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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 Performances Faculty Auditions Present ABT Studio Company Contact & FAQs

Video by 45th & Dean.

About Studio Company

Photo: Rosalie O'Conner

Training

Under ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie and 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, men’s technique, character, variations, acting, dance history, music, 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 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 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 gain experience by bringing the professionalism and artistry of ABT to a wide audience 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 acts as ABT’s principal outreach arm by participating in educational and community engagement activities throughout New York City and beyond.

Current Dancers

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Faculty

Photo: Fabrizio Ferri

Kevin McKenzie

ABT Artistic Director

View Kevin's Bio

Photo: Kyle Froman

Sascha Radetsky

ABT Studio Company Artistic Director

View Sascha's Bio

Photo: Carlotta Forsberg.

Karin Averty

ABT Studio Company Ballet Mistress

View Karin's's Bio

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Lauren Lovette working with ABT Studio Company.Photo by 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 2019-2020 season will be announced this fall.

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

Recent ABT Studio Company choreographers include Stephanie Batten Bland, Gemma Bond, Ma Cong, Dana Genshaft, Jessica Lang, Lauren Lovette, Benjamin Millepied, Marco Pelle, Liam Scarlett, Claudia Schreier, Ethan Stiefel and George Williamson.

Auditions

2020-2021 Season

To audition for ABT Studio Company’s 2020-2021 season, you must be between the ages of 16 and 20 years old by September 1, 2020 and have reached an advanced level of ballet training. Space in ABT Studio Company is extremely limited. Video auditions are accepted on a rolling basis starting on September 1, 2019.

Open Auditions

Open auditions for the 2020-2021 season will take place during the 2020 ABT Summer Intensive National Audition Tour.

Dancers may audition by attending the February 2, 2020 audition in New York, NY at ABT’s Studios. Dancers should bring a resume, headshot and first arabesque photo.

For more information or to pre-register, please visit: Audition Information.

Video Auditions

Video Auditions for the 2020-2021 season will be accepted on a rolling basis starting on September 1, 2019.

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).
To start an application, please click here and select “ABT Studio Company: Video Audition” from the “Start an Application” menu. Please carefully review 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.
Selected dancers may be invited to attend an audition in New York following receipt of video audition materials. If the Artistic Staff would like to see more from you, you will be contacted directly via the email address you supply on the Accept’d platform.

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

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Present ABT Studio Company

ABT Studio Company brings the artistry and virtuosity of American Ballet Theatre to venues around the globe. Studio Company performances feature a versatile, mixed program of beloved classical excerpts and daring new works, with repertory that changes from year to year.

Traveling with 12 dancers, 3 staff, and 1 Production Manager, ABT Studio Company is highly mobile and is adaptable to venues of any size. Most Studio Company performances run between 60 and 90 minutes.

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 Ballet Mistress, post-performance talkback and Q&A sessions, and meet-and-greets.

Presenters who are interested in engaging ABT Studio Company are welcome to contact the ABT Studio Company Managing Director at [email protected] for more information.