Grants/Awards

We highlight and support dance students, choreographers, professionals, and companies.

New Jersey Governor’s Awards in Arts Education (NJGAAE)

Applications are closed for 2024.

The Governor’s Awards in Arts Education began in 1980 to promote awareness and appreciation of the arts, recognizing the creativity, talent and leadership of the award winners. Each year, awards are presented to approximately 20 educators and 80 students. National and statewide organizations select the students for their exemplary work in creative writing, speech, dance, music, theatre and visual arts and the leaders for their exceptional commitment and contribution to arts education. The program also recognizes arts educators and arts education advocates, whose leadership has helped nurture the development of students in the arts across the state. As of 2023, Dance New Jersey has reinstated the NJGAAE Dance Educator Award with plans to honor one educator in addition to 6-8 students each school year.

For more information about the NJGAAE Dance Awards, please contact Kerri-Ann Munoz, Director of Dance Education, Dance New Jersey (kerriann.dancenj[at]gmail.com).

2023 Student Award Recipients: Penelope Arthur, Jordyn Cash, Jaylene Gardener, Simone McCrear, Julia Nugent, Yasly Nunez, Rebecca Rincon, Samantha Wolf

2023 Educator Award Recipient: Heather Warfel-Sandler

2023 Dance To Learn Award Recipient: Blanca Jackson

2022 Student Award Recipients: Jayln Postadan, Isabel Shi, Amanda Magee, Dominic Roberts, Alisha Edwards, Felix Taverez, Emily Saito, Nyla Frisbey

2021 Student Award Recipients: Kylie Blake, Brogan Donston, Kayla Hsu, Brooke Katsafados, Fiona Quirk, Tonei Silver, Nicolette Zika

2024 Educator Award Recipient

Dajhia Ingram Maddox

Irvington High School

2024 Student Award Recipients

Chloe Paige Cerreto

High Tech High School
Jaya Dave

Watchung Hills Regional High School
Willow Dixson

Union County Academy for Performing Arts
Liam Redford

Burlington County Institute of Technology
Mitchell Savitsky

Gloucester County Institute of Technology
Danielle Zur

Middlesex County Magnet School

Dance New Jersey Regrant Program For Individual Dance Artists

Applications are closed at this time.

The Dance New Jersey Regrant Program is designed to support the recovery and renewal of the New Jersey dance community due to the ongoing effects of COVID-19 and non-pandemic challenges. Grant requests up to $2,000 are available with no additional requirements for the artists other than a final report and recognition of the award on their website and social media outlets as applicable.

DNJ funds will support a diverse range of dance artists from across the state. In efforts to create a more equitable dance community, DNJ will award a minimum of 50% of grant funds to BIPOC-identifying dance artists. Alongside grant awards, DNJ will facilitate a virtual meet and greet for artists to network and share their artistic practices. DNJ will also highlight each artist through social media outlets, newsletters, and the DNJ website to acknowledge and spread awareness of each dance artist and the vibrant NJ dance community in action.

This grant is made possible by the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund. Originally named the New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund, it was established in 2020 to ensure the survival, strength and sustainability of the state’s arts, cultural and historical sector during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022 Recipients, DNJ Mini-Grant: Covid Relief for Individual Dance Artists: Hillary-Marie Atkinson, Stephanie Beauchamp, Denise Brown, María Daniel, Morgaine De Leonardis, Ariel Grossman, Katelyn Halpern, Nanette Hernandez, Deepa Mahadevan, Ishita Mili, Sameena Mitta, Ann Robideaux, Maxine Steinman, Rubina Sudharman, Geatali Tampy, Ramya Tirumalai, Akhilandeshwari Vasudenvamurty, Evelyn Wang, Alexandra Williamson, Tino Zoccoli Mayers

2021 Recipients, Dance New Jersey Mini-Grant For Individual Dance Artists & Small-Budget Dance Companies: Ani Javian, Ariel Rivka Dance, Bianca Paige Smith, Candice Schnurr, Chien-Ying Wang, Fall Into Art, Hillary-Marie Atkinson, IMGE Dance, Kiana Fischer, Lauren Raffaelli, Marissa Aucoin, Michele Byrd-McPhee, mignolo, Mosaic Dance Theater Company, Nathan Forster/ReFrame Dance Theatre, New Jersey Civic Youth Ballet, Nisha Pradeep, Ramya Tirumalai, Sameena Mitta, and Sierra Christine Sanders

2023 Dance New Jersey Regrant Program Recipients: