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Dancer Training

ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School

Children's Division

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ABT JKO School Children's Division

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.

Photo: Richard Corman

Primary

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.

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.

Pre-Primary for 3's

Tuition: $1250

Age: 3

Students must turn 3 years old by September 1, 2018.

2018-2019 Class Schedules

Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.

Section 1

Saturday 10:30 am - 11:15 am

Section 2

Thursday 3:30 pm - 4:15 pm

Pre-Primary for 3'sPhoto: Richard Corman.

Pre-Primary for 4's

Tuition: $1250

Age: 4

Students must turn 4 years old by September 1, 2018.

2018-2019 Class Schedules

Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.

Section 1

Saturday 9:00 am - 9:45 am

Section 2

Wednesday 4:45 pm - 5:30 pm

Pre-Primary for 4'sPhoto: Richard Corman.

Primary A

Tuition: $1450

Ages: 5 - 6

Students must turn 5 years old by December 1, 2018.

2018-2019 Class Schedules

Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.

Section 1

Saturday 9:15 am - 10:15 am

Section 2

Saturday 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm

Section 3

Thursday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Primary ARichard Corman

Primary B

Tuition: $1450

Ages: 6 - 7

Students must turn 6 years old by December 1, 2018.

2018-2019 Class Schedules

Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.

Section 1

Saturday 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Section 2

Saturday 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Section 3

Monday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Primary BRichard Corman

Primary C

Tuition: $2800

Ages: 7 - 8

Students must turn 7 years old by December 1, 2018.

2018-2019 Class Schedules

Students must attend all classes listed for their level.

Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.

Section 1

Tuesday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Saturday 9:15 am - 10:15 am

Section 2

Monday 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Thursday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Section 3

Wednesday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Friday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Primary CRosalie O'Connor

Level 1A

Tuition: $3400

Ages: 8 - 10

An audition is required for Level 1A.

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.

2018-2019 Class Schedules

Students must attend all classes listed for their level.

Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.

Section 1

Tuesday 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Friday 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Section 2

Monday 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Thursday 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Level 1ARosalie O'Connor

Level 1B

Tuition: $3400

Ages: 8 - 10

An audition is required for Level 1B.

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.

2018-2019 Class Schedules

Students must attend all classes listed for their level.

Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.

Section 1

Tuesday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Friday 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Section 2

Monday 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Thursday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Level 1BRosalie O'Connor

Level 2A

Tuition: $4900

Ages: 9 - 11

An audition is required for Level 2A.

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.

2018-2019 Class Schedules

Students must attend all classes listed for their level.

Monday 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm Ballet Technique

Monday 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Character Dance

Wednesday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Ballet Technique

Saturday 9:00 am - 10:00 am Boys' Class +

Saturday 9:15 am - 10:15 am Girls' Pre-Pointe *

Saturday 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Ballet Technique +

+ Boys in Level 2 attend a mandatory one-hour boys' class in addition to their technique classes.

* Girls in Level 2 attend a mandatory one-hour pre-pointe class in addition to their weekly classes to help prepare them for pointe work.

Level 2ARosalie O'Connor

Level 2B

Tuition: $4900

Ages: 9 - 11

An audition is required for Level 2B.

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.

2018-2019 Class Schedules

Students must attend all classes listed for their level.

Monday 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm Ballet Technique

Monday 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Character Dance

Wednesday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Ballet Technique

Saturday 9:00 am - 10:00 am Boys' Class +

Saturday 9:15 am - 10:15 am Girls' Pre-Pointe *

Saturday 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Ballet Technique

+ Boys in Level 2 attend a mandatory one-hour boys' class in addition to their technique classes.

* Girls in Level 2 attend a mandatory one-hour pre-pointe class in addition to their weekly classes to help prepare them for pointe work.

Level 2BPhoto: Rosalie O'Connor.

Level 3A

Tuition: $5980

Ages: 10 - 12

An audition is required for Level 3A.

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.

