From one Cleveland dancer to a global program.
Founded in 2006 in memory of a mother who loved ballet. Twenty years on, our recipients train and perform across six continents.
The Scholarship was founded in 2006 by E. John Busser in memory of his mother, an avid ballet patron who fostered that same love in her son.
John was an active volunteer with the Cleveland Ballet for over 15 years, and his desire to support this beautiful art form led to the creation of the Scholarship. What started as a small local non-profit, with recipients in the Cleveland, Ohio area, has grown into a global program helping young dancers around the world.
By the numbers
These figures count formal scholarships only. They do not include the dozens of dancers who have received pointe shoes, clothing, smaller grants, and other support over the years.
Where Our Recipients Are Now
Careers that started with a scholarship
Where our recipients come from
- United States
- Canada
- Mexico
- Peru
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Philippines
- Japan
- South Korea
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- Spain
- Portugal
- Kazakhstan
- South Africa
On Stage
Companies our recipients dance for
United States
- Alabama Ballet
- American Ballet Theatre (Studio Co.)
- Avant Chamber Ballet
- Ballet Arkansas
- Ballet Austin
- Ballet Frontier Texas
- Ballet Magnificat
- Ballet Tucson
- Cincinnati Ballet
- First State Ballet
- Houston Ballet
- Miami City Ballet
- Milwaukee Ballet II
- Nevada Ballet II
- Pacific Northwest Ballet
- Pittsburgh Ballet
- Rochester Ballet
- Sacramento Ballet
- Sarasota Ballet
International
- Ballet Municipal de Lima (Peru)
- Ballet Teatro de Colón (Argentina)
- Compañia de Nacho Duato (Spain)
- Dutch National Ballet – Junior Co.
- Korean National Ballet
- Mikhailovsky Ballet (Russia)
- Portuguese Co. for Contemporary Ballet
- The Royal Ballet (England)
- Royal Swedish Ballet
- Zurich Ballet – Junior Co.
Recipients attend some of the top-tier pre-professional programs
- Australian Ballet School
- Boston Ballet
- Canada’s National Ballet School
- Colorado Ballet
- Dutch National Ballet Academy
- European School of Ballet
- Houston Ballet
- JKO School (ABT)
- Miami City Ballet School
- Royal Ballet School
- San Francisco Ballet School
- Vaganova Academy
Help us reach the next hundred
Every gift goes directly to a dancer’s tuition, shoes, and training. The board covers all administrative costs.