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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
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.
This two-week program will be held at the beautiful facilities on the campus of the University of California, Irvine. 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 |
University of California, Irvine
300 Mesa Arts Building Irvine, CA 92697 |
Supervised housing is not available in California. |
For more information regarding the facilities, please visit the University of California, Irvine’s 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.
Program Information
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 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
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 Summer Intensive Auditions
Dancers may audition in person at one of the sites on our National Audition Tour or submit a video audition. Participation in the ABT Summer Intensive is by acceptance only. Students may only audition once each year. Online pre-registration is required for all auditions. Online pre-registration will open on December 1, 2022.
Auditions are open to dancers of all genders who have achieved intermediate or advanced levels of ballet training. Applicants for all Summer Intensives must turn 12 by June 26, 2023 and be no older than 20 on June 27, 2023.
Visit the Audition Information Page for important details, audition guidelines and the National Audition Tour schedule.
Audition Information
Contact Us
If you require further assistance or have any questions regarding ABT’s Summer Intensives, please contact us.
Contact UsFAQs
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