CDPAC Tuition Assistance/Scholarship Program

Clackamas Dance & Performing Arts Center (CDPAC) is pleased to offer financial assistance to families that would like to attend CDPAC classes or summer camps and have financial need. 

CDPAC is aware that many of you in our community can be effected my financial hardship for many reasons. CDPAC’s mission statement (see below) is to train all dancers to reach their goal of being the very best that they can be. CDPAC believes that those goals should never be hindered by financial constraints. While CDPAC cannot extend financial assistance for all aspects of the dancer’s education, CDPAC will always strive to provide dance opportunities for everyone.

CDPAC is NOT a Non-Profit company therefore CDPAC does NOT receive special funding or grants to offer as scholarships. Scholarships and/or tuition assistance is offered as a public service to the community.

CDPAC Mission Statement:

To have our dancers achieve new levels of artistry and performance beyond what is possible in their regular class work.  To train and empower students to a pre-professional level with a competitive edge who may consider dance as a major or minor in college. To make possible a young dancer’s dream to pursue a career in musical theater, dance performance, or as a dance educator.

FAQ’s:
 
1. How does the application process work? 
Each year we will review all applications.  Our goal is to not deny the opportunity to be involved in CDPAC because of lack of financial resources.  Many opportunities exist to help defray the cost for you.  Selling tickets to our shows, helping in the office, fundraisers, etc… can be arranged. If you have special circumstances that make you believe you might be eligible for scholarships/tuition assistance, you must fill out an application and turn in by the due date on the application. An incomplete application can result in denial of assistance.

2. What criteria are used to determine scholarship/tuition assistance awards?
The following is a partial list of special circumstances that may make you eligible for financial assistance:
• Loss of employment.
• Recent divorce or separation causing financial hardship.
• Parent that is disabled and on a reduced income.
• Death in the family that causes financial hardship.
• Low income for the size of family.

3. Do I have to pay back any of the scholarship/tuition assistance?
As long as the information on the application is correct and remains correct for the duration of the dance school year you are not required to pay anything back to CDPAC. We do ask that you volunteer at least twice during the dance school year as a measure of good will and commitment to the scholarship. If CDPAC determines at ANY point that some or all of the information in the application was false, you will be responsible to reimburse CDPAC for some or all of the awarded scholarship/tuition assistance.

4. What is the difference between a dance scholarship and tuition assistance?

• A dance scholarship is awarded to those existing students who have displayed substantial abilities as a dancer and wants to further their education as a dancer but may be unable to do so for financial reasons. Dance scholarships will cover ALL of the yearly class tuition. It does NOT cover the following:

•  Costumes.
•  Dance wear-Shoes, Leotards, Tights, etc.
•  Registration fees (Studio) Performing Company Registration Fees.
•  Travel expenses.
•  Private lessons.

Note: Scholarships cover regular recital class tuition only. (fairytale ballet classes are excluded). If there is more than one dancer in a family, the scholarship only applies only to the dancer awarded the scholarship.

• Tuition assistance is granted to those families that are existing students or new students who want to participate in dance instruction at CDPAC, but due to financial reasons cannot afford to do so. Tuition assistance is offered as a “reduced” tuition scale. Tuition assistance requires that the dancer’s family pay some amount of regular class tuition. This reduced amount will be decided by CDPAC scholarship committee and is based on information provided in the application. Tuition assistance does NOT cover the following expenses:
  
  
  •  Costumes.
  •  Dance wear-Shoes, Leotards, Tights, etc.
  •  Registration fees (Studio) Performing Company Registration Fees.
  •  Travel expenses.
  •  Private lessons

Note: Tuition assistance covers regular recital class tuition only. It there are more than one dancer in the family, tuition assistance may be available to the entire family. Parents are excluded)

5. How do I know if I qualify for tuition assistance and/or a dance scholarship?
All applications are due by the due date on the application. You will receive a written notice delivered regular mail by the date indicated on the application. If you do not receive notification, please contact the front office. (503) 650-2353.

6. Does my child attend classes while my application is being reviewed?
Yes! However it is your responsibility to pay for those classes attended if your application has been denied. You are responsible for all tuition cost (the full published amount) until your application has been accepted and you accept the terms of the agreement.

7. What events would cause the suspension of my scholarship/tuition assistance?
CDPAC offers this program so that students who love dance and want to take advantage of this program. CDPAC has the right to cancel scholarships/tuition assistance at ANY TIME for ANY REASON without notice. Please review the entire application for a more detailed outline of the guidelines. In general, CDPAC ask that in return for this assistance you commit to the program as fully as possible. Frequent absences from class (more than 25%), disrespecting the staff, lack of practicing at home, lack of participation in class, disrupting others in class and falsifying information on the application are all events that can lead to suspension of scholarships and/or tuition assistance.

8. If my financial situation improves during the dance year (i.e. found employment, increase in child support payments, etc.), am I required to start paying the full amount of the class tuition?
For scholarships you do NOT need to start paying for regular tuition cost if your financial situation improves. If you are on a tuition assistance program and your financial situation improves during the year, CDPAC requires that you notify the office of these changes. You are required to fill out a Tuition Assistance Information Change Form as soon as possible. This new information will be reviewed and tuition assistance may or may not be changed.

9. What if I need financial assistance for things that are NOT covered with dance scholarships/tuition assistance?
CDPAC offers other options of students and parents to make of the difference in their dance education. The most significant of these is through our studio fundraisers and sponsorship program.
 During the year your student will receive information on these various fundraisers and sponsorship opportunities. Many students in the past have used these tools to offset most if not all of the other expenses for dance during the year.
It is entirely up to your dancer as to how much effort they put into their own dance education.

10. I receive a flier in the mail or from my child’s school that has a coupon for NO REGISTRATION FEE. If I elect to apply for dance scholarship/tuition assistance can I use this coupon? No! One of the requirements if you elect to participate in the tuition assistance program is you MUST pay for the registration fee and a recital deposit fee (see application for further information). CDPAC requires this because we want some commitment from the dancer. If your application is denied and you wish to still continue dancing at CDPAC, coupons will be honored at that time if you chose to use them even if the expiration date has passed.

11. I received a flier in the mail or from my child’s school that has a coupon for a free dance class. If I elect to apply for dance scholarship/tuition assistance can I use this coupon? Yes! You are welcome to try out a class before you commit to the class for the full year. Subject to the terms of the coupon offer.