MFA in Dance Fellowships & Scholarships

Sarah Lawrence College offers a number of highly competitive fellowships, scholarships and grants. Specific to the MFA in Dance are the following opportunities.

An exciting opportunity and the latest step in the College’s rich history of developing visionary artists who will lead the future of dance and cultural expression.

About the Fellowship

The Greene Fellowship in Dance, made possible by a generous gift from alumna Lila Greene ’71, is a special two-year fellowship which provides full tuition remission and teaching stipends for two students, one entering the program in fall 2025 and one entering in fall 2026.

Who is Eligible to Apply for the Fellowship

Applicants to the MFA in Dance program who meet the following criteria will be automatically considered for The Greene Fellowship:

• 6-10 years of professional experience in the dance field post-undergraduate studies
• some demonstrated prior experience teaching dance

Candidates who meet the above criteria will be invited to apply for the fellowship.

Fellowship Application Process & Timeline for Fall 2026 Matriculation

Given the tight timeline of our review process, we recommend that candidates for the Greene Fellowship make note of these dates in advance and plan accordingly to be available should their application advance in the process.

• Tuesday, January 6, 2026 - MFA Dance Application Deadline
• Applicants who upon initial review of their materials meet the Greene Fellowship criteria will be emailed an additional essay question to complete after submission of the full application. For Fall 2026, the deadline for submission of the additional Greene Fellowship Essay question is Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
• Week of January 19, 2026 - SLC invites semi-finalists for the Greene Fellowship to campus
• Saturday, February 7, 2026 - Finalist fellowship candidates will be required to come to campus for a visit including movement class, showing of a short live solo, campus tour, and interview.
• Monday, February 9, 2026 - SLC notifies candidates who will move to the finalist round for the Greene Fellowship.
• Feb. 11-20, 2026 - Finalist candidates for the Greene Fellowship will be required to teach a sample movement practice class on one of the following dates:
  • Wednesday, February 11, 2026
  • Friday, February 13, 2026
  • Wednesday, February 18, 2026
  • Friday, February 20, 2026
    
    All sample movement classes will take place from 1:25 p.m.-3:05 p.m.
    
    Note: Finalists for the fellowship must successfully pass a background check.

• Week of March 2, 2026 - SLC notifies candidates of their acceptance for matriculation in Fall 2026 and notifies Greene Fellowship recipient.

For more information on this special fellowship opportunity or the MFA Dance program, please contact John Jasperse, MFA in Dance Program Director, at jjasperse@sarahlawrence.edu or (914) 395-2628.

This fund was established by Mr. And Mrs. Dimitry V. Varley and former Sarah Lawrence students of Bessie Schönberg to provide scholarship assistance for graduate dance students who intend to teach. This $5000 award is awarded to one incoming MFA Dance student and is renewable in the second year.

The decision to further your education by pursuing an MFA in Dance is an investment in you and your future. Sarah Lawrence is here to help you navigate the process and help you identify possible sources of graduate education financing. Be sure to visit the Financing Your Graduate Education page for more information.