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Dancer Training

ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School

Children's Division

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 350 dancers per academic year. Under the direction of former ABT Principal Dancer and current ABT JKO School Artistic Director Stella Abrera, 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-3B. 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-3B

Serious ballet students ages eight to twelve may audition for Levels 1A through 3B 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 2A-3B to address the specific techniques and physical strength of each individual dancer.

Photo: Rosalie O'Connor.
Photo: Rosalie O'Connor.

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: $1412

Age: 3

Students must turn 3 years old by September 1, 2023.

2023-2024 Class Schedules

Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.

Section 1

Thursday 3:30 pm - 4:15 pm

Section 2

Saturday 10:30 am - 11:15 am

Pre-Primary for 3'sPhoto: Richard Corman.

Pre-Primary for 4's

Tuition: $1412

Age: 4

Students must turn 4 years old by December 1, 2023.

2023-2024 Class Schedules

Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.

Section 1

Wednesday 4:00 pm - 4:45 pm

Section 2

Saturday 9:00 am - 9:45 am

Pre-Primary for 4'sPhoto: Richard Corman.

Primary A

Tuition: $1622

Ages: 5 - 6

Students must turn 5 years old by December 1, 2023.

2023-2024 Class Schedules

Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.

Section 1

Thursday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Section 2

Saturday 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Primary ARichard Corman

Primary B

Tuition: $1622

Ages: 6 - 7

Students must turn 6 years old by December 1, 2023.

2023-2024 Class Schedules

Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.

Section 1

Monday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Section 2

Saturday 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Primary BRichard Corman

Primary C

Tuition: $3040

Ages: 7 - 8

Students must turn 7 years old by December 1, 2023.

2023-2024 Class Schedules

Students must attend all classes listed for their level.

Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.

Section 1

Monday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Thursday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Section 2

Tuesday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Saturday 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Primary CRosalie O'Connor

Level 1A

Tuition: $3670

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.

2023-2024 Class Schedules

Students must attend all classes listed for their level.

Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.

Section 1

Monday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Thursday 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Section 2

Tuesday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Friday 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Level 1ARosalie O'Connor

Level 1B

Tuition: $3670

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.

2023-2024 Class Schedules

Students must attend all classes listed for their level.

Students may enroll in one of the following class sections.

Section 1

Monday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Thursday 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Section 2

Tuesday 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Friday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Level 1BRosalie O'Connor

Level 2A

Tuition: $5245

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.

2023-2024 Class Schedules

Students must attend all classes listed for their level.

Monday 4:45 pm - 6:15 pm Ballet Technique

Monday 6:15 pm - 7:15 pm Character Dance

Tuesday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Level 2 & 3 Boys’ Class +

Wednesday 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Girls' Pre-Pointe *

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

Saturday 9:15 am - 10:45 am Ballet Technique

+ Boys in Level 2 attend a mandatory 1.5-hour boys' class, in addition to their technique classes, as part of the ABT MENtor program.

* 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: $5245

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.

2023-2024 Class Schedules

Students must attend all classes listed for their level.

Monday 4:45 pm - 5:45 pm Character Dance

Monday 5:45 pm - 7:15 pm Ballet Technique

Tuesday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Level 2 & 3 Boys’ Class +

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

Saturday 9:00 am - 10:00 am Girls' Pre-Pointe *

Saturday 10:00 am - 11:30 am Ballet Technique

+ Boys in Level 2 attend a mandatory 1.5-hour boys' class, in addition to their technique classes, as part of the ABT MENtor program.

* 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: $6380

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.

2023-2024 Class Schedules

Students must attend all classes listed for their level.

Monday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Modern

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

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

Tuesday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Level 2 & 3 Boys’ Class +

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

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

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

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

Friday 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm Pointe *

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

Saturday 10:00 am - 11:30 am Ballet Technique

+ Boys in Level 3A attend a mandatory 1.5-hour boys' class, in addition to their technique classes, as part of the ABT MENtor program.

* Girls in Level 3A attend a mandatory one-hour girls' strength class and (3) half-hour pointe classes in addition to their technique and adjunct classes.

