ABT William J. Gillespie School
The American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School was founded in 2015 and combines the traditions of American Ballet Theatre with the resources of Segerstrom Center for the Arts, where the program is located. The school, under the direction of Principal Susan Brooker, is named for renowned local philanthropist William J. Gillespie, who has been a board member of ABT since 1999 and a generous donor to the Segerstrom Center throughout its history. The Center is one of the world’s leading presenters of dance and provides unrivaled opportunities for training and nurturing future dancers.
The ABT William J. Gillespie School utilizes ABT’s National Training Curriculum; a comprehensive set of age-appropriate, outcome-based guidelines with an emphasis on proper placement and safe progressions of movement. Classes include ballet technique, pointe, character, conditioning, and boys’ classes. Students at the ABT William J. Gillespie School are offered additional opportunities to enrich their ballet pursuits including priority auditions for both ABT performances and ABT Summer Intensives, access to master classes, and special ticket offers for performances at the Segerstrom Center.
Photo: Samantha Kofford.