The theater is silent. Pitch black darkness fills the space.

Those seated in the crowded hall wait with bated breath for the next dancer to take the stage.

A woman’s voice, monotone and strong, booms out of the speakers, “Number 576, Lyvia Baldner, ‘Introduction.’”

The set comes to life, royal blue lights shining in the back, creating an atmosphere of tranquility. Adorned in a black dress, a girl, then high school senior Lyvia Baldner, slowly makes her way into the center of the spotlight.

The music crackles to life.

“If you are aware of a state for which you call ‘is…’”

Baldner begins to glide across the stage, while the voice of writer Alan Watts consumes the theater. She turns and moves with the words, letting them overcome her.

“On the contrary, it takes nothing to have something…”

The peaceful music paired with the philosophical teachings of Watts and Baldner’s choreography captivate the audience.

They are hypnotized. 

Baldner reaches out to the audience, stretched forward, a look of longing on her face.

“The most real state is the state of nothingness.”

One final push off the ground and Baldner turns her back to the audience, finalizing her performance as the music abruptly ceases.

“And that’s what it’s going to all come to.”

The crowd erupts into applause, and the ballerina pivots to face them. She bows with the brightest smile on her face, a smile people only beam when they are doing something they truly love.

According to Dr. Harry Parker, chair of the TCU Department of Theatre, Baldner has “the disease for which there is no cure.”

Reality sets in

Like most other hobbies and passions, fine arts programs and those that pursue them struggle to find the funds necessary for the constant transactions that come with them. Whether it be low exposure or lower popularity, students of the arts experience what it is like to struggle for what they love. 

Parker believes a major issue is the low number of high school students exposed to the arts. 

“Secondary schools across the county have cut arts programs when states cut their budgets, and the loss is profound for these students,” said Parker. 

Nolley wholeheartedly agrees. 

“The arts don’t get the same funding that some things like sports do, especially in Texas,” said Nolley.

Because of this, Nolley explained that students and families, like her own, are forced to pay a lot more and donate out-of-pocket to arts programs in order for them to stay alive. 

"The older I got, the more expensive my dance education got… It seemed that there always was a new additional fee that would sneak its way into our expenses," Baldner added.

Other students said that just taking acting classes or being a part of a high school production can cost money.

They expressed gratitude for their parents, who they say played pivotal roles in supporting their dreams.

“I come from a single-parent household, and my mom has struggled financially off and on for years,” Nolley said. “I always knew I was really lucky in that my mom supports my dreams and did everything in her power to help me achieve them, but it is a weight to know that she has given up a lot for me.”

Lewis also said her mother contributed greatly to her success in the arts as she was growing up.

“If I wanted to do it, she was going to find a way to make it happen,” Lewis said. 

Unfortunately, not all students are able to rely on parental aid for out-of-pocket costs.

Kirsch has been relying on her own painting commissions since she was about 15 years old. The revenue from these commissions cover her supplies and extra expenses. 

“Nothing is free, nothing is cheap,” Kirsch said. “This limits a lot of people who don’t come from financially stable or supportive families.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a new burden on fine arts students, especially those most interested in auditioning for shows. 

Students must find their own accommodations in order to do so, and sophomore musical theatre major Nijel Smith shared that quarantine only increased the need for self-taping equipment.

“At times, it can get very pricey,” Smith said. “And the idea of seeing it as an investment can get hard.”

University aid

As students begin to make decisions for where they want to pursue a future in the arts, finances are brought into the spotlight.  

Theatre students often have to choose between multiple offers from different universities, similar to athletes, said Parker.

However, unlike athletics, the scholarship money that is offered to these students can vary greatly. Coupled with TCU's cost of tuition, Parker said his department is always “scrambling to find enough financial aid to land the top students.”

The theatre department has several endowed scholarships, but most financial aid for students comes from a pool of money provided each year by the TCU Financial Aid office.

Students in the School of Art also receive a similar grant.

“I have a merit scholarship that pays for most of my tuition as well as supplies I may need in order to be a college painter,” Kirsch said. 

Lewis believes that all the components for fine arts majors, from lessons with an accompanist to a new pair of jazz shoes, can add up to be very expensive.

“Once again, we’re broke college kids who don’t have extra money to spare,” Lewis said. “Some people don’t have access to those who can help them, and to me people like that could become very important, and in the future I would love to be a resource for people like that.”

Smith echoed Lewis's comment and noted many students are talented but unable to afford top-level programs.

"The number of kids that are talented and hardworking enough to go to top name schools for fine arts but are unable to afford it is staggering,” Smith said.