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Dancer Training

ABT Studio Company

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ABT Studio Company

ABT Studio Company, the highest level of the American Ballet Theatre training ladder, is a classical ensemble of 12 dancers with outstanding potential. The mission of ABT Studio Company is to prepare these young dancers (ages 16-20) for careers in American Ballet Theatre’s main Company or other leading national and international companies. ABT Studio Company serves as the crucial transition from ballet student to professional performer.

Current Dancers Auditions Performances Contact & FAQs

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About Studio Company

Photo: Rosalie O'Conner

Training

Under ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie and ABT Studio Company Artistic Director Kate Lydon, ABT Studio Company members participate in an extensive schedule of classes and rehearsals, including classical ballet technique, partnering, pointe, men’s technique, character, variations, mime and acting, dance history, Pilates, and men’s and women’s strength training. Workshops in nutrition, health and wellness, stress management, injury prevention, and audition preparation are also included in the curriculum. ABT Studio Company dancers train Monday through Saturday at American Ballet Theatre and ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School facilities.

View our Faculty

Photo: Rosalie O' Connor

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 canon. ABT Studio Company is an incubator for emerging choreographic talent. Recent and upcoming choreographers commissioned to create for ABT Studio Company include Gemma Bond, Dana Genshaft, Jessica Lang, Lauren Lovette, Liam Scarlett, Ethan Stiefel and George Williamson.

Present ABT Studio Company

Photo: Richard Corman

Performances & Touring

ABT Studio Company dancers gain experience by bringing the professionalism and artistry of ABT to a wide audience through touring, residencies, and cultural exchanges.

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 acts as ABT’s principal outreach arm by participating in educational and community engagement activities throughout New York City and beyond.

Upcoming Studio Company Performances

There are no upcoming performances at this time. Please check back soon.

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Faculty

Studio Company faculty members for the 2017-2018 season include:

Photo: Fabrizio Ferri

Kevin McKenzie

ABT Artistic Director

View Kevin's Bio

Photo: Renata Pavam

Sascha Radetsky

ABT Studio Company Artistic Director

View Sascha's Bio

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Choreographers

ABT Studio Company serves as an incubator for choreographic talent, commissioning choreographers at various stages of their careers to create new works on the group. Choreographers for the 2017-2018 season include Lauren Lovette, Marco Pelle, Jessica Lang, Ma Cong, and Benjamin Millepied.

Other recent choreographers include Gemma Bond, Dana Genshaft, Liam Scarlett, Ethan Stiefel and George Williamson.

Auditions

2018-2019 Season

To audition for ABT Studio Company, you must be between the ages of 16 and 20 years old by September 1, 2018 and have reached an advanced level of ballet training. Space in ABT Studio Company is extremely limited. Video auditions are accepted year-round.

Open Auditions

Open Auditions for the 2018-2019 season will take place during the ABT Summer Intensive National Audition Tour in New York (January 7 or February 4) and San Francisco (January 21). Dancers who wish to audition for the ABT Studio Company should attend the audition for their age group on these dates. Please see the National Audition Tour site for more information.

Dress Code for Open Auditions

Girls: full-length pink tights and black leotard with ballet slippers and pointe shoes.

Boys: white t-shirt or leotard, full-length black tights and ballet slippers.

No legwarmers, skirts, or loose-fitting clothing.

Registration will begin one hour prior to the class for your age group. Please bring a resume (including height and date of birth), a headshot, and a photo in first arabesque.

For more information, please email abtstudiocompany@abt.org.

Video Auditions

Video Auditions (10-minute maximum) are accepted year-round.

To apply by video:

Video auditions must be submitted via the Accept’d portal.
An audition fee of $35 will be required to complete your video audition (credit card only).
Please click here to view video guidelines prior to submission. You will be required to upload a video of classwork (variations optional), a full-body photo in first arabesque, a resume, and a headshot.
You will be contacted directly via the email address you supply on the Accept’d platform if the Artistic Staff would like to see more from you.

Click here to submit a video audition for ABT Studio Company.

Please note that variations and performance footage are not required for video auditions.

Dancers may be invited to attend an audition in New York with ABT Studio Company following receipt of video audition materials.

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Present the Studio Company

ABT Studio Company brings the artistry and virtuosity of American Ballet Theatre to venues around the globe. Featuring 12 dancers and no sets, the group is highly mobile and able to perform its wide range of repertory in venues of any size.

The Studio Company tours in one-week increments that include full-length performances, narrated school or family performances, lecture/demonstrations, master classes, post-performance talkbacks, and more. Each engagement is tailored to fit the presenter’s and local community’s needs.

Presenters who are interested in engaging ABT Studio Company are welcome to contact ABT Studio Company Manager Claire Florian at abtstudiocompany@abt.org for more information.