The ABT JKO School at The Lawrence A. Wein Center for Dance and Theater is located at 890 Broadway between 19th and 20th Streets in New York City. After checking in with building staff, an elevator will take you to the receptionist’s desk on the 3rd floor. Enrolled ABT JKO Students may take the elevator directly to the 4th floor.

Important to note: 890 Broadway building policies do not permit large strollers in the elevators at any time. If a family must bring a stroller to ABT, the stroller must be able to fold up upon arrival to the building to fit in the elevator. Strollers are not permitted to be left in the lobby.

Our goal is to create engaging, appropriate, and challenging classrooms for all students in the program while adhering to the guidelines for age and student development in ABT’s National Training Curriculum.

Auditions are not necessary for our Primary Levels (ages 3-7). All placement in our Primary Levels is based on student date of birth. Space is extremely limited.

All students interested in enrolling in Levels 1A through 3B (ages 8-12) must participate in one of the Children’s Division open auditions. Faculty will place students into the appropriate level upon acceptance. Students in this age group are expected to have previous ballet training and knowledge of basic ballet vocabulary.

The ABT JKO School Artistic Faculty takes placement very seriously. Every school year, each student receives two written progress reports: the first is a mid-year evaluation from his/her faculty member and the second is a National Training Curriculum assessment class.

Students do not automatically progress from one level to the next each academic year; remaining in one level for more than one year is common. Placement and promotion decisions are based on the student’s age, stage of emotional and physical development, technical ability, facility, and potential, observations during assessment, faculty recommendation, and the Director’s discretion.

Students who have completed their Level 3 training and are ready to graduate from the Children’s Division can audition for the Pre-Professional Division at the end of the school year. The auditions are evaluated by ABT Artistic Staff. Due to the program size, physical intensity, and technical strength required for the Pre-Professional Division, we cannot guarantee acceptance to the Pre-Professional Division for all former Children’s Division students.

The Children’s Division school year runs from September to May and is divided into two semesters. The fall semester begins in September — shortly after Labor Day — and ends in December for winter recess. The spring semester starts in January and ends in late May.

Students must enroll for the full academic year (September – May). A mid-year enrollment in Pre-Primary through Primary C may be possible, but only if space is available.

Registration for each school year (September-May) for new students begins in June. If spaces in our open enrollment levels becomes available mid-year, selected students on our waitlist would be given the opportunity to register.

Parents and outside guests cannot regularly observe classes. One week at the end of each semester is open to parents/guests of enrolled students only.

ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School Children’s Division students have the opportunity to participate in an annual performance or in-studio showcase during the spring semester.  Participation in the Spring performance is optional and does not affect a student’s placement or progression through the ABT Training ladder.

Additionally, students in Levels 2A-3B may have the opportunity to participate in supernumerary roles (“supers”) with American Ballet Theatre during the Fall and Spring seasons at the David H. Koch Theater and during the Summer season at the Metropolitan Opera House. Casting decisions are made with considerable thought and care, and many factors go into the selection of students including height, costume fit, technical ability, movement, spatial awareness, and behavior.

There is no financial aid offered for the ABT JKO School Children’s Division. Scholarships are awarded based on merit only. Scholarships are awarded at the time of acceptance to the program at the discretion of the Artistic Faculty. All students are taken into consideration for scholarships and there is no formal application process. Scholarships are extremely limited.

Email jkochildren@abt.org or call the ABT JKO School Hotline at 212-477-3030 extension 3339. All current students should also report their absences here.

Pre-registration is required.

The open audition will include a full ballet technique class (barre, center and across the floor). Students in this age group are expected to have previous ballet training and knowledge of basic ballet vocabulary.

Students who audition for Levels 1A through 3 of the Children’s Division will be notified within two to three weeks of the open audition via email. Upon acceptance, students will also be informed of their level for the upcoming school year. All results are final.

Students interested in auditioning for Levels 1A-3B of the Children’s Division should attend a in-person open audition. If a student cannot make one of the in-person auditions, they should email JKOChildren@abt.org to see if a video audition would be possible.

Please note: video auditions are not guaranteed, and students cannot audition via private class audition.

Email jkochildren@abt.org or call the ABT JKO School Hotline at 212-477-3030 ext. 3339.