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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 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.

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.

2024 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 24 – July 26, 2024  (No classes on Thursday, July 4)

Age Group Cost Location Housing
12-20 Tuition:

$4,000 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.

This will be a day program only; no housing will be provided.  Level size will be limited. The program will conclude with a final performance on Friday, July 26, 2024.

Florida Summer Intensive

ABT is excited to revisit 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.

Dates: July 8 – July 26, 2024

Age Group Cost Location Housing
12-18 Tuition:

$2,400 USD

Day Student Fee:

$750 USD

Room and Board:

$2,750 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:

July 7, 2024

Dorm check-out:

July 26, 2024 (following Final Showing)

Housing is available.  Level size will be limited. The program will conclude with a final performance on Friday, July 26, 2024.

All residential students will be staying in the USF apartment-style dorms at the University of South Florida. The room and board fee includes housing, three meals per day, 24/7 supervision, performance participation, and extra activities including but not limited to: Day at Busch Gardens, Shopping at the Premium Outlets (covers transportation only); Professional Photo Session; Day at the Pool; Movie Night and More! More details on the residential student experience will be provided in the Student Handbook.  Dancers who are not staying in the dormitory at USF are required to pay a $750-day student fee.  This fee includes the activity fee, performance participation, and daily supervision.  The day student fee is mandatory for all day students regardless of participation in additional activities.

Photo: Rosalie O'Connor

Alumni

As of Fall 2023, over half of the Dancers in American Ballet Theatre’s Main Company and 7 Dancers in the ABT Studio Company have attended American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive programs, including 5 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 2024 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 2024 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, 2024.

Photo: Rosalie O'Connor
Scholarships

American Ballet Theatre has a limited number of full and partial scholarships for the 2024 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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