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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 incoming Artistic Director Susan Jaffe 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.

For 2023, American Ballet Theatre will hold In-Person Summer Intensives in New York, NY & Irvine, California.

Students participate in daily classes with ABT’s renowned faculty and enjoy a comprehensive curriculum that includes exposure to ABT artists, history and repertory. Class size will be limited.

2023 Summer Intensive Sites

New York Summer Intensive

At the New York Summer Intensive, students will enjoy five weeks of classes in the ABT Studios at Broadway and 19th Street near Union Square. The New York Summer Intensive is geared toward advanced dancers and continues to be our longest, most challenging program. Students in this program are trained with ABT’s National Training Curriculum, receiving top-notch education in ballet technique. The New York Summer Intensive hosts special guest teachers including ABT Artistic Director Susan Jaffe and other ABT Directors of Repertoire.

Dates: June 26 – July 29, 2023  (No classes on Tuesday, July 4)

Age Group Cost Location Housing
12-20 Tuition:

$3800 USD

American Ballet Theatre

890 Broadway, 3rd Floor

New York, NY 10003

(212) 477-3030 ext. 3416

Supervised housing is not available in New York.

The capacity of this program has been strictly limited in accordance with COVID safety protocols. Dancers must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by the date of enrollment (including single booster if eligible).  A person is considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) or 2 weeks after receipt of the single dose of the Janssen Vaccine.

This will be a day program only; no housing will be provided.  Each level will be limited to 25 dancers.

Please note: This program is scheduled to conclude on Saturday, July 29 with a tentative Final Showing performance.

California Summer Intensive

This two-week program will be held at the beautiful facilities at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The California Summer Intensive is aimed at giving advanced students a chance to train in an intensive environment with ABT’s expert faculty.

Dates: July 31 – August 11, 2023

Age Group Cost Location Housing
12-18 Tuition:

$1,800 USD

Segerstrom Center for the Arts

600 Town Center Drive

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Supervised housing is not available in California.

For more information regarding the facilities, please visit the Segerstrom Center for the Arts website.  Classes will be held Monday-Friday only.

The capacity of this program has been strictly limited in accordance with COVID safety protocols. Dancers must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by the date of enrollment (including single booster if eligible).  A person is considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) or 2 weeks after receipt of the single dose of the Janssen Vaccine.

This will be a day program only; no housing will be provided.  Each level will be limited to 25 dancers.

Photo: Rosalie O'Connor

Alumni

As of Fall 2022, over half of the Dancers in American Ballet Theatre’s Main Company and 4 Dancers in the ABT Studio Company have attended American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive programs, including 7 Soloists and 10 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.

View Summer Intensive Faculty

Program Information

Summer Intensive Curriculum

The curriculum of the 2023 Summer Intensives 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 2023 Summer Intensive may include: 

  • Ballet Technique 
  • Pointe 
  • Partnering 
  • Variations 
  • Men’s Technique 
  • Men’s Variations 
  • Modern 
  • Nutrition
  • Acting for Dancers/Mime 
  • Jazz 
  • Character 
  • Dance History 
  • Yoga 
  • Pilates
  • Meet the Artist 
  • Music 
  • Injury Prevention 

Students take a minimum of four classes per day, consisting of daily technique and pointe, followed by the supplemental classes listed above. 

Tuition Information

Tuition for each Summer Intensive varies by location and duration. Specific amounts are listed above by program. Tuition may be paid by credit card.

Tuition for the Summer Intensive may be paid in two installments: half upon enrollment and the other half by May 1, 2023.

Photo: Rosalie O'Connor
Scholarships

American Ballet Theatre has a limited number of full and partial scholarships for the 2023 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

"My two summers spent at ABT’s Summer Intensive were the most informative of my training. It is one of the only programs I have experienced that gave me true insight into what it is to be held responsible for my craft in preparation for becoming a professional. To be surrounded by dancers from all over the world and to be taught by some of my idols, as well as ballet’s biggest influences, was invaluable to my training there."

- Misty Copeland , Principal Dancer at ABT & Summer Intensive Student in New York (1999 & 2000)

Contact Us

If you require further assistance or have any questions regarding ABT’s Summer Intensives, please contact us.

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FAQs

To view our frequently asked questions about ABT’s Summer Programs, please click below.

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