Encore Fund Scholarships

Norika Matsuyama

"Education has allowed me to plan a future beyond the performing career, while carrying forward the experiences that shaped me as a dancer. Pursuing higher education has given me the opportunity to grow academically and personally, while preparing for a career where I can help others through movement. As I begin my DPT program, the support from The Encore Fund will help ease the financial burden of this transition and allow me to focus on my academic and clinical training. I am deeply grateful for the support and encouragement from an organization that believe in potentials of dancers and help prepare for the chapters beyond the stage."

Kara Blythe

"The unique traits that ballet gifts dancers strengthens educational pursuits. The Encore Fund is so valuable because it provides a pathway for dancers to have a second act. As wonderful as a ballet career can be, it is important that there is an organization that prioritizes and supports dancers in their life after dance."

Kaitlyn Dal Bon

"Education is the one thing no one can take away from you, it’s yours to shape and carry forward. For me, pursuing higher education opened my world beyond the ballet studio and gave me the tools to build a multifaceted life grounded in both intellectual curiosity and creative discipline. It allowed me to grow, connect with broader communities, and envision a future that integrates my dance background with new possibilities. The Encore Fund is a powerful force in making this kind of growth accessible, and I’m deeply grateful for its support in helping dancers embrace their full potential, both on and off the stage."

Beth Maslinoff

"For most dancers, this is the only professional world we’ve ever known because of the training demands and how early of an age the career begins. We all know when we sign up for this life that the end will come long before the end of our working years, but the industry fails to prepare us monetarily, educationally or emotionally. The Encore Fund is so beautifully striving to address this challenge by not only providing financial support, but also by bringing awareness to the issue in the media and partnering with LEAP and SecondAct to bridge the educational and mentorship gaps as well."

Therese Davis Brown

“...I understand that to make a bigger impact in clinical research, I need an understanding of the business and legal underpinnings of the industry. I aim to use skills gained in the Master of Science in Law (MSL) program to next move into a project management role in clinical research, which needs a greater knowledge of areas such as regulatory law, contracts, and finance. Long term, I aspire to move into a leadership role within clinical research, where I could utilize both my hands-on clinical and research experiences with the legal and business acumen I could gain through the MSL program. I look forward to using my combined STEM and business knowledge to find innovative solutions in the clinical trial industry.”

Desean Taber

“The Encore Fund has had a profound impact by providing artists like me with the opportunity to pursue our educational passions. Education plays a crucial role in achieving career goals and making a positive impact on communities. With the support of The Encore Fund, I will continue to gain valuable knowledge, skills, and perspectives that contribute meaningfully to the world and societal issues. The fund’s support has been immensely rewarding, broadening my perspective, enhancing critical thinking, and connecting me with mentors.”

Marianne Bassing

“It wasn’t until I started engaging in my education and learning about the world outside of dance that I felt my performances come to life. The more we know, the more we have to give. By investing in education, The Encore Fund is showing performers that education is important, and can make a positive impact on our lives. For myself personally, The Encore Fund will allow me to engage in my education with less financial worry.”

Connie Flachs 

“The Encore Fund’s assistance is helping me obtain a degree that will allow me to transform the knowledge I gained from my dance career into my career as a therapist. The dedication, devotion, and creativity I cultivated as a ballet dancer serve my work as a mental health practitioner. Furthermore, my education will allow me to give back to the art form, by working with dancers to help them build a compassionate relationship with their bodies, provide mental health support, and engage in long and healthy artistic careers.”

Leah (Slavens) Haggard

“Education has empowered me to cultivate my passions outside of dance and has also positively impacted my professional dance career. It has given me a sense of pride and accomplishment to apply my mind in an academic setting and has sparked my sense of discovery to continue learning. The Encore Fund will help to decrease the financial burden of pursuing education on a dancer's salary.”