Video by Ezra Hurwitz.
Video by Ezra Hurwitz.
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The American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School is a pre-professional ballet training program for students, ages 12-18. Under the direction of Artistic Director Stella Abrera, students thrive in an elite atmosphere dedicated to the success of each student. Admission is by audition only.
The ABT JKO School follows a specific graded curriculum, divided by age, which is outlined in the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum. Classes include Classical Ballet Technique, Pointe, Men’s and Women’s Variations, Pas de Deux, Character Dance, Modern, Pilates, Men’s Strength Training, Music and Dance History.
The ABT JKO School is also proud to participate in a full Wellness Program as part of our Healthy Dancer Curriculum. This initiative focuses on addressing both the physical and psychological needs of our ballet students through a series of professionally run workshops. Workshop topics include Nutrition, Women’s Health, Stress Management, Strength Training, Resume Writing and Audition Preparation.
At the American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, our students are trained with ABT’s National Training Curriculum, which combines scientific principles with elements of classical French, Italian, and Russian schools of ballet. The goal of our Curriculum is to train students to use their bodies correctly by educating them on anatomy, kinetics, coordination, and alignment. Artistically, our Curriculum strives to provide for students both a rich knowledge of classical ballet technique and the ability to adapt to all styles of dance.
As each level follows our carefully planned Curriculum throughout the year, students are expected to attend all their assigned classes.
Tuition is $7550 for students in Upper 1; $9050 for students in Upper 2; and $9950 for students in Upper 3. Scholarships are awarded based exclusively on merit and are extremely competitive. There is no financial aid available.
Each level of the Pre-Professional Division is designed to accommodate both the developmental needs of the age group and the academic schedules of our students. Detailed information for each level is outlined below.
Monday 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Tuesday 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Wednesday 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Thursday 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Friday 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Saturday 12:15 pm - 5:30 pm
There is a strict dress code for each level of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. Dress code details will be provided upon acceptance and enrollment.
Monday 2:30 pm - 6:45 pm
Tuesday 2:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Wednesday 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Thursday 2:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Friday 2:15 pm - 6:30 pm
Saturday 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
There is a strict dress code for each level of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. Dress code details will be provided upon acceptance and enrollment.
Monday 10:45 am - 4:15 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am - 4:15 pm
Thursday 11:00 am - 3:30 pm
Friday 11:00 am - 4:15 pm
Saturday 2:15 pm - 4:15 pm
There is a strict dress code for each level of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. Dress code details will be provided upon acceptance and enrollment.
Acceptance to the Pre-Professional Division of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School is by audition only. Dancers ages 11-18 may audition for the 2024-2025 school year by attending one of the eligible cities on the Summer Intensive National Audition Tour, the Pre-Professional Division Open Audition or by submitting a video audition. Please find 2024-2025 open audition and video audition information below.
The ABT JKO School Pre-Professional Division will be holding one in-person open audition for the 2024-2025 school year on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at ABT’s Studios located at 890 Broadway, New York, NY. Pre-registration is required.
Ages 11-14 – 11:00AM – 1:00PM ET
Ages 15-18 – 1:00PM – 3:00PM ET
Dancers who auditioned for the ABT JKO School Pre-Professional Division during ABT’s 2024 Summer Intensive National Audition Tour (in one of the eligible cities below), will receive results via email by mid-March.
New York, NY (January 7 only); San Diego, CA (Saturday, January 13); Costa Mesa, CA (Sunday, January 14); Boca Raton (Sunday, January 14); Orlando (Sunday, January 14) and San Francisco, CA (Saturday, January 27).
The ABT JKO School Pre-Professional Division will be holding one in-person open audition for the 2024-2025 school year on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at ABT’s Studios located at 890 Broadway, New York, NY. Pre-registration is required.
The Pre-Professional Division audition is open to dancers of all genders who have achieved an advanced level of ballet training. Applicants for the Pre-Professional Division must turn 12 by September 1, 2024 and be no older than 18 on April 1, 2024.
