meet Wendy! dancer, mom, athlete, chemical engineer, dreamer, connecter, champion of everyone, all the time.
Welcome to the Wendy Joan Coulson (WJC) Scholarship Fund, created in honor of one of our most active community members and mom to Rio Dance Studio founder, Madeline.
Wendy has been a part of the dream from the very beginning (literally, Madeline’s first dance class) and embodies the heart of Rio in every way. If you have been to class at Rio, you have likely been the recipient of one of her radiant smiles and warmest welcomes.
The WJC scholarship fund is designed to extend that welcome even further - making dance accessible to those who are not able to participate in Rio semesters due to financial constraints. Scholarships will not be awarded based on skill or experience, but instead on your heart for dance and this community. At Rio, we believe we need more places to dance, imagine, and play - and we believe that these places should be accessible to our entire community.
Those selected for the scholarship will receive half-off tuition for the semester they apply for - the exact amount awarded / remaining tuition due will depend on the semester and the season.
FALL: the application period for the fall semester has closed. applicants will here of their award status by EOD on thurs, 8/27.
WINTER: applications for the winter semester will be open nov 30 through dec 11, with award notification by dec 18. more to come soon!
Interested in contributing to the scholarship fund? click below:
WJC Scholarship Fund F.A.Q.
Who can apply for a scholarship?
Everyone 18+ with a passion to dance at Rio who may be experiencing a financial barrier to taking a semester class. Whether it’s your first time or you’re a long-time student, this is for you.
Are there income or financial requirements?
No. We do not ask for any proof of income in order to apply. We trust that if you apply, this scholarship would be of benefit to you in breaking the financial barrier to enjoying connection and dance at Rio!
I don’t have any dance experience, can I still apply?
Yes! Rio is for everyone 18+, no dance experience required.
What if I can’t afford 50% of tuition?
If you're interested and the remaining tuition is outside of what you can afford, please let us know and we’ll make every attempt to accommodate those selected for the scholarship.
What if I can’t make all of the classes in a semester? We understand life happens and sometimes you will need to miss class. In accordance with our semester policies, no make-up classes will be offered if students miss a semester class. We encourage all scholarship recipients to take full advantage of the scholarship benefit and attend as many classes as possible.
Will I need to pay for any costumes or certain outfits to be able to dance?
We offer classes in the spring semester that perform in the Rio Show, and we strive to keep any costumes free or affordable. However we are happy to work with you if you’d like to perform and the costume is a barrier in any way!
Are there any requirements when the semester is complete?
Yes! We will send you a follow-up form asking about your experience over the semester and with the scholarship. This is a great way for us to gather feedback and improve the WJC Scholarship Program!
If I receive a scholarship, can I apply again for a future semester?
Yes!
If I am accepted, do I need to re-apply to continue my scholarship for a future semester?
Yes, we will ask for new applications for each semester.
Are scholarships available for drop-in classes?
We are currently evaluating interest for drop-in only scholarships! If this is something you are interested in, please indicate that on the form application, or feel free to email us at connect@riodancestudio.com.
What’s expected of me as a scholarship recipient?
All students at Rio are expected to adhere to the culture established in our policies page. Rio reserves the right to revoke scholarship if student is not adhering to studio culture and values.
How do I contribute to this WJC Scholarship Fund?
You can contribute financially or pass along your unused class credits. Please email us at connect@riodancestudio.com for more details.
What is the WJC Scholarship Contribution?
The WJC Scholarship Contribution is a digital "product" you can purchase that lets our customers and community directly support fellow students through the WJC Scholarship Fund. When you make a purchase, the full price (minus standard payment processing fees) is allocated to the fund.
Is this a donation?
No. Rio Dance Studio is a for-profit business, not a registered 501(c)(3) or other nonprofit organization. This purchase is a commercial transaction, not a charitable donation, and is not tax-deductible. We're not able to provide tax receipts or donation letters for this purchase. There will be no product or service received in exchange for this purchase.
Who runs the Scholarship Fund?
The WJC Scholarship Fund is administered directly by Rio Dance Studio. Funds are held in a dedicated account and distributed to recipients selected by Rio staff.