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ABT Studio Company

Raymonda pas de deux. Photo: Rosalie O’Connor.

ABT Studio Company

American Ballet Theatre Studio Company seeks to develop the next generation of ballet dancers, choreographers and audiences.

The central mission of ABT Studio Company is to prepare its exceptionally promising dancers (ages 17-21) for careers in American Ballet Theatre’s main Company or other leading ballet companies worldwide. ABT Studio Company serves as the crucial vehicle for transitioning from student to professional performer. Over 80% of current American Ballet Theatre dancers are alumni of ABT Studio Company, including fifteen Principal Dancers and eight Soloists.

Each season, ABT Studio Company commissions emerging and/or established choreographers to create new works on Studio Company dancers, serving as a platform for new choreography.

ABT Studio Company engages the broadest possible ballet audience by performing classical, neoclassical and contemporary repertoire in a range of venues around the globe.

About ABT Studio Company

Photo: Erin Baiano

Training

Under ABT Studio Company Artistic Director Sascha Radetsky, ABT Studio Company members participate in an extensive schedule of classes and rehearsals. Classes include classical ballet technique, partnering, pointe, character, variations, acting, contemporary, choreography composition, music, Pilates, and strength & conditioning training. Workshops in nutrition, health and wellness, stress management, injury prevention, and other topics are also included in the curriculum. ABT Studio Company dancers train Monday through Saturday at American Ballet Theatre’s studios.

View our Faculty

Photo: Erin Baiano.

Repertory

ABT Studio Company dancers work closely with members of ABT’s Artistic Staff and guest faculty to learn ABT repertoire and other masterworks of the classical and neoclassical canons. ABT Studio Company also supports the development of choreographic talent, engaging a wide variety of choreographers to create original pieces on the dancers each season. Performances feature a dynamic mixed program of classical and neoclassical excerpts and new works.

Present ABT Studio Company

Tarantella, Choreography by George Balanchine © The Balanchine Trust. Photo: Kyle Froman.

Performances & Touring

ABT Studio Company dancers share the professionalism and artistry of ABT with wide audiences through touring, residencies, and cultural exchanges, throughout the US and abroad.

View Upcoming Performances

Community Engagement

ABT Studio Company is dedicated to developing the next generation of audience members and aspiring dancers. In addition to providing the highest quality training for its dancers, ABT Studio Company participates in educational and community engagement activities throughout New York City and beyond.

Current Dancers

 


ABT Studio Company for the 2024-2025 Season
Photo: Emma Zordan.

ABT Studio Company Performances

Please check back for updates about ABT Studio Company’s 2024-2025 season performances and tours.

Visit ABT Studio Company’s Instagram page or the ABT Studio Company section of ABT’s YouTube Channel for more digital content.

Upcoming

Jan

31

Friday

ABT Studio Company at University of Georgia Performing Arts Center

7:30 pm / University of Georgia Performing Arts Center / Athens, Georgia

ABT Studio Company performs a dynamic mixed-repertoire program, featuring classical and neoclassical excerpts plus original commissions.

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Feb

01

Saturday

ABT Studio Company at University of Georgia Performing Arts Center

2:00 pm / University of Georgia Performing Arts Center / Athens, Georgia

ABT Studio Company performs a dynamic mixed-repertoire program, featuring classical and neoclassical excerpts plus original commissions.

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Feb

28

Friday

ABT Studio Company at Bard College
featuring The Orchestra Now

7:30 pm / Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts / Annandale-on-Hudson, New York

Two of New York’s finest artistic training programs join forces as the talented graduate musicians of The Orchestra Now welcome the exceptional dancers of ABT Studio Company to the Fisher Center at Bard for an exhilarating performance of stirring music and beautiful dance conducted by ABT Principal Conductor Charles Barker.

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Mar

01

Saturday

ABT Studio Company at Bard College
featuring The Orchestra Now

7:30 pm / Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts / Annandale-on-Hudson, New York

Two of New York’s finest artistic training programs join forces as the talented graduate musicians of The Orchestra Now welcome the exceptional dancers of ABT Studio Company to the Fisher Center at Bard for an exhilarating performance of stirring music and beautiful dance conducted by ABT Principal Conductor Charles Barker.

Buy Tickets

Mar

07

Friday

ABT Studio Company at Field Hall

7:30 pm / Field Hall / Port Angeles, Washington

ABT Studio Company performs a dynamic mixed-repertoire program, featuring classical and neoclassical excerpts plus original commissions.

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Mar

08

Saturday

ABT Studio Company at Field Hall
Family Friendly Matinee

2:00 pm / Field Hall / Port Angeles, Washington

ABT Studio Company performs a narrated, family friendly matinee, featuring classical and neoclassical excerpts plus original commissions.

