Video by Ezra Hurwitz.
Video by Ezra Hurwitz.
Support America’s National Ballet Company® DONATE
Dancer Training
ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
Pre-Professional Division
Pre-Professional Division
The American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School is a pre-professional ballet training program for students, ages 12-17. Under the direction of Artistic Director Cynthia Harvey, students thrive in an elite atmosphere dedicated to the success of each student. Admission is by audition only.
The ABT JKO School follows a specific graded curriculum, divided by age, which is outlined in the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum. Classes include Classical Ballet Technique, Pointe, Men’s and Women’s Variations, Pas de Deux, Character Dance, Modern, Pilates, Men’s Strength Training, Music and Dance History.
The ABT JKO School is also proud to participate in a full Wellness Program as part of our Healthy Dancer Curriculum. This initiative focuses on addressing both the physical and psychological needs of our ballet students through a series of professionally run workshops. Workshop topics include Nutrition, Women’s Health, Stress Management, Strength Training, Resume Writing and Audition Preparation.
Video by Ezra Hurwitz.
Curriculum & Tuition
Curriculum:
At the American Ballet Theatre 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.
Tuition and Scholarships:
Tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year is $6,500 for students in Upper 1, and $8,000 for students in Upper 2. Scholarships are awarded based exclusively on merit and are extremely competitive. There is no financial aid available.
Levels & Schedules
Each level of the Pre-Professional Division is designed to accommodate both the developmental needs of the age group and the academic schedules of our students. Detailed information for each level is outlined below.
Upper 1
Tuition: $6500
Ages: 12 - 15
Upper 1 coursework will include: Ballet technique (both co-ed and separate men’s/women’s classes), Pointe, Men’s and Women’s Variations, Pas de Deux, Character Dance, Modern and Pilates.
2018-2019 Class Schedules
Monday 4:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Tuesday 4:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Wednesday 4:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Thursday 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Friday 3:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Saturday 12:30 pm - 3:15 pm
Uniform
There is a strict dress code for each level of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. Dress code details will be provided upon acceptance and enrollment.
Upper 2
Tuition: $8000
Ages: 15 - 18
Upper 2 coursework will include: Ballet technique (both co-ed and separate men’s/women’s classes), Pointe, Men’s and Women’s Variations, Pas de Deux, Character Dance, Modern, Pilates, Men’s Strength Training and Music.
2018-2019 Class Schedules
Monday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Tuesday 1:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Wednesday 1:00 pm - 4:45 pm
Thursday 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Friday 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Saturday 3:15 pm - 4:45 pm
Uniform
There is a strict dress code for each level of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. Dress code details will be provided upon acceptance and enrollment.
Auditions & Admissions
Acceptance to the Pre-Professional Division of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School is by audition only. Prospective students may audition by attending an open audition, submitting a video audition, or by attending an ABT Summer Intensive.
Expand below for more information about the types of auditions.
Audition Methods
Open Audition
The ABT JKO School Pre-Professional Division will be holding one open audition this spring.
Date: Saturday, April 6, 2019
Times:
- Ages 12-14
- Registration/Check-in: 12noon
- Audition Class: 1:00PM
- Ages 15-17
- Registration/Check-in: 2:00PM
- Audition Class: 3:00PM
Location: ABT’s Studios at 890 Broadway (between 19th and 20th Streets)
Cost: $40.00 (Cash, Credit Card or Check made payable to “American Ballet Theatre”)
Dress Code:
- Girls – Black leotard, pink tights, pink ballet slippers and pointe shoes
- Boys – White t-shirt or leotard, black tights, black shoes
Bring: Photograph in first arabesque and headshot
How to Register: Pre-registration is now open! Click here to register. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required.
Video Audition
Students who are unable to attend the open audition may apply for the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School by video application. Video auditions that do not follow the guidelines below will be considered incomplete, and will be ineligible for consideration.
Video audition applications must include the following items:
- Completed Video Application – the application will outline all required exercises.
- Video (ten minutes maximum) should include work at the barre and in the center consisting of adagio, petit allegro, and grand allegro.
- Women: please include a pirouette combination en pointe with both en dehors and en dedans turns.
- Men: please include a combination with tours en l’air. Please note that variations and performance footage are not required for video auditions.
- One letter of recommendation from a current ballet instructor
- A photograph in first arabesque
- An informal headshot or school photo
- $45.00 US Audition Fee – Audition fee can be paid via checks/money orders or credit card. Checks/money orders should be made payable to American Ballet Theatre. Credit card payments should be submitted via the following credit card authorization form.
Video auditions should be sent either via email to [email protected] or via mail to the following address:
American Ballet Theatre
Attn: ABT JKO School – Auditions
890 Broadway, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10003
Video auditions will be accepted beginning February 20, 2019. The deadline for video auditions is March 30, 2019.
Video audition results will be emailed in late-April.
Summer Intensives
Open Auditions on ABT’s Summer Intensive National Audition Tour and Video Applications for the Summer Intensive cannot be used for entrance to the ABT JKO School. Students who have enrolled and are attending the ABT Summer Intensives can be evaluated for admission during the course of the various programs, pending the submission of a parental consent form. Those students auditioning at the Summer Intensive sites will be notified of audition results following the completion of their respective programs.
Learn MoreFaculty & Accompanists
Led by Artistic Director Cynthia Harvey, the faculty of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School includes members of ABT’s Artistic Staff, alumni, graduates of the ABT/NYU Master’s Program in Ballet Pedagogy, and other prominent teachers. Learn more about our faculty by clicking on the links below.
Kevin McKenzie, ABT Artistic Director
Cynthia Harvey, Artistic Director, ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
Photo: Ian Whalen
Cynthia Harvey
Artistic Director, ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
View Cynthia's ProfileFaculty
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
Alumni
Alumni of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School currently account for 23% of the dancers in ABT’s main Company, including:
ABT JKO School graduates have also gone on to dance with many renowned ballet companies both domestic and international, such as the ABT Studio Company, The Washington Ballet, Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, and others.
ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School students wear Capezio leotards.
Corporate Sponsor of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
American Ballet Theatre – Bringing Dance to America and American Dance to the World
Contact Us
If you require further assistance or have any questions regarding the Pre-Professional Division of the ABT JKO School, please contact us.
Contact UsFAQs
Explore frequently asked questions for the ABT JKO School’s Pre-professional Division.
View our FAQs