DANZ
The Eileen May Norris Dance Scholarships are awarded biennially to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding dance talent in New Zealand with an appropriate university, polytechnic, dance school or academy, or for those dancing with a professional body or company.
The scholarship is open biennially to individual dancers of any genre undertaking a specific project who meet the criteria as follows:
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Applicants must be New Zealand born or naturalised citizens and shall be aged from 18 years and under 25 years of age (as at the closing date of applications).
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Applications must be from individuals only and the scholarships will only be awarded to suitable applicants.
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Applicants need to have demonstrated outstanding dance talent in New Zealand with an appropriate university, polytechnic, dance school or academy or for those currently dancing with a professional body or company.
History
Miss Norris created the Eileen May Norris Dance Scholarship by her will in May 2003 and she died a few months later aged 88 years.
Eileen May Norris was born in a village north of Queenstown called Charleston on 18 September 1914 and moved to Whangarei as a young child where she received her education. As an adult she moved to Christchurch and worked the majority of her working life for the NZ Post Office. She had a passion for dance and a love for music. Miss Norris played the piano proficiently and was heavily involved with the performing arts in her local community.
A ballroom dancing medal winner until her middle-aged years, Miss Norris was also a keen Latin American dancer, performing the tango and rumba. She enjoyed watching ballet, and indeed any form of dance.
The Eileen May Norris Dance Scholarships are an opportunity for Miss Norris to give back to the arts and offer young dancers the means to continue to build on their talents.
How to apply
Applications are open biennially. The scholarship will be open for applications from 1 January 2024 closing 31 March 2024.