Level 3APhoto: Richard Corman.

Level 3B

Tuition: $6715

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.

2023-2024 Class Schedules

Students must attend all classes listed for their level.

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

Monday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Modern

Tuesday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Level 2 & 3 Boys’ Class +

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

Wednesday 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm Pointe *

Wednesday 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Character Dance

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

Thursday 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm Pointe *

Thursday 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Girls' Strength *

Saturday 9:15 am - 10:45 am Ballet Technique

Saturday 10:45 am - 11:45 am Pointe *

+ Boys in Level 3B 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' strength class, (2) half-hour pointe classes, (1) full-hour pointe class, and (1) girl’s technique class in addition to their technique and adjunct 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.

Bridge ClassRichard Corman
Former ABT Principal Dancer Julio Bocca with Cynthia Harvey and ABT JKO School students.
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 former 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 2A-3B take a separate 1.5 hour boys’ technique class each week as part of the ABT MENtor program.

Enrollment

The American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School Children’s Division offers enrollment in classes September – May at ABT’s Studios located at 890 Broadway, New York, NY.

Photo: Rosalie O'Connor.
Photo: Rosalie O'Connor.

Pre-Primary & Primary Levels

For students ages 3-7 (students must turn 3 years old by September 1, 2023 and must remain 7 through December 1, 2023)

Pre-Primary and Primary levels in the Children’s Division at the ABT JKO School require no prior dance experience. Placement in each level is based solely on the child’s date of birth.

Enrollment for new Pre-Primary and Primary-level students for the 2023-2024 school year will open in late June 2023. Registration details will be updated here later this spring. Please check back!

All students wishing to enroll in the Children’s Division must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Students ages 3-4 are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receipt of the third dose of the 3-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or two weeks after receipt of the second dose of the 2-dose Moderna vaccine. Students ages 5-7 are considered fully vaccinated after receipt of the second dose of the 2-dose Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.

 

Children’s Division Pre-Primary & Primary Levels:

Level Age Group Cutoff Dates
Pre-Primary for 3’s Age 3 Students must turn 3 by September 1
Pre-Primary for 4’s Age 4 Students must turn 4 by December 1
Primary A Age 5 Students must turn 5 by December 1
Primary B Age 6 Students must turn 6 by December 1
Primary C Age 7 Students must turn 7 by December 1

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

Photo: Rosalie O'Connor.
Photo: Rosalie O'Connor.

Open Auditions

For students ages 7-12 (*students must turn 8 years old by December 1, 2023, and must remain 12 through December 1, 2023)

Auditions are required for new students who wish 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.

The ABT JKO School Children’s Division will be holding in-person open auditions for the 2023-2024 school year on June 6th and 7th, 2023 at ABT’s Studios located at 890 Broadway, New York, NY. Pre-registration is required.

Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 4:30-6:00PM ET – Ages 7-9

Wednesday, June 7, 2023, 4:30-6:00PM ET – Ages 10-12

Auditioning dancers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. A person is considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines) or 2 weeks after receipt of the single dose Janssen Vaccine. Students requiring an exemption should reach out to jkochildren@abt.org to submit a video audition.

Audition Registration Information

ABT JKO School Children’s Division Open Auditions

Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 4:30-6:00PM ET – Ages 7-9

Wednesday, June 7, 2023, 4:30-6:00PM ET – Ages 10-12

Students should attend the audition based on their age at time of audition.

Auditioning dancers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. A person is considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines) or 2 weeks after receipt of the single dose Janssen Vaccine. Students requiring an exemption should reach out to jkochildren@abt.org to submit a video audition.

 

Audition Registration Process:

ABT PRE-REGISTRATION PORTAL

Chrome is the recommended browser for completing the steps below.

Step One:  Register for the ABT Portal

  • If your student has previously auditioned for or attended an ABT program:
    • Click ‘Register as a Student’
    • Enter the student’s name and date of birth to lookup your account.
    • Verify the information listed and add any additional information required.
    • Submit your registration.
    • Check your email for login instructions and to set your password.
  • If your student is new to ABT’s Training Programs:
    • Click ‘Register as a Student’
    • Complete all required fields for your student and household. The email listed for the student will be used for all primary communication.
    • Submit your portal registration.
    • Check your email for login instructions and to set your password.

