Age Requirements and Important Audition Details

Young Dancer Summer Workshop (YDSW): Dancers interested in the YDSW should audition with their age group at the time of audition. This includes students ages 9 to 11, and 12-year-olds at the beginning pointe level.

• Applicants must be 9 to 11 years old by the start date of the program, or 12-year-olds at the beginning pointe level.
• 12-year-olds applicants that will turn 13 during the program are not eligible to attend the Young Dancer Summer Workshop.

Summer Intensives: Dancers ages 12 who wish to be considered for both YDSW and the Summer Intensives may attend any of the Summer Intensive audition classes for ages 11 and up.

• Applicants must be at least 12 years old and no older than 20 years old by June 26, 2023.

ABT Collegiate Summer Intensive: Dancers interested in the ABT Collegiate Summer Intensive may audition at any of the audition sites with their age group.

• Applicants must be at least 17 years old and no older than 24 years old on June 12, 2023.

In-Person Auditions

American Ballet Theatre will hold in-person auditions in numerous cities across the United States.  Class sizes will be limited in accordance with capacity guidelines at each audition site. As of November 2022, masks will be required for the duration of all auditions.

Auditions will be conducted on weekends, Saturday, January 7 – Sunday, February 5, 2023.  The audition schedule below details the specific dates and times for each weekend. Pre-registration is required for all in-person auditions and walk-up registration will not be accepted. Spaces in each city are extremely limited, and additional spaces will not be added.

Students requiring an exemption should plan to audition via video audition. 

How to Register for an In-Person Audition:

All times listed are in the local time zone of that audition. Please make sure to select the accurate age group for each dancer’s audition registration.  Chrome is the recommended browser for completing the steps below.

Step One:  Register for the ABT Portal

• If you have previously auditioned:
  • Please 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 you are new to ABT’s Summer Training Programs
  • 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 you would like to attend by selecting the circle next to the listing and scrolling 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.

Additional Steps if Necessary:

• 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.)
• If vaccination is required at your audition site, please upload your vaccination card to your profile.
• 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 registration, please contact [email protected].

Information for the Day of the Audition:

Please keep in mind the following for your Summer Intensive Audition:

• Check-In on the day of the audition will begin 60 minutes prior to each 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/men’s work if appropriate.
• Students will be assigned an audition number upon arrival.
• Plan to bring the dancer’s informal headshot and first arabesque picture to submit upon check-in.
• All students are considered for merit-based scholarships.

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. Bring pointe shoes for the last twenty minutes of class.
• Male identifying dancers must wear white t-shirts, full-length black tights, and ballet slippers.

Please note:

• Audition classes are based on the age of the student on the date of the audition.
• Proof of vaccination will be required at all cities with the exception of: Boca Raton, FL; Orlando, FL; & Tampa, FL.
• Students requiring an exemption should plan to audition via video audition.   
• Class sizes are limited per audition site in accordance to safety and capacity guidelines at each venue.
• Students should only register for one audition class. There are no exchanges or refunds on audition registration.

Video Auditions

You may submit a Video Audition for consideration for the 2023 Summer Training Programs.  The portal to submit a Video audition will be open from December 13, 2022 – February 15, 2023.  To submit a video application, follow the guidelines that are listed below.

• ABT will require specific guidelines for the content of the video audition.  Students will need to complete designated combinations for their age group.  These guidelines will be available on the Student Portal.
• Video auditions must be submitted via our Student Portal. The portal will be available beginning December 13, 2023.
• An audition fee will be required to complete your video audition (credit card only).
• Video auditions will be accepted beginning December 13, 2022. The final deadline for video auditions is February 15, 2023 at 11:59pm EST.
• Video audition results will be emailed by the notification date: March 1, 2023.

Please note that variations and performance footage are not required for video auditions. Submission of such material may negatively affect a student’s chance of acceptance.

Audition Results & Dates

Notification letters will be emailed by the given date listed below.  Participation in all ABT Summer Programs is by audition and acceptance only.  Students will be required to submit a non-refundable tuition deposit to hold their place in the program by a specified tuition deadline.  If you did not receive your audition result by the date below, please contact the ABT Summer Intensive Staff.