often tiring tasks like bartending and catering. Outside jobs can often extend into the wee hours making an early dance class or an eight o'clock lecture, while obligatory, become formidable. Help from the Foundation is worth seeking. And it is a simple procedure. "Often artists are not aware of all we have to offer," Ms. Boshak added. "Our dance fellowship award winners also receive financial support which goes toward their fellowship or apprenticeship salary, and thus we recognize the individual growth of the dancer as well as supporting the sponsoring dance company or institution."
Schools or companies must nominate the applicant and provide to the Foundation financial statements, information about the particular artist and why he/she is being selected. Why is this one special? The Foundation will need to know that." Applications can be downloaded or requested from the foundation in New York and are well worth the effort to fill out and mail in.
The address:
Princess Grace Foundation-USA
150 East 58th Street, 25th floor
New York, N.Y. 10155
Website: www.pgfusa.com
The mission of the Princess Grace Awards is to assist emerging artists at the outset of their careers. What better loving way to perpetuate the memory of the late Prince Rainier and his wife, Princess Grace, than to lift the financial burden from a young artist and set him on his way to developing his talents.