Everyone loves a scholarship right? Eyes open wide and ears perk up just hearing the word in conversation. Unfortunately, some scholarships turn out to be a tad underwhelming and do not live up to the hype. Recognizing how influential and life changing these sorts of opportunities can be, Hollywood Dance Jamz more than delivers with their scholarships by making every single one a career launching move. Over the convention weekend, Creative Director Barry YoungBlood and his staff of professional dancers teach, push, and inspire participating performers. This staff is dynamic, versatile (trained in ballet, belly dancing, jazz, jazz funk, hip hop, and salsa) and ready to put your footwork to the test. Register for the city nearest you because the time has come to take your career to new bounds and jam at Hollywood Dance Jamz!
Killer staff, with resumes you won’t believe
Many dance companies brag about their professional staff, but very few have this level of experience. Hollywood Dance Jamz faculty have performed in Broadway productions, attended top ballet schools in the nation, shadowed some of the best teachers in the world, and worked with A-List celebrities. To grasp the level of professionalism, look at bio of the mastermind behind this operation, Barry YoungBlood. He’s worked with musicians like Paula Abdul and Christina Aguilera, and choreographed industrials for large companies like Nike, Dreamcast, Reebok and Sketchers. Barry’s TV appearances include the MTV Awards, Miss America Pageant, and The Today Show. But, the real kicker is he danced for the Queen of England! Not many people can say they performed for a queen!
If that is not enough to “wow” you, check out Melissa Emrico. She started formal ballet training at 12, (which is considered late by industry standards) yet after only 6 months of training, Melissa got the acceptance letter into the residency program at Dance Theatre of Harlem. After several months of studying there, she received a full scholarship to The Washington Ballet. Once her skills in ballet were solidified, she ventured into other styles of dance like musical theatre, and toured the nation as a performer in theatre productions of Cats and Fame the Musical. Her versatility and strength as a dancer launched her career into music videos like Marry the Night with Lady Gaga, Feel Good with Robin Thicke, and Shake It Off with Taylor Swift. Check out Melissa’s webpage to see her in these music videos and much more!
Age divisions
Hollywood Dance Jamz has 4 age divisions, which include Mini (8 and under), Junior (9-12), Teen (13-15), and Senior (16 and older). The average age of the group determines what age division students compete in; however groups may perform their routine in an age category higher than their average age. The ability to perform in a higher age division is an advantage to groups with more experience and skill under their belt than their actual age division. If any questions arise, please make sure all dancers have documents to prove how old they are.
Hollywood Dance Jamz point system
A point system is used to judge every routine and Platinum, High Gold, Gold, High Silver, and Silver titles reflect the cumulative points given to a routine. After the judges tally up their points, Divisional Overall Awards go to the 1st through 3rd place routines in each performance division. Overall awards go to the highest scoring routines in each age group. Faculty members also get to weigh in during the award ceremony by selecting a recipient for the Faculty Choice Awards. This award goes to a student from each age division (excluding solos) the faculty felt had the best overall performance.
Immediately after each award ceremony, the judges give their score sheets to studio directors. This way, any questions from teachers, or parents regarding scores can be answered right away. Also, the judges post their critiques 24-28 hours after each convention ends. Talk about prompt turnaround times!
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Hollywood Dance Jamz scholarships offer hands-on experience
Juniors, Teens, and Seniors (aside from people older than 19) registered for the convention may audition for scholarships, but they must audition in their age division, regardless of convention class skill level. Here’s how it works; Dancers receive numbers, which they must wear during the entire auditioning process. Auditions are not open to the public, in fact the only non-auditioning individual allowed in the room is studio owners. At the close of the process, certain students receive scholarships based on performance quality and the number of dancers auditioning. To see a list of HDJ events offering these awards, scroll to the end of the article.
Hollywood Dance Jamz’s amazing Scholarships:
Hollywood DJ Scholarship
This is one of the most hands-on scholarships provided, awarding the winner the opportunity to assist the Hollywood Dance Jamz faculty in the following tour season. Aside from being an ambassador of the company and representing HDJ, winners get to see what the dance industry is like from an insider’s perspective. Hollywood DJ’s are expected to bring positivity, energy, and work ethic to every city on tour. They also perform in the Faculty Welcome and Showcase number at regionals. Plus, when there’s some down time, DJ’s are free to explore the cities! If you find yourself in Chicago, IL, check out the Skydeck, located in the tallest building on the Western Hemisphere.
Each season, DJ’s are evaluated for advancement opportunities, moving from DJ, to Elite, to Pro, to Artist. One DJ is chosen from the group of DJ’s, and this person gets a FULL scholarship and round trip ticket to Australia to work with the faculty at Global Dance with Barry YoungBlood. Recognizing how valuable a scholarship like this is, a studio teacher said, “Thank you Barry for constantly inspiring young dancers! Them becoming assistants will be one of the most fulfilling and inspiring jobs they do as teenagers.”
East Coast Class Scholarship
Winners will get to take classes at the Broadway Dance Center in the New York City, where some of the most iconic and game-changing dancers launched into stardom. This place offers over 350 classes on a weekly basis, taught by some of the best choreographers and teachers in the world! Anyone who knows dance knows about Broadway Dance Center and its reputation for diversity and pushing students to new bounds.
West Coast Class Scholarship
Winners of this Hollywood Dance Jamz scholarship take classes at Debbie Reynolds Studio in North Hollywood, CA. This famous Hollywood actress and performer opened the studio in 1979. From the beginning, the building was exclusively reserved for dancers to practice and rehearse. Since then, it has attracted the likes of Lucille Ball, Usher, Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey. It currently employs choreographers who work with Missy Elliot, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé and many more.
Talent Agency Audition
This scholarship could be the break you’re looking for by giving you the chance to audition for Go 2 Talent Agency. Their focus is dancers and choreographers with backgrounds in all genres of dance. Go 2 provides work in all fields of the entertainment industry, including TV and film, commercial, print, music videos and tours, theatre, and teaching. Their clients get features in Old Navy commercials, Kelly Clarkson music videos and more. In other words, they get results!
We can all agree that cash prices are an added bonus, but Hollywood Dance Jamz would rather use their resources to give students rare opportunities that turn dreams into reality. Every scholarship is immensely valuable, whether it’s becoming a Hollywood DJ, taking classes at some of the best dance schools in the United States, or landing an audition with a talent agency. Even attending workshops with this group of professionals should be looked at like an award, because their resumes are astounding. Do yourself a favor and answer this: Your big break is coming to a city near you, but will you be there to seize it?
For updated tournament information, please visit Hollywood Dance Jamz.