Step Two: Register for an Audition

  • Once logged in, navigate to the “Upcoming Programs” page.
  • Select the audition class based on your age at time of audition by clicking the circle next to the listing then scroll to the bottom to click “View Sessions”
  • Confirm the session information is correct.
  • Select the session and click “Enroll” to complete your registration and pay the audition fee.
  • You will receive a confirmation email and a receipt email upon successful registration.

Step Three: Additional Steps once registered

  • Your audition registration will now be listed under “My Enrollments” with the status of “Confirmed”. (Please note that the status of Preliminary does not qualify as a successful registration.)
  • Please upload your vaccination card to your profile. Students must be fully vaccinated.
  • Photos will be handed in the day of your audition. Please bring an informal headshot and a first arabesque photo. (Preferred sizes: 4×6 or 5×7)

For any issues with your audition registration, please contact Portal@abt.org.

 

Please keep in mind the following for the day of the audition:

  • Check-In on the day of the audition will begin 45 minutes prior to each audition class.
  • Students will be assigned an audition number upon arrival.
  • Please bring the dancer’s informal headshot and first arabesque picture to submit upon check-in. (Preferred sizes: 4×6 or 5×7)
  • Student vaccination information must be submitted to the online portal prior to check-in.
  • Students auditioning and all guests entering ABT’s Studios on audition day agree to follow ABT’s Covid-19 policies which may include masking and participation in a Covid-19 testing program. ABT reserves the right to modify Covid-19 requirements at any time. All registered auditioning students will receive any Covid-19 policy requirement information prior to the audition.
  • The audition will be in the format of a ballet technique class. It will begin with barre, followed by center work and pointe work for 10–12-year-old students who have already begun pointe work.
  • All students are considered for merit-based scholarships at the time of audition.

Students are to abide by the following dress code for their audition:

  • Female identifying dancers must wear black leotards, full-length tights in pink or a color close to natural skin tone and ballet slippers. Students ages 10-12 who have already begun pointe work should bring pointe shoes.
  • Male identifying dancers must wear white t-shirts, full-length black tights, and ballet slippers.

Faculty & Musicians

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.

Susan Jaffe

Artistic Director, American Ballet Theatre

View Susan's Profile

Photo: Sophie Elgort, courtesy Lafayette 148.

Stella Abrera

Artistic Director, ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School

View Stella's Profile

Faculty

Photo: Chris Hardy.

Rubén Martín

Principal Teacher, ABT JKO School Pre-Professional Division

View Rubén's Bio

Photo: Michael Cairns.

Yan Chen

Principal Teacher, ABT JKO School Pre-Professional Division

View Yan's Bio

Photo: Hanna Bass

Franco De Vita

ABT National Training Curriculum Associate Emeritus

View Franco's Bio

Musicians

Each class at the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School is accompanied by one of our accomplished musicians.

Michael Cherry, Stephanie Chun, John Epperson, Mikhail Golubitskiy, Ayako Hirasawa, Shimako Horii, Sofiya Leavsie, Alex Perry, Dmitry Polischuk, Victor See Yuen, Matthew Sheridan, Mihoko Suzuki, Laura Tishchenko, Mira Tsidulko, Maria Tsymbala

ABT JKO School Children's Division Online Community Classes

In the Spring of 2020, @ABTSchool launched virtual classes taught by former ABT dancers, ABT JKO School faculty and ABT teaching artists – all certified in the ABT National Training Curriculum.

Recommended for ages 2-4 and 5-8, these classes engage ABT’s youngest students and their families, as well as the global community at large, by exploring musicality, fostering creativity and imagination, and teaching ballet fundamentals.

View the full series on @ABTSchool IGTV or ABT’s YouTube Channel.

@ABTSchool IGTVYouTube

Photo: Richard Corman.

 


ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School students wear Capezio leotards.

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FAQs

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