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Mar

11

Tuesday

ABT Studio Company at University of Nevada Las Vegas

7:30 pm / Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, University of Nevada Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nevada

ABT Studio Company performs a dynamic mixed-repertoire program, featuring classical and neoclassical excerpts plus original commissions.

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Mar

13

Thursday

ABT Studio Company at Pepperdine University

7:30 pm / Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts, Pepperdine University / Malibu, California

ABT Studio Company performs a dynamic mixed-repertoire program, featuring classical and neoclassical excerpts plus original commissions.

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Mar

14

Friday

ABT Studio Company at Clark Center for the Performing Arts

8:00 pm / Clark Center for the Performing Arts / Arroyo Grande, California

ABT Studio Company performs a dynamic mixed-repertoire program, featuring classical and neoclassical excerpts plus original commissions.

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Mar

16

Sunday

ABT Studio Company at ABT Studio Company at Haugh Performing Arts Center

2:00 pm / Haugh Performing Arts Center / Glendora, California

ABT Studio Company performs a dynamic mixed-repertoire program, featuring classical and neoclassical excerpts plus original commissions.

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Faculty

Photo: Fabrizio Ferri.

Susan Jaffe

ABT Artistic Director

View Susan's Bio

Photo: Kyle Froman

Sascha Radetsky

Artistic Director, ABT Studio Company

View Sascha's Bio

Yan Chen

Rehearsal Director, ABT Studio Company

View Yan's Bio

Photo: Jade Young.

Luciana Paris

Contributing Rehearsal Director, ABT Studio Company

View Luciana's Bio
Choreographer Lauren Lovette working with ABT Studio Company
Lauren Lovette working with ABT Studio Company. Photo: Rosalie O'Connor.

Choreographers

ABT Studio Company seeks to nurture choreographic talent, commissioning choreographers at various stages of their careers to create new works on the group. Choreographers for the 2024-2025 season include Madison Brown and Houston Thomas.

ABT Studio Company is proud to participate in the ABT Women’s Movement, developing new works by female choreographers each season.

Other recent ABT Studio Company choreographers include Stefanie Batten Bland, Gemma Bond, Hope Boykin, Rena Butler, Ma Cong, Brady Farrar, Amy Hall Garner, Dana Genshaft, Sung Woo Han, Larry Keigwin, Emily Kikta & Peter Walker, Jessica Lang, Yannick Lebrun, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Lauren Lovette, Benjamin Millepied, Marco Pelle, Jamar Roberts, Claudia Schreier, Ethan Stiefel, and James Whiteside.

Auditions

Dancers auditioning for ABT Studio Company should ideally be between the ages of 17 and 20 years old and exhibit an advanced level of ballet training. Positions in ABT Studio Company are extremely limited.

An in-person audition will be held in New York City on Sunday, January 5 as part of ABT’s Summer Intensive National Audition Tour. Please see below for details and to pre-register.

Video auditions for the 2025-2026 season will be accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. Please see below for instructions for submitting video auditions.

Other than submitting a video audition or attending an open audition, auditions are by invitation only.

In-Person Auditions

An in-person audition will be held on Sunday, January 5, 2025 from 3:00pm-5:00pm in New York City, as part of ABT’s Summer Intensive National Audition Tour. Dancers ages 16+ who attend this audition can also be considered for ABT Studio Company.  Dancers should indicate their interest in auditioning for ABT Studio Company by submitting a printed resume at registration on the day of the audition, along with their first arabesque photo and headshot.

Online pre-registration is required for this audition. Visit the ABT Summer Intensive National Audition Tour page for details and to pre-register. Space is limited.

 

Video Auditions

Video auditions for the 2025-2026 season will be accepted on a rolling basis via the ABT Student Portal until all positions are filled. Applicants who submit a video audition may also be considered for any available positions in the 2024-2025 season.

Dancers who submit a video audition must adhere all video requirements in the guidelines listed below. Videos that do not adhere to all guidelines will not be considered.

There is a $40 application fee, payable by credit card at the time of submission.

Following the review of video audition materials, selected dancers may be invited to take class with ABT Studio Company in New York City. If the Artistic Staff would like to see more from you or invite you to audition in person, you will be contacted directly via the email address you supply with your submission.  Please note that submitting a video audition does not guarantee an invitation for an in-person audition.

Please allow the ABT Studio Company Artistic Staff up to 4-6 weeks to review your materials and send a response.

If you have any questions about the audition process, please email abtstudiocompany@abt.org.

We look forward to reviewing your submission!

