Scholarships
School of Ballet Merit Scholars
The scholarships are awarded to advanced students studying in the American Dance Institute School of Ballet Program. Students who show excellent attendance, academic excellence, perseverance, integrity and dedication to dance are considered for this merit based award. A placement recommendation is required for all new students prior to registration and application. Placements are scheduled and determined by ADI’s Artistic Director. To apply and schedule a placement please call our Front Desk at: 1-855-AM-DANCE
Michael Bjerknes Memorial Merit Scholarship
This Merit Scholarship is awarded by ADI’s Artistic Director to a student who shows academic excellence, perseverance, integrity and dedication to dance. A recommendation is required for all students prior to application. Recommendations are determined by ADI’s Artistic Director. To apply contact the Front Desk at: !-855-AM-DANCE
Michael Leif Bjerknes
American Dance Institute Founder and Executive Director 2000-2008 was born in Oak Park, Ill. began ballet lessons at age 10. He graduated from high school at 13 and received his undergraduate degree at 16 from Rosary College in Chicago majoring in math, with a minor in physics.
Michael began his professional dance career that year with Joffrey II, the Joffrey Ballet’s apprentice company. At 6-foot-3, with an elegant appearance on stage, he became a soloist with the Chicago Ballet in 1974. He was a soloist with the Houston Ballet and then returned to New York, where he was a soloist and teacher with the Joffrey Ballet. As a principal with the Joffrey Ballet, Michael was equally at home in the classical and contemporary repertories. Gerald Arpino, Robert Joffrey, Agnes de Mille, Moses Pendleton, Ben Stevenson and Choo San Goh choreographed original roles for him. Mr. Bjerknes, was invited to perform as guest artist with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Canada and the Northern Ballet Theatre of England.
After Mr. Bjerknes stopped dancing he continued to teach for the Joffery Ballet Co. and Joffery Summer Intensives and well as teaching and serving as ballet master for the Washington Ballet and the Universal Ballet in Seoul.
He returned to school and received a Master’s degree in Business and International Management from the University of Maryland University College working for the General Electric Company (GE) as a Senior Consultant. His passion for dance returned him to the studio. In 2008 he was posthumously awarded the University of MD. Alumnae of the Year.
In 2000, he and wife Pamela Bjerknes, a former member of American Ballet Theatre, founded the American Dance Institute. They opened the Institute in a renovated 20,000-square-foot warehouse, and it soon became an integral part of the local dance scene. Acclaimed as an “Inspired, supportive and precise teacher whose ballet classes were demanding, well-structured and musical.” Michael said in a interview “My philosophy is — and maybe it’s naive in this world today — but I think that if you create somebody who is happy with themselves, and confident, and you provide them good training, if they’re meant to be a dancer, you’re going to produce a professional dancer, who’s also a great person, and interested artist and active individual,”
Michael Bjerknes passed away April 14, 2008 from colon cancer.The scholarship is given in his memory.
“Help young people of all ages create art and hopeful peace rather than war and dividing hate”
Michael Bjerknes (April 10, 2008)
Philip Jerry Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is named for former Joffrey Ballet principal Philip Jerry. It was created by Joffrey Ballet dancer and American Dance Institute Founder Michael Bjerknes. The scholarship is awarded to a sixteen year old dancer (the age Philip joined Joffrey II) in the DC metropolitan area to assist with summer study outside of their home studio. This scholarship is supported solely by individual contributions .
ADI audition dates for the coming year will be posted on this site.
Application process:
■ Applications are accepted by DVD (see requirements) and audition.
■ Students must have been accepted into a summer program/summer intensive and show proof of acceptance and attendance.
■ Student must submit a copy of their birth certificate with application
■ Students must submit proof of attendance from chosen summer program administrative offices
■ Student must submit a letter of reflection to ADI Artistic Director about their experience at the program and how it benefitted them.
■ Scholarship award will be given by check/in name of student/after student has attended their chosen program, all criteria met and reflection letter received.
■ Download the application
Video audition:
We accept DVD only. No video tapes please.
DVD REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants should review DVD for clarity before sending. Recording should be no longer than 30 minutes and must contain the following:
-Introductory Section :
A brief close-up shot of the dancer (face or ½ body), in which the dancer clearly states his or her name, age, and a brief history of previous dance training.
- Technique Section (to musical accompaniment)
Barre combinations must include: Grand plie 1st 2nd 5th positions with port de bras/tendu/degage en releve/rond de jambe a terrre & en l’air,/adagio including grand ronde de jambe en l’air/frappe/grand battements.
Center combinations must include:
Grand Adagio with développé in each position, promenades and pirouettes/Petit Allegro, including jumps on two feet, jetés, temps levés, assemblés, and beats/Grand Allegro including grand jetés and tour jetés, and either balancés or waltzes.
MEN: Simple tour en l’air exercise and multiple pirouette combination;
WOMEN: Pointe work including pirouettes, relevés on two legs and repeated relevés on one leg, and turns executed on the diagonal.
Past recipients:
Elizabeth Weisenberg, Alexis Polito (Joffrey Ballet), Charlotte Lanning, Emily Hashiguchi
A placement recommendation is required for all new students prior to registration and financial aid application. Placements are scheduled and determined by ADI’s Artistic Director.