Ages 11-14
Check-in 10:00AM – 11:00AM ET
Audition Class 11:00AM – 1:00PM ET
Ages 15-18
Check-in 12:00PM – 1:00PM ET
Audition Class 1:00PM – 3:00PM ET
Chrome is the recommended browser for completing the steps below.
Students who participated in a 2023 ABT JKO or Summer Intensive audition/program should use their previously-created login credentials to log into the ABT Portal and proceed to Step Two.
Step One: Register for the ABT Portal
Step Two: Register for an Audition
For any issues with your registration, please contact Portal@abt.org.
Please keep in mind the following for the day of the audition:
Students are to abide by the following dress code for their audition:
You may submit a video audition for consideration for the Pre-Professional Division for the 2024-2025 school year. The portal to submit a video audition will be open until April 15, 2024. Please find video submission information below.
The Pre-Professional Division audition is open to dancers of all genders who have achieved an advanced level of ballet training. Applicants for the Pre-Professional Division must turn 12 by September 1, 2024 and be no older than 18 on April 1, 2024.
Students who participated in a 2023 ABT JKO or Summer Intensive audition/program should use their previously-created login credentials to log into the ABT Portal and proceed to Step Two.
Step One: Register for the ABT Portal
Step Two: Register for an Audition
For any issues with your registration, please contact Portal@abt.org.
VIDEO SUBMISSION PORTALMay
04
Saturday
Students will perform an excerpted repertoire including Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. Highlights will include class demonstrations showcasing the diverse ABT JKO School curriculum, original works choreographed by students under the direction of Gemma Bond, and a new work created with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, stemming from their semester-long residency. The program will also feature a special appearance by ABT Principal Dancers Devon Teuscher and Joo Won Ahn performing the Act II pas de deux from Swan Lake, supported by dancers from the ABT JKO School.
May
05
Sunday
Students will perform an excerpted repertoire including Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. Highlights will include class demonstrations showcasing the diverse ABT JKO School curriculum, original works choreographed by students under the direction of Gemma Bond, and a new work created with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, stemming from their semester-long residency. The program will also feature a special appearance by ABT Principal Dancers Devon Teuscher and Joo Won Ahn performing the Act II pas de deux from Swan Lake, supported by dancers from the ABT JKO School.
Led by Artistic Director Stella Abrera, the faculty of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School includes members of ABT’s Artistic Staff, alumni, graduates of the ABT/NYU Master’s Program in Ballet Pedagogy, and other prominent teachers. Learn more about our faculty by clicking on the links below.
Susan Jaffe, ABT Artistic Director
Stella Abrera, Artistic Director, ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
Photo: Fabrizio Ferri.
Artistic Director, American Ballet Theatre
Photo: Sophie Elgort, courtesy Lafayette 148.
Artistic Director, ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
Photo: Chris Hardy.
Principal Teacher, ABT JKO School Pre-Professional Division
Photo: Michael Cairns.
Principal Teacher, ABT JKO School Pre-Professional Division
Photo: Hanna Bass.
ABT National Training Curriculum Artistic Associate
Photo: Hanna Bass.
ABT National Training Curriculum Artistic Associate
Each class at the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School is accompanied by one of our accomplished musicians.
Michael Cherry, Stephanie Chun, John Epperson, Misha Golubitsky, Shimako Horii, Sofiya Leavsie, Dmitry Polischuk, Tim Prepscius, Victor See Yuen, Mihoko Suzuki, Laura Tishchenko, Mira Tsidulko
Alumni of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School currently account for 35% of the dancers in ABT’s main Company, including:
ABT JKO School graduates have also gone on to dance with many renowned ballet companies both domestic and international, such as the ABT Studio Company, The Washington Ballet, Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, and others.
ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School students wear Capezio leotards.
If you require further assistance or have any questions regarding the Pre-Professional Division of the ABT JKO School, please contact us.
Contact UsExplore frequently asked questions for the ABT JKO School’s Pre-professional Division.
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