AUDITION GUIDELINES

SUBMIT A VIDEO AUDITION

Instructions to submit a video audition via the ABT Student Portal:

Step One:  Register for the ABT Portal

  • If you have not auditioned for an ABT program before:
    • Select “Register as a Student”
    • Complete all required fields. The dancer email listed will be used for all communication.
    • Submit your portal registration.
    • Check your email for login instructions and to set your password.
  • If you participated in the 2023 or 2024 ABT Summer Intensive National Audition Tour:
    • Use your previous credentials to log into the portal.
  • If you auditioned for ABT Summer Intensives prior to 2023:
    • Please enter the dancer’s name and date of birth to look up your account.
    • Verify the information listed and add any additional information required.
    • Submit your registration.
    • Check your email for login instructions and to set your password.

Step Two: Submit a Video Audition

  • Once logged in, navigate to the “Upcoming Programs” page.
  • Select “2025-2026 ABT Studio Company: VIDEO AUDITION”
  • Click “Enroll” to submit your video link and any necessary viewing instructions and to pay the audition fee. All video auditions must adhere all video requirements in the guidelines listed above. Videos that do not adhere to all guidelines will not be considered.
  • You will receive a confirmation email and a receipt email upon successful submission.

Photo: Erin Baiano.
Photo: Erin Baiano.

Present ABT Studio Company

The vibrant young dancers of ABT Studio Company share the artistry, professionalism, and innovation of American Ballet Theatre with a worldwide audience, serving as an ambassador for American Ballet Theatre by touring to venues large and small. In recent years, the Studio Company has performed in such international cities as London, Athens, Manila, Hong Kong, and St. Petersburg, and toured to a wide variety of US performing arts centers, college campuses, and outdoor festivals. ABT Studio Company programs feature a dynamic blend of favorites from the classical and neoclassical canons alongside contemporary and newly commissioned works.

ABT Studio Company is highly mobile and adaptable to venues of various sizes. Performance engagements can be supplemented and customized with additional activities to fit the needs of presenters and local communities. Popular engagements include school or family performances, master classes with the ABT Studio Company Artistic Director or Rehearsal Director, post-performance talkback and Q&A sessions, and meet-and-greets.

Presenters who are interested in engaging ABT Studio Company should contact the following:

For North America:  ABT Studio Company is represented by CAMI Music for bookings in North America. Please contact Theresa Vibberts at tvibberts@camimusic.com. Visit our CAMI page for more information.

For outside of North America: Please contact ABT Studio Company Managing Director Claire Florian at cflorian@abt.org to discuss international engagements.

"From the opening pose and throughout this movement there was passion and professionalism... these performers are the next generation of ballet dancers, blossoming before our eyes."

- Broadway World

"The performers of ABT Studio Company – formerly ABT II - are well trained...The emphasis was on clarity, composure, musicality. Shoulders showed no tension, arms created perfect arcs and lines, legs radiated firmly, necks were beautifully clear, heads were charmingly, beautifully carried. Rhythm was spruce, phrasing steady. And everyone creates a stage world of chivalry, etiquette, good humor."

- The New York Times

"There was a purity... that was inspiring: a bare stage, marvelous costumes, a smart mix of classic and contemporary ballet. And most important, a group of poised young dancers on the cusp of their careers."

- St. Petersburg Times

"ABT Studio Company plays out charmingly as a fresh and fleet display of young dancers...accomplished classicists and comradely artists."

- The Wall Street Journal

"The dancers were magnetic - I'm excited to see them shine as they undoubtedly rise up the ranks."

- Broadway World

"Artistry, indeed, was evident...The audience was treated to a high level of dancing and top-notch choreography in an exciting repertoire of classics as well as current commissioned works that we normally don't see...thanks to collaborations of ABT with choreographers from all over the world."

- The Philippine Star

"The mood is buoyant, open, vibrant and cheeky - a feelgood fillip for all."

- The London Times

"The finale, La Bayadère, was proof that the best dancers don't need sets to capture the imagination...It was another successful event with a rousing applause from the audience."

- The Philippine Star

"ABT Studio Company brought us the raw energy we’ve come to expect from the best New York has to offer. Going to the ballet is a lot of fun – who knew?"

- Culture Whisper, London

Alumni

Nearly 80% of current American Ballet Theatre dancers are alumni of ABT Studio Company. ABT Studio Company graduates have also gone on to dance for other leading companies in the United States and abroad.

Dancers currently in American Ballet Theatre who started their careers in ABT Studio Company (formerly ABT II) include:

Contact Us

For additional ABT Studio Company inquiries please contact abtstudiocompany@abt.org or use the below contact form.

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FAQs

To view our most frequently asked questions about ABT Studio Company, please click below.

View our FAQs