Week of May 18-22, 2020
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Welcome to ABTKids Daily, American Ballet Theatre’s new home for families and educators to discover digital content for their virtual classrooms. Join us each day to Meet an ABT Dancer, engage with an ABT Teaching Artist, learn fun facts and enjoy ballet-themed activities from the comfort of your own home.
As America’s National Ballet Company®, ABT is dedicated to preserving and extending the great legacy of classical dancing, through exciting performances and educational programming of the highest quality, presented to the widest possible audience.
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Explore this week’s materials below or view the archive here.
To Read
To Watch
To Do
Join as she shares her experience in the famous “Kingdom of the Shades” scene from the iconic ballet La Bayadère.
What is the total number of shades and swans?
(Hint: there are the same number of swans in each row.)
Join one of ABT’s Teaching Artists as they introduce you to one of ABT’s fabulous ballets. Learn a dance, stop and sketch, and don’t forget to have fun!
Up this week: Ms. Wendy!
This week we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the landmark ballet La Bayadère! Set in India, this ballet follows the love story of a temple dancer, Nikiya, and a young warrior named Solor who is forced to marry the daughter of the wealthy Rajah.
Today we look back at the many dancers that have brought these iconic roles of Nikiya and Solor to life for American Ballet Theatre.
Every Thursday we pull a photo from our archives and share it with one of our ABT dancers. You never know what stories may come from a single snapshot!
“This photo brings so many beautiful memories to my mind! I was an ABT JKO School student at the time and I was performing the Jean de Brienne variation from Raymonda Pas de Dix. In this picture I am doing the tendu just before the last pirouette – it is a very demanding variation (and you can see in my big smile that I was pretty satisfied and almost relieved by that point). I still remember all the amazing advice I got from Franco De Vita, Raymond Lukens, Martine van Hamel and Mikhail Ilyin, and how much fun the process was that led me there.
That was also my first performance with the ABT family and my first year living in New York City. Moving to America from Italy was very hard, especially since my family couldn’t be there for me when you need them. But the JKO School became my family. Looking back, I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to be in such a special environment. I’m very thankful for the training and everything that I’ve learned. My time as a JKO School student was so precious and all of those memories will forever be in my heart.
And last but not least, let’s talk about that costume: I was wearing the original costume from 1980 when ABT premiered Raymonda, staged by Mikhail Baryshnikov. I felt very special; I was wearing a beautiful piece of both art and history.
Positivity, hard work and passion will make your dreams come true. Now it’s your turn ABTKids! Keep dancing and, most importantly, keep smiling!”
Write about a time when you were on your own and away from your family or support network and found success.
Provide the words below and create your own version of the La Bayadère story!
@ABTSchool offers virtual classes taught by former ABT dancers, ABT JKO School faculty and ABT teaching artists – all certified in the ABT National Training Curriculum.
These classes will engage ABT’s youngest students and their families, as well as the global community at large, by exploring musicality, fostering creativity and imagination, and teaching ballet fundamentals.
Mon & Wed @2:00pm: Primary (Ages 5-8)
Tue & Thu @10:00am: ABTots (Ages 2-4)