On March 23, 2020 virtual learning entered the homes of not only our ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School students through live Zoom classes, but also those of dancers, students, teachers and fans across the United States and worldwide.

The ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and the Children’s Division have always promoted creativity, a student’s highest potential, and the ability to provide educational programming of the highest quality. Each year, the Children’s Division serves approximately 360 students between the ages of 3 and 12, plus an additional 20 students through the ABTots, two-year old parent and child engagement program.  This spring, through new virtual programming offerings, students and families from around the world are able to join Children’s Division classes, experience JKO faculty first-hand, and access the ABT National Training Curriculum from their own homes!

Each week, 7,500-9,000 people worldwide join our virtual Primary or ABTots classes by tuning into @ABTSchool on Instagram or the ABT YouTube Channel.  Dancers of all ages, backgrounds, and experience have the opportunity to participate in daily classes in ballet movement taught by former ABT dancers, faculty from the ABT JKO School, and ABT teaching artists, including Leann Underwood and Sarah Smith.  Classes engage ballet’s youngest students and their families by exploring musicality, fostering creativity and imagination, and teaching ballet fundamentals.

All classes are pre-recorded and saved on the @ABTSchool IGTV Feed as well as the YouTube Channel following the initial broadcast, allowing families to go back and participate at any time!