April 2025—The Verdi-Fletcher Dance and Disability Scholarship Fund was created by Robert Fletcher, Susan Ingle, and Mary Verdi-Fletcher to support and grow physically integrated dance (PID) in Ohio. This fund will provide scholarships for both students and instructors who are passionate about inclusive dance and want to advance their training in this specialized field.
Funds will be allocated in partnership with the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education with guidance from the Ohio Arts Council.
Mary Verdi-Fletcher is America’s first professional wheelchair dancer and the President/Founding Artistic Director of the Dancing Wheels Company & School; the first physically integrated dance company in the U.S. Mary’s lifelong quest has been to make dance fully inclusive and accessible to all people. Mary’s husband Robert and sister-in-law Susan share this important mission thereby creating this Fund to continue and expand this work by reducing the financial burden on the learning process. Scholarships of up to $5,000 will be granted to aspiring dancers with physical disabilities who dream of equitable, integrated dance training on a professional level. Eligible students must be willing to train in Ohio (students from anywhere are welcome), have a physical disability and commit to rigorous dance training with a qualified instructor. Training options can include College or university dance programs, Ohio-based residencies, community classes or intensive training sessions.
Scholarships for Dance Instructors of up to $5,000 will also be made available to dance professionals who want to make their classes more accessible and inclusive. This scholarship will provide funding for instructors to gain hands-on experience in physically integrated dance (PID) and bring that knowledge back to their students. Eligible candidates must be willing to train in Ohio (open to U.S. and international applicants), be qualified to teach dance, and have a strong interest in expanding their teaching to include PID.
Applications will be open for submission on the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education’s website commencing April 1, 2025, with final determination made by July 2025.
For more information about the Fund, visit www.oaae.net/verdifletcher.