Awards and Scholarships
Dance majors and minors at Emory are eligible for several awards, including scholarships for summer study, mini-grants, academic scholarships, and awards celebrating achievements in dance.
The Emory Dance Scholarship
The Emory Dance Scholarship is awarded annually to a dance major or minor who embodies the mission of the Emory Dance Program, including the following qualities: academic excellence and potential in dance, strong work ethic, and contributions to the program.
2025-2026 Recipient
Wendy Pelayo-Perez (dance minor, environmental sciences major)
Sheri Latham Emory Dance Scholarship
The Sheri Latham Emory Dance Scholarship is a merit-based award given to a major or minor who embodies the following qualities: technical focus, excellent work ethic, professionalism, compassion toward others, and an interest in supporting community.
2025-2026 Recipient
Ellie Kim (dance major)
Sally A. Radell Friends of Dance Summer Scholarship
This award enables a major or minor to study in the United States or abroad with notable practicing artists, dance programs, and dance companies. In 2008 this scholarship was named the Sally A. Radell Friends of Dance Scholarship in honor of Sally Radell, the founding director of the Emory Dance Program, who also established the Friends of Dance organization.
Programs attended by past recipients include: American Dance Festival at Duke University, B12 contemporary dance festival (Berlin), Bates Dance Festival (Maine), Boston Conservatory, Broadway Dance Center (NYC), staibance Summer Intensive (Italy), San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Tisch Summer Dance Festival (NYC).
Recent Recipients (2025)
Emma Lim - staibdance Summer Intensive, Sorrento, Italy
Nadia Piecyk - Bates Dance Festival, Lewiston, Maine
Alice Stern - American Dance Festival, Durham, North Carolina
Previous Recipient (2024)
Emma Macmanus - staibdance Summer Intensive, Sorrento, Italy
Emory Friends of Dance Mini-Grants
Established in 2014, the Friends of Dance Mini-Grants encourage dance majors or minors to research movement, somatics, dance writing, dance therapy, or health sciences at short-term workshops, conferences, and intensives.
Programs attended by past recipients include: Doug Varone Winter Intensive (NYC), Ballet Chicago, staibdance Winter Intensive (Atlanta), Martha Graham Winter Intensive (NYC), Paul Taylor Winter Intensive (NYC), David Dorfman Winter Intensive (NYC), Broadway Dance Center Winter Intensive (NYC), American Dance Festival Winter Intensive (NYC), BDF/Gibney Winter Intensive (NYC), Vim Vigor (NYC).
Recent Recipients (2024-2025)
Lydia Hamby - Doug Varone Winter Intensive, New York City
Nadia Piecyk - Doug Varone Winter Intensive, New York City
Abigail Yi - Doug Varone Winter Intensive, New York City
Previous Recipients (2023-2024)
Selah Curran-Blakely - Ballet Chicago Winter Intensive
Emma Macmanus - Broadway Dance Center Winter Intensive, New York City
Sophia Shahin - Ground Grooves Winter Intensive, Los Angeles
Pioneer Award
Nominated and selected by Emory Dance Faculty and awarded to a senior who is “breaking new ground,” this award recognizes creative application and creative potential in the field of dance. It is defined by an in-depth investigation in technique, performance, choreography, or movement studies. Award recipients receive $500.
2025 Recipient
Ilo Elder - honoring their deeply intellectual, creative, and embodied approach to multiple, under-researched dance forms
L.E.A.D. Award
The L.E.A.D. Award celebrates an extraordinary leader among our dance major and minors.
2025 Recipient
Samantha Stevens - celebrating her outstanding, engaged leadership within our dance community
Evolution Award
The Evolution Award celebrates a senior who has changed the most since their freshman year in all areas: technique, communication, critical thinking, artistry, creativity, and performance.
2025 Recipient
Gab Crum - celebrating her integrity, empathy and insight; her embodiment of material; her power and range; and her development as a choreographer
The Sudler Prize in the Arts
The Sudler Prize was established at Emory in 1983 by Louis Sudler, a Chicago businessman, musician, and philanthropist. It is awarded to seniors who have made the most significant contributions to the arts at Emory. This prize, accompanied by a cash award of $6,000, is awarded at the College Honors Program each commencement. Thirteen students from the Dance Program have received the Sudler Award, most recently Ilo Elder in 2025.
Woman's Club Arts Scholarship
The Emory University Woman's Club presents academic scholarships to students in the arts. The scholarships rotate each year among dance, film, music, and theater studies.
2025-2026 recipient
Nadia Piecyk (dance and psychology double major)
Stipe Society Scholarship
The Stipe Society for Creative Scholars awards an academic scholarship to six rising junior or senior students (one from each area of the arts) each year. Students are nominated by their academic departments and scholarship recipients become lifetime members of the Stipe Society. Stipe Fellows receive a $4,000 academic tuition scholarship.
2025-2026 recipient
Nadia Piecyk (double major, dance and psychology)