The ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, named after the prior First Lady and longtime ABT Honorary Chairman, is a ballet training program for young dancers that promotes creativity and discipline, enabling children to reach their highest potential. Not only do students receive the best technical training with ABT’s National Training Curriculum, but they are guided by caring instructors who nurture their students’ love for dance.
At its inception, the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School had only 10 students and has since grown to enroll over 430 dancers per academic year. Under the direction of former ABT Principal Dancer and current ABT JKO School Artistic Director Cynthia Harvey, the Children’s Division focuses on building a solid foundation in ballet technique with an emphasis on proper placement and safe progressions of movement while remaining sensitive to the developmental needs of younger dancers.
The Children’s Division is subdivided into Primary Classes and Levels 1A-3. To learn more about the school and how to enroll your young dancer, please browse our Children’s Division class information. Note that all classes include live piano accompaniment.
ABT students ages three to seven are introduced to music and movement in our Primary Levels. The emphasis in these courses is on rhythm, dynamic, and placement, so that students graduate from Primary with an understanding of spatial awareness, correct alignment, teamwork, and focus. Each level is divided by age in order to accommodate the developmental needs of every student. No auditions are necessary for Primary classes.
Photo: Richard Corman
Levels 1A-3
Serious ballet students ages eight to twelve may audition for Levels 1A through 3 to pursue pre-professional training. ABT faculty follow a specific graded curriculum designed to strengthen technique, stamina, and discipline through practical training and lessons in theory. Girls and boys are separated in Levels 2 and 3 to address the specific techniques and physical strength of each individual dancer.
At the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, our students are trained with ABT’s National Training Curriculum, which combines scientific principles with elements of classical French, Italian, and Russian schools of ballet. The goal of our Curriculum is to train students to use their bodies correctly by educating them on anatomy, kinetics, coordination, and alignment. Artistically, our Curriculum strives to provide for students both a rich knowledge of classical ballet technique and the ability to adapt to all styles of dance.
As each level follows our carefully planned Curriculum throughout the year, students are expected to attend all their assigned classes. Students enrolled in the Children’s Division are not permitted to seek outside ballet training or lessons.
Please keep in mind that the age range is given as a guideline. Students will be placed by the ABT JKO School artistic faculty in the appropriate level based on technique demonstrated at the open audition.
2019-2020 Class Schedules
Students must attend all classes listed for their level.
Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.
Please keep in mind that the age range is given as a guideline. Students will be placed by the ABT JKO School artistic faculty in the appropriate level based on technique demonstrated at the open audition.
2019-2020 Class Schedules
Students must attend all classes listed for their level.
Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.
Please keep in mind that the age range is given as a guideline. Students will be placed by the ABT JKO School artistic faculty in the appropriate level based on technique demonstrated at the open audition.
2019-2020 Class Schedules
Students must attend all classes listed for their level.
Please keep in mind that the age range is given as a guideline. Students will be placed by the ABT JKO School artistic faculty in the appropriate level based on technique demonstrated at the open audition.
2019-2020 Class Schedules
Students must attend all classes listed for their level.
Please keep in mind that the age range is given as a guideline. Students will be placed by the ABT JKO School artistic faculty in the appropriate level based on technique demonstrated at the open audition.
2019-2020 Class Schedules
Students must attend all classes listed for their level.
Please keep in mind that the age range is given as a guideline. Students will be placed by the ABT JKO School artistic faculty in the appropriate level based on technique demonstrated at the open audition.
2019-2020 Class Schedules
Students must attend all classes listed for their level.
Saturday 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Girls' Conditioning *
+ Boys in Level 3 attend a mandatory 1.5-hour boys' class, in addition to their technique classes, as part of the ABT MENtor program.
* Girls in Level 3B attend a mandatory one-hour girls' conditioning class, (2) half-hour pointe classes and (1) full-hour pointe class in addition to their technique classes.
Photo: Richard Corman.
Bridge Class
Ages: 8 - 10
The Children’s Division Bridge Class provides a bridge from ABT to the New York City community and also serves to identify and train talented young students with potential for careers in dance.
Students who train at one of our Project Plié Partner Schools are eligible to audition for this program. Students can also be nominated to audition by an ABT Certified Teacher or an ABT Teaching Artist. For more information about the Bridge Class and our Project Plié Partner Schools, please click here.
Former ABT Principal Dancer Julio Bocca with Cynthia Harvey and ABT JKO School students..
ABT MENtor
Launched in the fall of 2017, under the direction of ABT JKO School Artistic Director Cynthia Harvey, ABT MENtor is an initiative intended to support our male students in the ABT JKO School as they progress through the ABT Training Ladder.
