A Leg Up: Project Resilience Provides Scholarships for the Ballet Students Who Need it Most

Artist and philanthropist Everett Dyson had always loved theater. But the rise of American Ballet Theatre principal Misty Copeland put ballet on his radar, too. Realizing that many young dancers have, like Copeland, lived through difficult circumstances, he recently founded Project Resilience, a scholarship for students who’ve received minimal support in their ballet training. Each year, one dancer will receive a scholarship to help pay for his or her summer intensive at American Ballet Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem or Houston Ballet.

Dyson’s goal is to eventually support one dancer’s intensive tuition at each program, or even multiple dancers per school. With big stars behind the project (yep, Misty’s an ambassador, as is another iconic black ballerina, Lauren Anderson), Project Resilience will hopefully continue to grow.

Dance Theatre of Harlem dancer Alison Stroming feels honored to be one of Project Resilience’s ambassadors. “I want every young dancer to have the chance to follow their dreams,” she says. “I knew Project Resilience was something I could relate to.” —Nicole Loeffler-Gladstone

Want to support Project Resilience? Buy one of Covet Dance’s cute “Ballerinas Do It Better” tops, created exclusively for the project. One hundred percent of the profits will go toward scholarships. Find them at projectresilience.us