Curriculum & Schedules

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.

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.

Enrollment

Pre-Primary & Primary Levels

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:

Note: Students who turn 8 by December 1, 2019 must attend an Open Audition for Level 1A+

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

Faculty & Accompanists

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.

All Children’s Division faculty members are certified in each level of the National Training Curriculum.

Faculty

Accompanists

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

ABTots

Share the magic of American Ballet Theatre!  Join us for a unique parent/caregiver and 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. 

 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. ABTots incorporates movement motivators and engagement activities like welcome songs, improvisations, free dance, and creative play to explore ballet and musicality!  The program features multiple entry points for learning and discovery with each part of class.  This 10-class series is designed to spark a children’s interest in ballet and prepare them for a future of ballet enjoyment and participation.

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