Male students will participate in seminars and workshops with current and former professional dancers in American Ballet Theatre and other prestigious companies, as well as observe the Pre-Professional Division and ABT Studio Company.
ABT MENtor strives to develop a supportive and educational environment for the boys and their families in Levels 1A through 3B of the Children’s Division. Boys in Levels 2 and 3 take a separate 1.5 hour boys’ technique class each week as part of the ABT MENtor program.
For students ages 3-7 (includes only 7 year olds who will turn 8 after December 1, 2019)
Pre-Primary and Primary levels at the ABT JKO School are open enrollment and no prior dance experience is required. Placement in each level is based solely on a child’s date of birth. Space in our open enrollment levels is very limited. At this time, all of our Children’s Division enrollment is complete for the 2019-2020 school year. 2020-2021 enrollment information will be updated here in spring 2020.
Children’s Division Open Enrollment Levels:
Level
Age Group
Cutoff Dates
Pre-Primary for 3’s
Age 3
Students must turn 3 by September 1, 2019
Pre-Primary for 4’s
Age 4
Students must turn 4 by December 1, 2019
Primary A
Age 5
Students must turn 5 by December 1, 2019
Primary B
Age 6
Students must turn 6 by December 1, 2019
Primary C
Age 7
Students must turn 7 by December 1, 2019
Note: Students who turn 8 by December 1, 2019 must attend an Open Audition for Level 1A+
Photo: Rosalie O'Connor..
Open Auditions
For students ages 7-12 (includes only 7 year olds who will turn 8 by December 1, 2020)
Auditions are required for students intending to enroll in Levels 1A through 3B of the ABT JKO School. These levels are for students ages seven to twelve with previous ballet training. Upon acceptance, students will be placed into the appropriate level by the Artistic Faculty.
All interested students must participate in an open audition class. Upon acceptance to the program, students are placed into the appropriate level by the artistic faculty. Students in this age group are expected to have previous ballet training.
The ABT JKO School Children’s Division will hold one open audition for the 2020-2021 school year.
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Ages 7-9
Registration/Check-In: 9:00-10:00am
Audition Class: 10:00-11:30am
Ages 10-12
Registration/Check-In: 11:00am-12:00pm
Audition Class: 12:00-1:45pm
Audition pre-registration will open in February 2020.
American Ballet Theatre strives to provide educational programming of the highest quality, and it all starts with our faculty. ABT JKO School faculty includes members of the ABT Artistic Staff, ABT Alumni and graduates of the ABT/NYU Master’s Program in Ballet Pedagogy.
Each class at the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School is accompanied by one of our accomplished musicians.
Michael Cherry, Principal ABT JKO School Pianist
Stephanie Chun, Michael Dolnikov, John Epperson, Misha Golubitsky, Shimako Horii, Marco Jimenez, Sofiya Leavsie, Dmitry Polischuk, Tim Prepscius, Victor See Yuen, Mihoko Suzuki, Laura Tishchenko, Mira Tsidulko
Share the magic of American Ballet Theatre! Join us this year for a unique parent/child engagement program for 2-year-olds & young 3-year-olds.
From the four little swans of Swan Lake to the swashbuckling pirates of Le Corsaire, the repertoire of American Ballet Theatre has inspired children and their families for generations. This 10-class series is designed as a parent and child or caregiver and child engagement program. Spark your child’s interest in ballet and prepare them for a future of ballet enjoyment and participation.
Join ABT dance educators to learn ballet fundamentals, explore musicality and foster your child’s creativity and imagination through the world’s most iconic ballets at ABT’s Studios at 890 Broadway! Our ABTots program prepares students for entry into the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School Children’s Division, where the emphasis in Pre-Primary for 3’s is on rhythm, dynamic, and placement.
ABT Teaching Artists complement ABT’s movement experience with unique arts and story time activities that allow for ballet friendships to blossom. Join us today for this truly immersive experience.
For 2-year-olds who will turn 2 by September 1, 2019 and 3-year-olds who will turn 3 after September 1, 2019
Tuition: $650
Fall 2019 Schedule:
Section 1
Wednesdays 9:30AM – 10:30AM, September 25 – December 4
Section 2
Saturdays 12:00PM – 1:00PM, September 28 – December 7
Winter 2020 Schedule:
Section 1
Wednesdays 9:30AM – 10:30AM, January 15 – March 18
Section 2
Saturdays 12:00PM – 1:00PM, January 11 – March 21
Our Winter 2020 session of ABTots is currently at capacity. To be added to our ABTots wait list, please fill out the interest form below.
