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Summer Programs
Summer Intensives
Summer Intensives
American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive has earned a reputation for being the most thorough and rewarding dance experience a student can have during the summer. Under the supervision of ABT’s Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie and Artistic Director of Summer Intensives Kate Lydon, the program offers top quality teachers and master guest teachers that are dedicated to the learning process and growth of each individual student. The ABT Summer Intensive focuses on developing well-rounded dancers through exposure to a wide variety of disciplines with an emphasis on classical ballet technique and key elements of ABT’s National Training Curriculum. Students participate in a minimum of three classes per day with ABT’s renowned faculty and enjoy a comprehensive curriculum that includes exposure to ABT artists, history and repertory. Class size will be limited.
American Ballet Theatre will hold Virtual Summer Intensives in 2021 with the potential for in-person Summer Intensives. In our Virtual Summer Intensive, students participate in a minimum of three classes per day with ABT’s renowned faculty and enjoy a comprehensive curriculum that includes exposure to ABT artists, history and repertory. Classes will be held from approximately 12:00pm-4:30pm Eastern Time via Zoom. Class size will be limited.
The decision to hold in-person Summer Intensives will be made in April 2021 with regard to local health guidelines as well as regulations of our University partners where applicable. Students enrolled in the Virtual Summer Intensives will be given priority to enroll in the in-person Summer Intensives.
2021 Summer Intensive Sites
Students who are accepted on the 2021 Virtual Audition Tour may attend any combination of Virtual Summer Intensive sessions. All sessions are two weeks in length. Students will be placed in levels based on audition performance and age.
Ages: 12-20
Dates:
- Session 1 – June 14 – June 25, 2021
- Session 2 – June 28 – July 9, 2021
- Session 3 – July 12 – July 23, 2021
- Session 4 – July 26 – August 6, 2021
Tuition: $600 USD per session
Location: via Zoom
Virtual Summer Intensives will be held regardless of in-person training opportunities.
Summer Intensive Faculty
This program is tentative. The decision to hold in-person training programs will be made in April 2021.
Tentative Dates: June 28 – July 23, 2021
| Age Group | Cost | Location | Housing |
| 12-20 | Tuition:
TBA |
American Ballet Theatre
890 Broadway, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10003 |
Supervised housing is not available in New York. |
This program is tentative. The decision to hold in-person training programs will be made in April 2021.
Tentative Dates: July 5 – July 23, 2021*
| Age Group | Cost | Location | Housing |
| 11-17 | Tuition:
TBA |
University of Alabama
Department of Theater and Dance Box 870239 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 |
There will be no supervised housing for Summer 2021. |
*This program is tentatively scheduled to occur in single week sessions with classes held from Monday – Saturday.
This program is tentative. The decision to hold in-person training programs will be made in April 2021.
Tentative Dates: June 28 – July 23, 2021*
| Age Group | Cost | Location | Housing |
| 12-18 | Tuition:
TBA |
University of South Florida
School of Theatre and Dance 4202 East Fowler Avenue, TAR 230 Tampa, FL 33620
|
There will be no supervised housing for Summer 2021. |
*This program is tentatively scheduled to occur in two sessions. The first session is scheduled for June 28 – July 9, 2021. The second session is scheduled for July 12 – July 23, 2021.
This program is tentative. The decision to hold in-person training programs will be made in April 2021.
Tentative Dates: July 5 – July 23, 2021
| Age Group | Cost | Location | Housing |
| 12-18 | Tuition:
TBA |
University of Texas at Austin
300 East 23rd Street Austin, TX 78712 (512) 232-7099 |
There will be no supervised housing for Summer 2021. |
Photo: Rosalie O'Connor
Alumni
As of Fall 2020, 47 Dancers in American Ballet Theatre’s Main Company and 10 Dancers in the ABT Studio Company have attended American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive programs, including 6 Soloists and 9 Principal Dancers.
Photo: Rosalie O'Connor
Faculty
Students of ABT’s Summer Intensive are exposed to a level of training unmatched by any other summer program. The faculty consists of ABT alumni, current ABT Company Dancers, guest teachers, accomplished pianists, and ABT artistic staff including Kevin McKenzie, ABT Artistic Director, and Kate Lydon, Artistic Director of Summer Intensives.
Program Information
The curriculum of the 2021 ABT Summer Intensive will include advanced technique classes and critical lecture courses to contribute to the development of a complete dancer. ABT’s teaching philosophy is to create dancers that are versatile rather than stylized, who are thus prepared to work with any company.
Classes for the 2021 Virtual Summer Intensive may include:
- Ballet Technique
- Pointe
- Variations
- Men’s Technique
- Men’s Variations
- Modern
- Mime
- Musical Theater
- Jazz
- Character
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Dance History
- Meet the Artist
- Music
- Injury Prevention
- Nutrition
Though some lecture offerings may vary by session, the daily structure and curriculum of all Virtual Summer Intensive programs is identical. Students take a minimum of three classes per day, consisting of daily technique and pointe, followed by the supplemental classes listed above. In addition, dancers may have special Meet the Artist sessions or lectures outside of the typical class schedule.
Photo: Rosalie O'Connor
Virtual Summer Training Programs
The tuition for each Virtual Summer Intensive session is $600 USD. The full tuition is due at the time of enrollment. There are no refunds on tuition payments.
Transfer of Tuition
If an in-person Summer Intensive is held, students enrolled in the Virtual Summer Intensive will receive priority enrollment. Students will be able to apply their Virtual Summer Intensive tuition to the tuition balance for the in-person Summer Intensive. Tuition for in-person programs will be announced in late Spring.
Photo: Rosalie O'Connor
American Ballet Theatre has a limited number of full and partial scholarships for the 2021 Virtual Summer Intensives. All students are considered for merit-based scholarships at the time of audition. There is no application process. American Ballet Theatre will notify scholarship recipients at the time of acceptance.
Photo: Rosalie O'Connor
The goal of the National Training Program is to encourage young dancers to continue their dance training and complete their academic education in their home communities. To accomplish this goal, ABT awards scholarships to a small number of promising young dancers (ages 12-18) after participating in the ABT Summer Intensive. Scholarships cover the full cost of Summer Intensive tuition, as well as a portion of students’ summer housing and year-round training expenses. Dancers chosen for the National Training Program are required to attend the Summer Intensive program again the following summer. There is no application process for this program. National Training Scholars are chosen each year from the student body of the ABT Summer Intensives, and are notified by mail after the Nominating Committee meets in the Fall.
Photo: Rosalie O'Connor Summer Intensive Auditions
Dancers may audition in any class on the Virtual Audition Tour or submit a video application. Participation in the ABT Summer Intensive is by acceptance only. Students may only audition once each year.
Auditions are open to students of all genders who have achieved intermediate or advanced levels of ballet training. Applicants for all Summer Intensives must be at least 11 years old by their audition date and no older than 20 on June 21, 2021.
Visit the Audition Information Page for important details, audition guidelines and the National Audition Tour schedule.
Audition Information
Contact Us
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