14+ Dance Scholarship Foundation

The 14+ Dance Scholarship Foundation was incorporated in 2004 to establish, fund and maintain scholarship programmes to promote the practice and understanding of dance throughout New Zealand. Scholarships are awarded annually to teachers for further training, and at a biennial event to talented RAD dancers showing outstanding ability and potential.

In 2004, 14 was the minimum number of Founder members required to ensure funding for the first 10 years of the RAD Scholarship Programme. 26 pledged to the vision which was a ‘plus’, hence the name 14+ Dance Scholarship Foundation. To fund the biennial event whilst ensuring the longevity of this programme, the generous support of donors is essential.

Scholarships and Awards

The INSPIRE Award

This award of $8,000 was established in 2004 to recognise the most outstanding dancer at the biennial event. Originally called the 14+ Dance Scholarship Award it was renamed the INSPIRE Award in 2024.

Elvira Macrae Award

In 2013 Elvira Macrae, a former very successful RAD teacher in Tauranga, made a generous donation to provide a further award of $6,000. A second substantial donation in 2020 led to the creation of the Gloria Macrae Finalists’ Awards, which are presented to the finalists of the 14+ event.

Sir Jon Trimmer Award

This award of $4,000 was established in 2024 to acknowledge and celebrate the enormous contribution of Sir Jon Trimmer to ballet in NZ. Trained in the RAD syllabi, excelling in the prestigious Solo Seal in 1953. Sir Jon has been an inspiration, teacher and mentor to generations of NZ dancers and dance enthusiasts.

thumbnailBrionyTeaching-CharlotteKiriPhotography-3 - Royal Academy of Dance

Creina Gee Memorial Award

In 2006 the family of Creina Gee, former NZ RAD dance teacher and examiner, established the Creina Gee Memorial Award to provide financial assistance for dance teachers or trainee dance teachers to undertake courses of study.

Since 2004, The Foundation has awarded over $188,000 to students and teachers.

From the alumni of the three major awards, seven are currently dancing with a professional company and six have danced professionally and are now retired from performing; eight awards were used to fund studies in Australia and eight at the NZ School of Dance.

Become a donor

In order to ensure the continuation and strengthening of the 14+ Dance Scholarship Foundation into the future, we need donors. Support the dance community and fledging dance talent in NZ by committing to be part of our donation programme.

Increase the accessibility of dance in over 80 countries

Help support our flagship event, The Fonteyn

Continue the ripple effect of teachers inspiring over 3,000 dancers throughout their career

Support bursaries to enable over 250 examinations take place across the globe

Donate to the RAD

NZ Inspire awards - Royal Academy of Dance

INSPIRE 14+ Dance Scholarship event and awards

Held Biennially, the Inspire 14+ Dance Scholarship Awards offer scholarships for up and coming dancers in New Zealand. The next Inspire event is on Sunday 8th September 2024 in Wellington.

Click here for more information →

14+ Patrons and Trustees

Anne Rowse ONZM

Anne-rowse-bio-272x300 - Royal Academy of Dance

Anne began her professional career as a dancer with London’s Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet). She danced with them for 10 years travelling all over the world and rose to the ranks of Soloist. On her return to New Zealand, she joined her former teacher, Dorothy Daniels, and became a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance. Anne became a freelance tutor at the National School of Ballet under the directorship of Russell Kerr. In 1978 she was appointed Director. It was during her tenure the School became known as the New Zealand School of Dance and the contemporary dance programme was introduced to the School. She retired from the Directorship in 1993.

Anne has held advisory positions on several Arts Council Committees and has been a Trustee of the National Dance Archive. Anne was a member of the Footnote Dance Board for more than ten years and also the Chairperson of the Dorothy Daniels Dance Foundation. She was Australasian Representative to the Council of the Royal Academy of Dance from 1999-2001 and is Patron of the 14 + Dance Foundation.

In 2001, Anne was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of her services to ballet and dance.

14+ Dance Scholarship Foundation Trustees

14+ Dance Scholarship Foundation