Support America’s National Ballet Company® DONATE
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 four 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.
2020 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 Kevin McKenzie and other ABT Ballet Masters. Students will perform ABT repertory in a final performance.
| Age Group | Cost | Location | Housing |
| 12-20 | Tuition:
$3,150 USD Activity Fee: $150 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. For reference, view the 2019 NY Housing List. |
*Mandatory for all students regardless of scholarship status.
View New York Summer Intensive Faculty
This three-week program is held in collaboration with the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. The Tuscaloosa site is geared toward strengthening and refining technique for intermediate and advanced dancers. Students will stay in dormitories on the beautiful University of Alabama campus while studying with celebrated ABT faculty. A final performance will be held featuring ABT repertory at the Moody Music Concert Hall.
| Age Group | Cost | Location | Housing |
| 11-17 | Tuition:
$1,400 USD Day Student Fee: $650 USD Room and Board: $1,875 USD |
University of Alabama
Department of Theater and Dance Box 870239 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 (205) 348-5283 |
Dorm check-in:
June 28, 2020(9 AM – 2 PM, Mandatory Orientation 4 PM) Dorm check-out: July 17, 2020 (following 1:30 PM Showing) |
ABT is excited to expand our relationship with the University of South Florida in Tampa to host a three-week intensive. This program will focus on the refinement of technique for intermediate and advanced dancers. Students will be taught by renowned ABT faculty and will have the opportunity to perform ABT repertory in a final performance.
| Age Group | Cost | Location | Housing |
| 12-18 | Tuition:
$1,525 USD Day Student Fee: $650 USD Room and Board: $2,100 USD |
University of South Florida
School of Theatre and Dance 4202 East Fowler Avenue, TAR 230 Tampa, FL 33620 (813) 974-3867 |
Dorm check-in:
June 28, 2020 Dorm check-out: July 17, 2020 (following 2 PM Showing) |
*Program Dates will be confirmed in January
View Florida Summer Intensive Faculty
ABT and The University of Texas at Austin collaborate on this four-week intensive. The Texas Summer Intensive is geared toward strengthening and refining technique for intermediate and advanced dancers. Students will have the opportunity to study celebrated ABT faculty. The experience will culminate in a final performance of ABT repertory.
| Age Group | Cost | Location | Housing |
| 12-18 | Tuition:
$1,625 USD Day Student Fee: $600 USD Room and Board: $2,400 USD |
University of Texas at Austin
300 East 23rd Street Austin, TX 78712 (512) 232-7099 |
Dorm check-in:
July 5, 2020 Dorm check-out: July 31, 2020 (PM) August 1, 2020 (AM) |
For additional information, visit the University of Texas website.
View Texas Summer Intensive Faculty
ABT and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts work together to bring you this program located in the beautiful facilities on the campus of the University of California, Irvine. Students attending this program are encouraged to stay in the dormitories on campus where there will also be a final performance of ABT repertory. The California Summer Intensive is aimed at giving advanced students a chance to train in an intensive environment with ABT’s expert faculty.
| Age Group | Cost | Location | Housing |
| 12-18 | Tuition:
$1,725 USD Day Student Fee: $675 USD Room and Board: $2,000 USD |
University of California, Irvine
300 Mesa Arts Building Irvine, CA 92697 Segerstrom Center for the Arts (714) 556-2121 x4210 |
Dorm check-in:
July 19, 2020 Dorm check-out: August 7, 2020 (following 2 PM Showing) |
For more information regarding the facilities, please visit the University of California, Irvine’s website.
View California Summer Intensive FacultyPhoto: Rosalie O'Connor
Alumni
Over 50 dancers in American Ballet Theatre’s Main Company and Studio Company have attended ABT Summer Intensives.
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, guest teachers, accomplished pianists, and ABT artistic staff including Kevin McKenzie, ABT Artistic Director, and Kate Lydon, Artistic Director of Summer Intensives.
View Summer Intensive FacultyProgram Information
The curriculum of the 2020 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 2020 Summer Intensive may include:
- Ballet Technique
- Pointe
- Partnering
- Variations
- Men’s Technique
- Men’s Variations
- Modern
- Nutrition
- Acting for Dancers/Mime
- Musical Theater
- Jazz
- Character
- Dance History
- Yoga
- Meet the Artist
- Music
- Injury Prevention
- Pilates
Though some lecture offerings may vary by site, the daily structure and curriculum of all Summer Intensive programs is identical. Students take a minimum of four classes per day, consisting of daily technique and pointe, followed by the supplemental classes listed above. In addition, dancers may have rehearsals on occasional evenings for a final performance showcasing selections from ABT’s repertoire.
Photo: Rosalie O'Connor
Tuition for each Summer Intensive varies by location and duration. Specific amounts are listed above by site. Tuition may be paid by credit card or personal check in two installments: half upon enrollment and the other half by May 1, 2020. Please do not send room and board payments to ABT. Information on when and where to send room and board payments will be sent to enrolled students in an informational handbook in the Spring. All tuition fees include a digital file of the final showing.
Photo: Rosalie O'Connor
American Ballet Theatre has a limited number of full and partial scholarships for the 2020 Summer Intensive. All students are considered for merit-based scholarships. 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 at one of the sites on our National 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 all male and female students 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 22, 2020.
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
To view our frequently asked questions about ABT’s Summer Programs, please click below.
View our FAQs