Students work with an ABT Teaching Artist to learn dance concepts and apply them to a piece of ABT repertory, or to a curricular theme chosen collaboratively by the school and ABT. This program requires a minimum of two sessions. A residency of five or more sessions allows for the program to culminate with a student showing for peers.

Students work with an ABT Teaching Artist to learn choreographic techniques and processes and apply them to a piece of ABT repertory, or to a theme chosen collaboratively by the school and ABT. These residencies encourage creative problem solving in small group settings and the development of dance literacy, as students work to master their own interpretations of the chosen ballet or material. This residency requires a minimum of five sessions.

Students work with an ABT Design Teaching Artist to explore costumes and/or scenic design elements specific to a chosen performance. Design concepts will be linked to the performance students attend, though the designs themselves will be informed by each school’s needs. This program is ideal for schools looking to enhance their existing dance or drama program, or as an addendum to an ABT Dance Residency. The Design Residency requires a minimum of two sessions.

All New York metropolitan area schools are eligible to apply for this program, with preference given to schools in NYC’s five boroughs.

To enroll, complete the above application form and designate a responsive Primary Contact/Program Coordinator who will serve as a liaison between your school and American Ballet Theatre. After completing the application form, please have your Principal and the Primary Contact sign and return the completed application form. If the Principal is also acting as the Primary Contact, please fill in his/her name for both fields.

Schools enrolled in this program will receive seasonal invitations to request up to 100 complimentary tickets to American Ballet Theatre performances, as allowed by our Ticket Distribution Structure below. Invitations for the Spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House will be sent to all enrolled schools in March.

Participating in this program builds a relationship between ABT and your school. Schools successfully participating in our Ticket Distribution program will receive first notice of all contests and performance opportunities for New York area schools and will be the first schools to be considered for grant-funded, in-school residencies.

By submitting the application, the school is agreeing to adhere to the program’s Rules and Regulations below. We look forward to your participation and hope to see you soon at the ballet!

Responsibilities of School

• Principal must provide knowledge and support of partnership and assign a Program Coordinator who has appropriate time and position to manage the program.
• The designated Program Coordinator must provide effective communication between the principal, faculty, parents, and American Ballet Theatre.
• In order to maintain or advance their Tier, as described in the Distribution Structure below, we require that schools make every effort to ensure that all requested tickets are used.
• Schools agree to utilize all requested tickets. If there are tickets that will not be utilized, the school must notify ABT in a timely manner.
• Schools must provide an adequate number of chaperones during all visits to the ballet.

Ticket Distribution Guidelines

There are many ways to successfully distribute tickets to your school. Below are a few suggestions:

• A teacher can distribute the allotted tickets to his/her class. The school provides buses and teacher chaperones.
• Tickets may be distributed to arts-based classes.
• Tickets can be distributed directly to families; one ticket for the student and one for a parent. However, there must be a school representative at the performance.
• One parent may act as a chaperone for several students whose parents are unable to attend. We suggest no more than five children per parent.

ABT Policies

• In order to successfully enroll in the program, schools must sign and return the Application Form.
• Schools that do not fully comply with their responsibilities will be placed on conditional status, and may be moved to seats in a lower tier (see Distribution Structure below).
• A second offense will result in the removal of the school from the ABT Ticket Distribution program.

Upon initial enrollment, schools are placed in Tier 3. Complimentary TA visits can be used to offset costs of residency programs.

*Minimum requirement: school must take at least 75 tickets and use 85+% of them.

**Mandatory for Tier 4 schools to regain ticketing privileges after a one season probation period.