All correspondence regarding
the Jason Robins Dance Scholarship
should be mailed to:
CAPA/Jason Robins Dance Scholarship
c/o ImageSource Presentation Systems
P.O. Box 55
Mountain View, CA 94042

REVISED DEADLINE: We have changed the annual deadline to May 31 in order to accommodate schedule changes of our volunteer judges. This change was unavoidable, and we apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused.

Q: Does the application have to be in your office by May 31st or is a post mark on the 31st acceptable?

A: Applications postmarked by May 31st are acceptable for review. (If May 31st falls on a Sunday, applications postmarked June 1st will be accepted.)

Q: When will the scholarship be awarded?

A: Award dates are dependent on the availability of our volunteer judges. Normally award winners will be notified by phone in late June, and award checks will be mailed by July 31st. If there is a delay in the process, we will post an approximate award date on this website.

About Council for the Arts, Palo Alto Mid-Peninsula (CAPA)

Q: Could you tell me more about CAPA?

A: The Jason Robins Dance Scholarship is an affiliate of Council for the Arts, Palo Alto Mid-Peninsula (CAPA). CAPA was founded in 1965. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit organization, located in Palo Alto, California. CAPA exists to encourage, promote and support the diverse arts in the Mid-Peninsula area, and to provide needed services to the arts community and the public. To these needs, CAPA:

• provides economical liability insurance for group members for their rehearsals and events;
• hosts an annual arts awards event to recognize the contributions of local artists, arts organizations, arts volunteers and docents;
• sponsors qualified applicants as CAPA Affiliates, so that they may have the benefits of nonprofit status until they are ready to seek nonprofit status of their own;
• acts as an information distributor for members and others who inquire concerning local arts activities and performances; and
• seeks funding for specific projects which will benefit the arts within CAPA's service area.

Tax-Deductible Donations

Q: Is my donation to the scholarship tax-deductible?

A: Yes, donations are tax-deductible.

Copies of the Application

Q: The "How to Apply" section of the application states that "applicants must submit 3 copies of a completed application form describing clearly why they wish to attend the training course, how they expect to benefit from it, and how it would assist them in their career development." I wasn't too sure if that meant that we had to send three copies of the same thing, or if each copy is supposed to address one of the criteria on each one (since there are three).

A: Prior to 2005, we needed one original signed application plus two photocopies of it. We have now changed the requirement. Please submit the original signed application, and no photocopies are needed.

Educational History

Q: I have a question regarding the application under "Educational History." Am I supposed to list all of the classes that I have taken in high school and college as well as list what year it was when taking that course? What do you mean exactly by the level achieved? Do you also want my training background here because it asks for what training I had in the next question?

A: We want to know only about any education you have had or currently have in regards to dance. Applicants in the past gave us a listing of any academies, and dance courses at their current school or past schools. And yes, also list the year you attended and the level achieved (i.e. beginning, intermediate, advanced, principal dancer, etc.). The next question on the application pertains specifically to private training, i.e. did you have any private instruction specifically with an instructor?

Supporting Materials

Q: All of my videos are group productions. I am not sure how I can highlight which dancer is me. I would like to send something in for supporting materials. What do others do in this case?

A: Supplemental materials are recommended, but are optional. Your application is the most important description of you that the judges will be reviewing. Some applicants who didn't send videos probably determined they didn't have ones that were suitable, as in your case. It is best not to send a group production that makes it impossible for you to identify for the judges which dancer you are. If you would like to send a video, please send one in which you are easily identifiable, whether in solo or in a group.

Q: May I send you a CD of still photos showing me performing?

A: A CD of still photos is acceptable and optional for your application. If you would like your CD returned to you after the review process, please provide a self-addressed and stamped envelope to encase your CD with your application.

Eligibility

Q: I had a question regarding the eligibility. It states that an applicant may include more than one training course to the application. I was wondering if this included part of a tuition to a university where I would be pursuing a career in dance.

A: Yes, that would be an acceptable course to list.

Q: Do I qualify for this scholarship if I am a professional dancer and teacher, but am also attending a dance program at a college and am in financial need?

A: You may apply for the scholarship. The committee requires that you provide background information about the dance program as indicated in the application. Questions on the application will address the need for this scholarship, which you will need to address. The committee will then review and determine the applicant that receives the award.

Q: How do you define financial need?

A: A student with financial need is defined as one who is able to provide on request verified records of any financial assistance or previous scholarships awarded on the basis of financial need. However, while ideally we would like to award scholarships to dancers who have difficulty paying for their dance education, financial need is not as important to us as are dedication and talent.

Tax Reporting

Q: Am I required to report the scholarship award on my taxes?

A: The scholarship award is not taxable as long as you are pursuing a degree and using the money for educational expenses. For more information, visit the IRS webpage on scholarships at www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc421.html.

About Other Scholarships

Q: Do you offer any other scholarships?

A: At this time, we are only offering The Jason Robins Dance Scholarship, but may offer others in the future. You can find dance scholarships -- as well as other types -- at FastWeb (the one we have chosen to announce our scholarship) and other reputable scholarship websites.

Additional Questions

If you don't see the answer to your question, please send us an email. A scholarship committee member will respond as soon as possible.