2018-2019 Class Schedules

Students must attend all classes listed for their level.

Monday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Character Dance

Monday 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Ballet Technique

Monday 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm Pointe *

Wednesday 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Ballet Technique

Wednesday 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm Pointe *

Thursday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Ballet Technique

Friday 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Modern

Friday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Ballet Technique

Saturday 9:00 am - 10:00 am Boys' Class +

Saturday 9:00 am - 10:00 am Girls' Conditioning *

Saturday 10:15 am - 12:15 pm Ballet Technique

+ Boys in Level 3 attend a mandatory one-hour boys' class in addition to their technique classes.

* Girls in Level 3 attend a mandatory one-hour girls' conditioning class and two half-hour pointe classes in addition to their technique classes.

Level 3APhoto: Richard Corman.

Level 3B

Tuition: $5980

Ages: 11+

An audition is required for Level 3B.

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.

2018-2019 Class Schedules

Students must attend all classes listed for their level.

Monday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Character Dance

Monday 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Ballet Technique

Monday 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm Pointe *

Wednesday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Modern

Wednesday 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Ballet Technique

Wednesday 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm Pointe *

Thursday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Ballet Technique

Friday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Ballet Technique

Saturday 9:00 am - 10:00 am Boys' Class +

Saturday 9:00 am - 10:00 am Girls' Conditioning *

Saturday 10:15 am - 12:15 pm Ballet Technique

+ Boys in Level 3 attend a mandatory one-hour boys' class in addition to their technique classes.

* Girls in Level 3 attend a mandatory one-hour girls' conditioning class and two half-hour pointe classes in addition to their technique classes.

Level 3BPhoto: 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.

2018-2019 Class Schedules

Tuesday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Bridge ClassRichard Corman

Enrollment

Pre-Primary & Primary Levels

For students ages 3-7 (includes only 7 year olds who will turn 8 after December 1, 2018)

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. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

All students interested in enrolling our Pre-Primary or Primary level classes for the 2018-2019 school year should fill out the prospective student interest form below.

Prospective Student Interest Form

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, 2018
Pre-Primary for 4’s Age 4 Students must turn 4 by September 1, 2018
Primary A Age 5 Students must turn 5 by December 1, 2018
Primary B Age 6 Students must turn 6 by December 1, 2018
Primary C Age 7 Students must turn 7 by December 1, 2018

Note: Students who turn 8 by December 1, 2018 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, 2018)

Auditions are required for students intending to enroll in Levels 1A, 1B, 2, or 3 of the ABT JKO School for the 2018-2019 school year. 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.

Please note that seven-year-olds are only permitted to audition for Levels 1A through 3 if they will turn eight by December 1, 2018. If your child will not turn eight before December 1, 2018, they are invited to attend a trial class for the ABT JKO School’s Primary C level. See above for more information.

View Open Audition FAQs

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.

Photo: Fabrizio Ferri

Kevin McKenzie

Artistic Director

View Kevin's Profile

Photo: Ian Whalen

Cynthia Harvey

ABT JKO School Artistic Director

View Cynthia's Profile

Faculty

Sophie Alpern

Alexis Andrews

Jenna Bitterman

Larisa Calero

Harriet Clark

Elizabeth Ferrell

Carla Flores

Jaime Hickey

Adrienne Hurd

Mikhail Ilyin

Sonia Jones

Kelley Potter

Flavio Salazar

Sarah Smith

Kristen Stevens

Leann Underwood

Karen Uphoff

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, Marco Jimenez, James Kost, Sofiya Leavsie, Dmitry Polischuk, Tim Prepscius, Victor See Yuen, Lauren Shapiro, Mihoko Suzuki, Laura Tishchenko, Mira Tsidulko

Contact Us

If you require further assistance or have any questions regarding the Children’s Division of the ABT JKO School, please contact us.

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FAQs

Explore frequently asked questions for the ABT JKO School’s Children’s Division.

View our FAQs