DanceSport is...art, sport, competition, achievement, partnership

Purpose

Educational and charitable nonprofit foundation for dance formed in May, 2002 with a three-fold mission:

  1. Discover and train talented individuals with the ultimate goal of having them establish a professional career in dance or a dance-related profession.
  2. Develop an understanding of dance sport in the community, enhance youth awareness and participation, and encourage young talent in the United States.
  3. Award grant monies to those who pursue dance as a career and prize monies to amateur dancers 25 and under who dance competitively.

Goals and Objectives

  • Help children and young adults to realize their dreams of artistically expressing themselves through ballroom dancing. The Fordney Foundation was established to promote ballroom dancing to individuals of all ethnic groups without regard to religion or creed that are 6 to 25 years of age who qualify as amateur dance students.
  • Award grant monies to individuals who pursue dance as a career who are either dependents attending school 6 to 18 years of age or dependents 19 to 25 years of age who do not have the means to support their dancing.
  • Award prize monies to amateur dancers ages 6 to 25 who dance competitively.

DanceStart Program

The DanceStart Program is part of the Fordney Foundation and helps families support their children's learning and training of ballroom dancing at a competition level, however, under Internal Revenue Service guidelines for 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organizations, nonprofit funds may only be given to other nonprofit organizations in the applicant's name.

Dance Sport Benefits

Ballroom dancing is beautiful, graceful, elegant, and sophisticated. It requires top physical conditioning. It improves communication skills, social interaction, coordination, creativity, spatial ability, stamina and endurance, and positive psychological benefits by elevating self-esteem.

Financial Aspects of DanceSport

When watching amateur youth/junior dance competitions, you will become aware that competitors must dress in beautiful costumes, have impeccable grooming, and straight posture. Private and group dance lessons, coaching sessions, and practice sessions are required as the skill to dance as a unit becomes perfected. Transportation to and from the competitions, entry fees, hotel lodging, and meals may also be required. it takes a great deal of time and financial resources to become a top contender. by nurturing youth dance sport, the foundation can help educate the public in the United States about this activity as a sport.

Grants

Under Internal Revenue Service guidelines for 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organizations, grant monies may be awarded to another nonprofit organization for an individual dance student, dance institution, dance competition, or other dance related purpose.

How to Apply:

The Fordney Foundation accepts grant applications for review once a year on April 1st. For more information, click here.

For answers to questions and for further information contact:
Marilyn T. Fordney
Fordney Foundation
5699 Kanan Road, #206
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
Telephone: 818-532-7341
e-mail: Fordney Foundation