How Raising the Barre works

A four-year program for dancers who want more from the studio.

Raising the Barre is for dancers ages 10–19 who are ready to lead, serve, and grow alongside their training. Each chapter runs a structured season of teaching-assistant work, studio operations, community service, and a senior capstone — with a national scholarship fund waiting for dancers who complete the four years.

Eligibility The dancer journey The four pillars Annual season For parents FAQ

Eligibility

Who the program is built for.

Five expectations at the door. They’re practical: the program asks for time and attention, and these are the things that make the year work.

i.

Ages 10 to 19, fifth grade and up
The program reaches from upper-elementary through high school. Dancers can join at any point in the eligibility window and continue through high-school graduation. Chapters may admit dancers who are 9 turning 10 partway through the year, on a case-by-case basis.
ii.

Enrolled at an RTB chapter studio
RTB runs through affiliated dance studios. If your studio isn’t a chapter yet, parents can ask the studio to apply, or you can find a chapter near you.
iii.

Regular dance class attendance
You should already be a consistent dance student. Specific class minimums are set by your chapter studio; the spirit is that the program builds on top of your dance training, not instead of it.
iv.

3.0 GPA at admission, with a footnote
We currently look for a 3.0 GPA at admission. See note below.
v.

A positive attitude in class
You’re showing up to lead younger dancers. That work needs the same respect, attention, and dress-code compliance we’d ask of any classroom assistant.

The dancer journey

From application to alumni, in five steps.

The full picture, end-to-end. Many dancers join in upper elementary or middle school and graduate as scholarship recipients in their senior year, with multiple seasons of leadership and service work behind them.

i. Apply

Apply through your chapter

Pick up an application from your chapter studio (or download it online). Submit transcripts, a short essay, and a recommendation from a dance teacher.
~ 2 weeks
ii. Onboard

Orientation and pillar planning

Meet your chapter director and fellow scholars. Choose your TA assignments, set your service-project goals, and get the season calendar.
Late summer / early fall
iii. Season

Live the four pillars

35 TA classes, 3 studio events, 3 community service projects across the season. Track participation through your chapter; check in quarterly.
~ 9 months / season
iv. Capstone

Senior gala presentation

Seniors present at the annual RTB Gala on what participating in the program has meant to them — a public-speaking capstone in front of family, peers, and chapter directors.
Senior year
v. Scholarship

Apply to the scholarship fund

Dancers who complete all four years are eligible for the RTB National Scholarship Fund, with awards based on level of participation across the four pillars.
Spring of senior year

A note on timing: durations and seasonal calendars vary by chapter. Your chapter director sets the specific dates and rhythm.

The four pillars, in practice

What you’ll actually be doing.

Each pillar has a specific seasonal participation requirement. The numbers below are minimums for scholarship eligibility; chapters often run more.

Leadership

TA classes per season

What it looks like: assisting your chapter studio’s teachers in classes for younger or less-experienced dancers. You’re demonstrating combinations, helping individual students, supporting warm-ups and cool-downs, and over time, taking on small portions of teaching responsibility.

Why we structure it this way. Teaching is the fastest way to consolidate what you know. Forty minutes spent helping a seven-year-old find first position teaches you more about your own technique than another forty minutes of class.

ii.

Responsibility

Studio events per season

What it looks like: volunteering in operations roles at chapter studio events — recital backstage, performance ushering, registration tables. You see how a recital actually happens, and you’re trusted with real responsibility in a real production environment.

Why we structure it this way. A recital looks like magic from the audience. RTB scholars learn the unglamorous side — coordination, timing, troubleshooting — and find out they’re good at it.

iii.

Compassion

Service projects per season

What it looks like: three community service projects per season, with juniors and seniors leading at least one project of their own design each year. Projects are chapter-driven — food drives, performances at senior centers, fundraisers for local partners, charitable dance-a-thons. The community service hours also count toward what selective colleges value in applicants.

Why we structure it this way. Three projects is enough to make service a habit, not a one-off. Leading a project your junior or senior year is where the real growth tends to happen.

iv.

Confidence

Gala presentation, senior year

What it looks like: in your senior year, you present at the annual RTB Gala — a short, prepared talk on what participating in the program has meant to you. The audience is family, fellow scholars, chapter directors, and donors. You write it, you rehearse it, you deliver it.

