Theatre & Dance Scholarships for First-Time Students
For students entering in the Fall of 2023 or Spring of 2024:
The Department of Theatre & Dance is fortunate to be able to offer recruiting scholarships from the two funds listed below. These scholarships are for incoming students planning to major in Acting, Musical Theatre, Theatre Design & Technology or any other aspect of Theatre.
Prospective students will be able to audition and/or interview in-person, on Zoom, or by video submission.
We will be updating this page over the summer. Check back after August 1, 2022, for full details about how to audition or interview for these scholarships.
On-campus Theatre Program auditions and interviews are tentatively scheduled for Saturday, February 18, 2023.
We do not require an audition prior to beginning the B.F.A. – Performing Arts degree. These auditions are only for scholarship support. This is a little different from other B.F.A. programs, we know. For a full explanation of why we choose to do it this way, go here.
B.A. in Dance Auditions
In addition to the standard WKU admissions process, incoming/transfer students wishing to major in Dance must also participate in the department’s initial dance placement audition process, after which they will be enrolled as “seeking admission” into the B.A. in Dance program. The dance faculty will make further developmental assessments during the first two semesters, after which “seeking admission” students meeting all of the appropriate criteria may apply for full admittance into the B.A. in Dance program.
Attending the Audition Day
Those planning to audition for the B.A. in Dance degree program should register online at least one week prior to their selected audition date.
The on campus placement dance audition will consist of an information session with the dance faculty/Admissions representative, followed by a complete ballet technique class, separate jazz and modern dance portions, and an optional tap combination. Dance faculty will teach all segments.
Students may then present an optional 90 second self-choreographed solo (in any dance genre/style). The solo is not required and does not impact a student’s placement into the program; however, this may be an opportunity for a student to showcase any other form of dance in which he/she is trained and allows faculty to gain further insight into a student’s candidacy. Participation in this portion of the audition is mandatory for consideration of the Potter College Creative Arts Scholarship or a Jerry E. Baker Dance Scholarship.
There are two ways to audition:
Attend the B.A. in Dance auditions at WKU
Or submit a digital audition. For more information, click here.
Admittance into the BA in Dance Degree
A student may apply for full admittance into the B.A. in Dance degree after the completion of 2 semesters (transfer students must complete at least 15 hours at WKU). Students must apply for full admittance by their 4th semester and be accepted by the completion of their 5th semester (transfer students must apply and be accepted prior to completing 30 credit hours at WKU). Students must meet the following minimum requirements before applying:
- A minimum overall grade point average of 2.5.
- Completion of 8 hours of dance technique.
- Student must have taken or currently be enrolled in a 300 level dance technique course (ballet, jazz, or modern)
- Demonstrate proficient talent, commitment, and a reasonable likelihood of achieving the technique level requirements of the degree program.
Once admitted to the B.A. in Dance degree, a student will be regularly assessed by the dance faculty to ensure that the student is successfully progressing within the degree program.
Would you like to audition for a scholarship while also auditioning for the Dance Program?
Your B.A. in Dance audition will also be an audition for the Potter College Creative Arts Scholarship and/or Jerry E. Baker Dance Scholarship if you register online and complete the following additional two steps:
- Apply to WKU, be admitted, and be sure WKU has received your H.S. transcripts by February 1st.
- Fill out a TopDollar scholarship application by February 1st.
Once you complete these two steps and register online, you will be considered for the placement into the Dance Program and the Creative Arts Scholarship and/or the Jerry E. Baker Dance Scholarship.
Scholarship Funds
Awards will be made from two different funds:
Jerry E. Baker Foundation Scholarships
These scholarships may range anywhere from $500 to several thousand dollars. The award amount is typically split between the fall semester and spring semester of your first year. To be eligible you must maintain full-time status. There may be additional stipulations depending on your major. These are one-time awards, although you are welcome to apply in future years for Scholarships for Current Students.
Or
Potter College Creative Arts Scholarships
These scholarships can range between $1,000 and several thousand dollars per year and are renewable for four years (8 semesters total). Terms for renewal include full-time status at WKU, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, and declaring and making reasonable progress toward an approved arts major. Students awarded a Potter College Creative Arts Scholarship through the Department of Theatre & Dance must take at least 9 credit hours per academic year in the major in order to maintain reasonable progress in the degree. Transfer students are not eligible for this scholarship.
Potter College Creative Arts Scholarships are also awarded in other disciplines such as Art, Music, Film and Creative Writing. For more information on these scholarships go here.
How to Apply
Whether you plan to submit a video, interview online, or visit us on campus in February 2022, here’s where you begin the application process . . .
Step 1
Please keep in mind that WKU must also receive your official high school transcripts by February 1, 2022 as part of this process.
Step 2
Every applicant must complete the TopDollar scholarship application. Please note, however that you must also complete our application contained in Step 3 below.
Step 3
All students interested in pursuing the B.A. in Dance need to audition for placement into the program. Your audition at that time will also count as your scholarships audition.
Step 4
The musical theatre program at WKU is housed in the Department of Theatre & Dance.
Step 4
Audition in-person at WKU before March 1, 2022.
Submit an audition video by March 1, 2022.
The acting program at WKU is housed in the Department of Theatre & Dance.
Step 4
Step 5
Submit an audition video by March 1, 2022.
If you are interested in costume design, lighting design, set design, sound design, technical direction, or stage management you will interview for the Potter College Creative Arts Scholarship.
Step 4
Step 5
Schedule an on campus audition by filling out this form.
Interview via Zoom by March 1, 2022.
If you have a general interest in theatre, or are interested in directing, dramaturgy, playwriting, or youth theatre you will interview for the Potter College Creative Arts Scholarship.
Step 4
Step 5
Interview in-person at WKU before March 1, 2022.
Interview via Zoom by March 1, 2022.
See information on directions to WKU and hotels near WKU.
Also find information about other scholarships for first-year students and transfer students at WKU.
Some of the links on this page may require additional software to view.