Photo: Rosalie O'Connor.

Photo: Rosalie O'Connor.

Photo: Rosalie O'Connor.

Photo: Rosalie O'Connor.

Photo: Erin Baiano.

Photo: Rosalie O'Connor.

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
at American Ballet Theatre

Pre-Professional Division

 
“American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School strives to produce superb dancers who have no technical limitations and are sensitive to different qualities of movement necessary to correctly execute the classical, neoclassical and contemporary vocabularies of dance; dancers who are strong, supple and dance without affectation.”
-Franco De Vita, Principal

American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School is a pre-professional ballet training program for students, ages 12-18. Under the direction of Franco De Vita, Principal, students thrive in an elite atmosphere dedicated to the success of each student. Admission is by audition only.

Curriculum:
The curriculum of ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (JKO) School is the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum, which combines scientific principles with elements from the classic French, Italian, and Russian schools of training. Consistent with the stylistic requirements of ABT, the JKO School aims to provide dancers with a rich knowledge of classical technique and the ability to adapt to all styles and techniques of dance.

Classes include classical ballet technique, pointe, partnering, men’s class, character, modern technique, variations and Pilates. In addition, students participate in the JKO Wellness Lecture Series, designed to educate the JKO students on subjects facing aspiring professional dancers. Lecture topics include Nutrition, Women’s Health, Stress Management, Strength Training, and Resume Writing/ Career Preparation.

The JKO School is also proud to announce our newly expanded Wellness Initiative as part of our Healthy Dancer Curriculum. This initiative focuses on addressing both the physical and psychological needs of our ballet students. Students will participate in a series of professionally run workshops and a new Eating Disorder Prevention Screening Program.

Faculty:
Led by Franco De Vita, Principal, the faculty of ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School includes members of ABT’s Artistic Staff, ABT alumni and other prominent teachers. Learn more about our faculty by clicking on the links below.

Accompanists:
Each class at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School is accompanied by one of our accomplished pianists:

Levels and Schedules:
The school follows a specific graded curriculum, divided by age, which is outlined in the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum. Each level is designed to be sensitive to the developmental needs of the age group. Class size is limited. The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School schedule is intended to accommodate the academic schedules of our students. The class schedules and levels are as follows:

Tuition and Scholarships:
Tuition for the 2013-2014 academic year will be posted as soon as it becomes available. Scholarships are awarded based on merit and need. There is an application process (including family financial information to determine eligibility) for those dancers who are accepted to the program.

Alumni:
Graduates of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre have gone on to dance with the following companies:

2011-2012 Alumni
Claire Davison – American Ballet Theatre
Catherine Hurlin – ABT Studio Company
Pasha Knopp – ABT Studio Company
Hannah Marshall – ABT Studio Company
Kaho Ogawa – American Ballet Theatre
Gabe Stone Shayer – American Ballet Theatre
Sem Sjouke – American Ballet Theatre
Kyle Torres-Hiroshi – ABT Studio Company
Lily Wisdom – American Ballet Theatre
Zhiyao Zhang – American Ballet Theatre

2010-2011 Alumni
Amanda De Oliveira – ABT Studio Company
Beau Fisher – Boston Ballet II
Max Isaacson – Orlando Ballet II
Gabrielle Johnson – American Ballet Theatre
Lindsay Karchin – ABT Studio Company
Shu Kinouchi – Tulsa Ballet
Lucius Kirst – Ballet San Jose
Alex Kramer – Ballet San Jose
Gina-Marie Leathem – Royal New Zealand Ballet
Brianna Steinfeldt – ABT Studio Company
Alison Stroming – Alberta Ballet
Cassandra Trenary – American Ballet Theatre
Paulina Waski – American Ballet Theatre

2009-2010 Alumni
James Applewhite – National Ballet of Canada
Sterling Baca – American Ballet Theatre
Andrea Maria Battaggia – Alberta Ballet
Alisha Brach – LA Ballet
Adji Cissoko – National Ballet of Canada
Thibaut Eiferman – Ballet British Columbia, Canada
Daphne Fernberger – The Juilliard School
Melissa Gelfin – Orlando Ballet
Garrett Groat – Alberta Ballet
Nayara Macedo Lopes – National Ballet of Canada
Jhonatan Mendez – Ballet Grand Diva
Elise Miller – Tulsa Ballet
Cece Montgomery – Colorado Ballet
Lamin Pereira dos Santos – Orlando Ballet
Erika Silverman – Colorado Ballet II
Aaron Smyth – Royal Ballet, London
Jorge Andres Villarini – BalletMet Columbus
Jinho Won – ABT II

2008-2009 Alumni
Kathryn Boren – Berlin Staatsoper, Germany
Skylar Paley Brandt – American Ballet Theatre
Brittany DeGrofft – American Ballet Theatre
Austin Finley – BalletMet Columbus
Jennifer Florquin – Leipzig Ballet, Germany
Melisa Garat – Orlando Ballet II
Colby Parsons – Alberta Ballet
Alberto Rodriguez Velasquez – Joffrey Ballet
Miki Wakuta – Ballet San Jose
Michal Wozniak - Arizona Ballet

2007-2008 Alumni
April Giangeruso – American Ballet Theatre
Jaime Hickey – Joffrey Ballet
Meaghan Hinkis – The Royal Ballet, London
Angela Kenny – Texas Ballet Theater
Jonnathan Ramirez – Tulsa Ballet
Calvin Royal III – American Ballet Theatre

2006-2007 Alumni
Tom Bieszka – Paris Opera Ballet
Dusty Button – Birmingham Royal Ballet, UK
Andrew Daly– Pennsylvania Ballet
Tyler Galster – Leipzig Ballet, Germany
Ty Gurfein – Zurich Ballet, Switzerland
Caitlin Kirschenbaum – Indiana University
Saige Miller – Sarasota Ballet
Lauren Richter – Prague State Opera Ballet
Mara Thompson de la Rosa – ABT II
Demian Vargas – Ballet du Capitole de Toulouse, France
Katherine Williams – American Ballet Theatre

2005-2006 Alumni
Alexandra Basmagy – American Ballet Theatre
Kara Brosky – Richmond Ballet
Lara Clemens – Pennsylvania Ballet II
Sarah Hay – Semperoper Ballet; Dresden, Germany
Davidson Jacanello – Alberta Ballet
Edward Persondek – Sarasota Ballet
Anthony Pina – Alberta Ballet
Devon Teuscher – American Ballet Theatre
Elizabeth Walker – LA Ballet
Faye Hideko Warren – ABT II

2004-2005 Alumni
Elizabeth Aymong – Alabama Ballet
Andrew Brader – LA Ballet
Katrina Dalton – BalletMet Columbus
Alexander Dutko – Miami City Ballet
Corey Landolt – Washington Ballet
Adam Rogers – Kansas City Ballet
Michaeljon Slinger – The Juilliard School
Evan Teitelbaum – The Juilliard School

2004 Alumni
Nicole Graniero – American Ballet Theatre
Steven Melendez – Theatre Vanemuine, Tartu, Estonia
Eric Tamm – American Ballet Theatre

Ballet Studies
Choreography by Raymond Lukens
Performed by the Level 7 Class at the JKO School
Filmed and Edited by Eric Wolfram

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at American Ballet Theatre.
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The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre