Dance

Rebecca Fleisher Scholarship

Congratulations to Grace Shatz, the 2023-2024 Rebecca Fleisher Scholarship Recipient

14 year old Coahulla Creek High School student Grace Shatz has been named this year’s Rebecca Fleisher Scholarship recipient in the Creative Arts Guild Dance Department. Through her work ethic, discipline, natural talent, kind spirit, and dedication, Grace has made herself an obvious choice for this coveted scholarship. In addition to her regular 4-5 day a week dance class load, she has also been a participant in our Youth America Grand Prix program for the past two years. This class meets an additional hour and a half weekly, plus a monthly private lesson, and culminates in an international ballet competition in Atlanta each year. Grace has danced with the Creative Arts Guild for 8 years, and has spent the last three years in our pre-professional company Ballet Dalton. She is set to embark on her 4th year in company, and will be seen this winter in the coveted role of “Kay” in our 18th annual Snow Queen.

Beyond her dance load, Grace is an honors student at Coahulla, and is a member of Beta Club, and their Theatre/Drama Department. In her spare time, she volunteers at the Humane Society of Northwest, Georgia.  Grace is a treasure in the Guild Dance Department and a cherished member of her company. We are thrilled to have her as our 2023-24 Rebecca Fleisher Scholarship recipient!

What is the Rebecca Fleisher Scholarship?

Rebecca Morris FleisherEstablished in 1985 by Morris Fleisher and Harold Shapiro, the Rebecca Fleisher Scholarship for Dance is awarded each year in perpetuity to one or more deserving students.  Each year, the Creative Arts Guild selects dance students who have shown great promise but are challenged by the cost of tuition. 

Scholarship awards are based on financial need; students wishing to receive a scholarship will submit an application for review and approval by the Dance Program Director, the Guild Executive Director, and the Board.  Requests for applications may be made to the Dance Program Director, Jessie Fincher.

Rebecca Fleisher was such a gifted dancer that when she was only 11 years old she was asked to teach ballet to other young students at her dance school.  Her gracefulness and passion for dance, from classical ballet to ballroom dancing, permeated her life.  Rebecca lived in Dalton with her husband, Morris, for many years.  Her family hopes that this scholarship will inspire the recipients to make dance a fundamental and meaningful part of their lives.

 In 2014 the family established a similar scholarship endowment to assist students in the Visual Arts program.  The endowment is named after Rebecca's husband Morris Fleisher and provides scholarships to aspiring young artists who show great promise but who are challenged by the cost of tuition.  

Find out information about the Morris Fleisher Scholarship for the Visual Arts