Why we structure it this way. Public speaking is a standard-issue life skill that’s rarely taught. Doing it once for an audience that genuinely cares about you is a way to start.

Annual season

A typical year in RTB.

The rough rhythm of a season. Specific dates and events are set by each chapter; what follows is the shape most chapters follow.

August – October

Open and assign

Application review and onboarding
TA class assignments
Service-project planning
Annual season kickoff meeting

November – February

In the work

TA classes underway
First service projects
Holiday performances and events
Quarterly check-ins with chapter director

March – May

Recital season

Studio recital prep and operations
Junior & senior leadership projects
Scholarship application window opens
Senior gala presentation rehearsals

June – July

Capstone & close

Annual RTB Gala — senior presentations
Scholarship awards announced
Season-end reflection
Summer break before next season

The cadence above reflects a typical school-year season structure. Chapters in different states or with different recital schedules adjust accordingly — a southern hemisphere chapter or a year-round studio would shift these dates.

For parents

What we ask from you, and what we don’t.

RTB is an opportunity for your dancer to grow into independence. Parent involvement is real but narrow.

What we ask

Get your dancer to RTB events on time, especially during recital and gala season.
Volunteer at the annual RTB Gala or the chapter’s big service event — once a year, low lift.
If you have community connections (employers, civic groups, local businesses), consider introducing the chapter to potential sponsors.
Sign the program agreement with your dancer at onboarding. It’s short.

What we don’t ask

You don’t need to volunteer for the studio’s commercial business operations. RTB is separate from the studio’s for-profit work.
You don’t need to fundraise on your dancer’s behalf. The scholarship fund operates independently.
You don’t need to chaperone every event. Chapter directors and lead parents handle the bulk of supervision.
You don’t need a dance background. Most RTB parents don’t.

For studio owners

Bring an RTB chapter to your studio.

If you run a dance studio with high-school-age students and you’d like to offer them a structured leadership-and-service pathway with scholarship eligibility, you can apply to open an RTB chapter. The annual chapter affiliation fee includes program materials, scholarship fund eligibility for your dancers, and umbrella nonprofit status for chapter fundraising events.

Read about chapters Apply for affiliation

Common questions

What dancers and parents most often ask.

How much does RTB cost dancers?

There’s no cost to dancers to participate in RTB beyond their normal dance studio tuition. The chapter affiliation fee is paid by the studio, not by individual families. Scholarship recipients receive funds toward college expenses; they don’t pay anything to apply.

How much time does the program take?

Across a season, expect roughly 35 TA classes (one to two hours each), three studio events (a few hours each), three community service projects (a few hours each), plus chapter meetings. Most scholars find it adds up to 3–5 hours per week during the active season, on top of their dance training.

Does RTB count for school community service hours?

Yes. RTB tracks participation hours formally, and your chapter director can verify hours for school records. Community service participation is something selective colleges look for in applicants, and a structured, multi-year service commitment like RTB is generally well-regarded.

Can I join in 10th or 11th grade?

Yes. While many scholars start in upper elementary, middle school, or 9th grade, you can join at any point in the eligibility window. To be eligible for the full National Scholarship Fund, you’ll need to complete the four-year participation requirements, but partial-year participants can still participate in chapter activities and may be eligible for chapter-level recognition.

What if my studio isn’t an RTB chapter?

You have two options. Find a chapter near you on the Chapters page, or ask your studio owner to consider applying for affiliation. Studio owners can read about the affiliation process at chapters/apply.

What does the gala presentation involve?

Each senior scholar prepares a 2–5 minute talk on what participating in the program has meant to them. Chapter directors support the writing and rehearsal process; you don’t do it alone. The audience is friendly: family, fellow scholars, chapter leaders, and donors. It’s designed to be a supportive first public-speaking experience.

How does the mood research relate to the program?

At participating chapter studios, the IRB-approved mood study collects anonymous before-and-after ratings via iPad on class days. Participation is voluntary and requires parental consent. The research is open to any consenting dance student at a participating studio — RTB program membership is not required. And in the other direction, RTB program participation never depends on research participation. The two are independent. Read more about the research.

Ready to apply? Start with your chapter.

Every dancer applies through their local chapter. Find yours, contact the chapter director, and ask for the current season’s application packet.

Find a chapter Contact RTB