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Photo: Erin Baiano.


Tarantella. Choreography by George Balanchine.
© The George Balanchine Trust.
Photo: Erin Baiano.


Photo: Rosalie O'Connor.


Photos: Erin Baiano.

Copyright 2013 Ballet Theatre Foundation, Inc.
All rights reserved.

ABT Studio Company

American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company, formerly ABT II, is a classical ensemble made up of 12 dancers of outstanding potential. The mission of ABT Studio Company is to train young dancers (ages 16-20) in preparation for entering American Ballet Theatre’s main Company or other leading national and international professional ballet companies. The program serves as a bridge between ballet training and professional performance.


Training

Under the Artistic Direction of ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School Principal Franco De Vita, members of this pre-professional training program will participate in an extensive schedule of classes and rehearsals including classical ballet technique, pointe, partnering, men’s technique, character, modern, variations, mime and acting, dance history, ABT’s National Training Curriculum, Pilates and men’s strength training. Workshops in composition, nutrition, women’s health, stress management, injury prevention and audition preparation are also included in the curriculum.


Choreography

ABT Studio Company dancers will work closely with members of ABT’s Artistic Staff and guest faculty to learn ABT repertoire and other masterworks by noted choreographers including George Balanchine, Marius Petipa, August Bournonville, Antony Tudor, Paul Taylor and Jerome Robbins as well as emerging classical and contemporary choreographers.


Performances

Dancers in ABT Studio Company will gain performance experience through residencies, cultural exchanges and regional touring.


Outreach

In order to reach the widest possible audience, ABT is dedicated to developing the next generation of audience members. Participation in outreach programs for children and other selected groups is an important part of the ABT Studio Company mission. ABT Studio Company acts as ABT’s principal outreach arm by participating in educational and outreach programs throughout New York City and beyond.


Current ABT Studio Company

To view the current roster for ABT Studio Company, click here.


Faculty

ABT Artistic faculty members for this program will include: Kevin McKenzie, Franco De Vita, Olga Dvorovenko, Susan Jaffe, Jessica Lang, Raymond Lukens, Kate Lydon, Clarice Marshall, Nancy Raffa, Lupe Serrano and Martine van Hamel.


Schedule

ABT Studio Company dancers will train at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at ABT Monday through Friday from 11:00am-6:00pm.


Alumni

More than half of the dancers in ABT’s main Company started their career in ABT Studio Company, including Principal Dancers Herman Cornejo, David Hallberg and Cory Stearns and Soloists Isabella Boylston, Yuriko Kajiya and Hee Seo. Dancers from ABT Studio Company have also gone on to join such notable companies as Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Houston Ballet, Staatsballet Berlin, The Washington Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Alberta Ballet and The Royal Ballet.