Broadway veteran and alumna Caitlin Carter makes $1M gift to establish ballet scholarship in the UNCSA School of Dance

The School of Dance at UNCSA has announced a $1 million planned gift from Broadway actor/singer/dancer Caitlin Carter (H.S. Dance ’82) to establish a scholarship that will provide one out-of-state high school ballet student per year with full tuition, room and board.

This transformational gift is part of a wider trend of UNCSA alumni making significant philanthropic commitments to the university, including a $1 million donation last winter by Drama alumnus and Broadway icon Joe Mantello.

Caitlin Carter

“Caitlin’s commitment to UNCSA reflects a profound belief in our role in preparing exceptional students for the stage, screen, and behind the scenes,” said UNCSA Chancellor Brian Cole. “Gifts like hers make the exceptional training offered at UNCSA accessible to talented students with the determination to succeed, opening doors for the next generation of emerging dancers.”

“We are so grateful for this wonderful gift from Caitlin,” said School of Dance Dean Endalyn T. Outlaw. “She has been deeply supportive of our efforts to prepare dancers for a rapidly changing arts landscape. What she has accomplished as a professional is an inspiration for our dancers, and with this gift she is giving them material support as well as an incredible example to follow.”

Carter is a graduate of the high school ballet program in the School of Dance. She began her career in ballet with a regional company in Texas before deciding to continue her education at Rice University in Houston. While there, she became involved with Theater Under the Stars, a professional nonprofit musical theater company.

“They needed a solo dancer for the musical ‘Kismet,’ and someone had passed my name along to them,” said Carter. “I came in. I auditioned. I sang. They gave me the show, and then they asked me if I wanted to do the whole next season. I graduated from Rice, continued to work regionally, and eventually made my way to New York.”

Carter credits her training at UNCSA as giving her an edge when she started her career. “You never know where solid training and a willingness to take chances is going to take you,” she said. “Everybody has a different path. You have to be open to possibilities, and having a comprehensive education and rigorous coaching is going to lead you to a lot of places. My strong ballet technique made me stand out when I got to Broadway. I hope that this scholarship will help future generations of performers stand out on any stage.”

Carter’s eight Broadway credits include “Victor/Victoria,” “Swing,” and “Chicago,” for which she also served as the original dance captain. She later worked on “Jersey Boys” and “Putnam County Spelling Bee” as a supervisor and assistant choreographer. She also worked on national touring productions, regional theater productions, commercials, films, and television shows as both a performer and choreographer. Carter also served for 14 years as a board member of Career Transition For Dancers, a nonprofit that assists professional dancers in identifying and pursuing post-dance careers. She currently serves on the Dancers Advisory committee at The Entertainment Community Fund, and is a nominator for the Chita Rivera Awards, which promote and recognize dance and choreographic excellence on stage (Broadway and off-Broadway) and in film.

The gift is one of a several recent estate gifts to the university — commitments made through will bequests and other planned giving tools. “I tell all my friends, make sure you do your estate planning now,” Carter said. “If you want to give back, this is a way you can extend your ability to do so. This is a way to ensure the future of UNCSA.”

Carter’s gift comes as UNCSA prepares for a comprehensive campaign centered on transformational initiatives such as readying students to launch successful careers in the arts with less financial burden. Other recently announced campaign gifts include a $10.1 million gift from Randy and Kamu Dishmon of Winston-Salem to establish the American Roots Music Institute in the School of Music, and a $5.3 million gift from Joy and Michael Rave of New Bern and Winston-Salem to support the UNCSA Library. For more information about supporting UNCSA philanthropically, visit uncsa.edu/giving.

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January 08, 2026