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-old applicants that will turn 13 prior to the program are not eligible to attend the Young Dancer Summer Workshop.

Summer Intensives: 12-year-old applicants 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 22, 2026.

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 8, 2026.

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.

Auditions will be conducted on weekends, Saturday, January 3 – Sunday, February 8, 2026.  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 may not be accepted. The fee to audition is $50 USD.  Spaces in each city are extremely limited, and additional spaces will not be added.

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. (4×6 or 5×7 preferred)
• 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 if appropriate.
• 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.
• Class sizes are limited per audition site in accordance to safety and capacity guidelines at each venue.
• As of November 2025, masks are optional.  ABT reserves the right to modify this policy should the need arise.
• 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 2026 Summer Training Programs.  The portal to submit a Video audition will be open from November 1, 2025 – February 9, 2026.  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. Please see below for a link and instructions.
• An audition fee will be required to complete your video audition (credit card only).
• Video auditions will be accepted in two rounds:
  • Priority Video Auditions: November 1, 2025-December 15, 2025 at 11:59pm Eastern Time.
  • General Video Auditions: December 16, 2025-February 9, 2026 at 11:59pm Eastern Time.

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 & Enrollment Deadlines

Auditions results will be sent via email no later than 7-10 business days after the audition.  Emails will be sent to the primary email address on the account.  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 after 10 days, please contact the ABT Summer Intensive Staff.

Please note that partial attendance is not permitted.  You must attend the full program.