For the retiring 70 geezerhood , the American Ballet Theatre ( ABT ) has brought the best in dance theater of operations , both past and present , to citizenry around the mankind . Each class , more than 600,000 audience members enjoy performances either at the ABT ’s home , the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City , or in venues around the world in cities visited by ABT touring companies . Pre - performance workshop and special events for child heighten the performing nontextual matter experience .

Almost everyone who is anyone in American dancing has worked with or for the ABT since its institution . Agnes de Mille , Jerome Robbins and George Balanchine are among the renowned choreographers who have create industrial plant for the ABT ; artistic manager admit Mikhail Baryshnikov , who also dance for the ABT . Classical ballets , such as " kip Beauty , " " Swan Lake " and " Giselle " have been reworked by the ABT , while ballet produce for the ABT , like " Rodeo " and " Fancy Free " have gone on to become classics themselves .

The ABT ’s main time of year in New York exact place during eight hebdomad in the outpouring . Dancers in the ABT emphasize the " theater of operations " part of the party ’s name , using their body to express emotions and land life to the level the saltation is telling .

The ABT ’s professional dancer include :

ABT II , another aspect of the American Ballet Theatre , pass on foretell young social dancer between the ages of 16 and 20 the opportunity to hone their performing skills and work up to membership in the main company . The artistic staff of the ABT chooses the 13 dancers for this authoritative companionship . ABT II members direct for two long time before join either the ABT or another professional company .

In this clause , we ’ll look at the American Ballet Theatre ’s pedigree and chronicle , learn about its tough training programme for the nation ’s best young dancers , and see how you’re able to get involved through its membership program .

American Ballet Theatre History

The storeyed ( and sometimes stormy ) account of the American Ballet Theatre began as the Great Depression was ending . The ABT set about as the Mordkin Ballet in 1937 . In 1939 , conscientious objector - founder Lucia Chase and set graphic designer Oliver Smith interchange the name to Ballet Theatre and reorganise the companionship . Their destination : to develop a repertory of classical ballets and also to encourage immature choreographers to make novel work . The Ballet Theatre first took the phase in January 1940 at Radio City Music Hall . In 1956 , the company transfer its name to American Ballet Theatre . The move north to the Metropolitan Opera House follow presently after .

Chase and Smith put their postage stamp on the ABT by stay at the helm as aesthetic director from 1940 to 1980 . During these four decades , the ABT defined American dance , staging works by the twentieth century ’s foremost choreographer , among them Twyla Tharp and Antony Tudor . Groundbreaking kit and caboodle include " Push come to Shove " and " Duets . " Mikhail Baryshnikov took over as esthetic director in 1980 and stayed until 1989 . During his tenure , Baryshnikov work to redefine the company ’s classical repertoire , reworking and restaging the classics . When Baryshnikov leave , Smith generate and became a Centennial State - director , along with Jane Hermann . During their two years crop together , Smith and Hermann strain to maintain the traditions of the past while make an innovative futurity .

Just as the American Ballet Theatre has lucubrate the boundaries of dance , it has expanded the boundaries of its domain , too . The ABT has set about 15 outside tour of duty to more than 40 country . In 1960 , the ABT chitchat the Soviet Union and became the first American company to perform there . The chemical group visited China for the first prison term in 2000 , performing in Shanghai and Hong Kong . Taipei and Singapore were also on the docket during that head trip .

How can you get involved with the ABT ? On the next varlet , we ’ll talk over how you may help the troupe , even if you ’ve get two left pes .

American Ballet Theatre Membership

The American Ballet Theatre must incur one-half of its operate budget each year through donation . It have a lot of money to keep the ABT saltation and much of that comes from a consecrated cadre of foundation , line of work and individuals who brook the perform arts with their contribution . It ’s possible to make one - clock time donation to ABT or purchase into one of several rank options :

Members at each tier get sure benefits , along with sure obligation . At the highest tier is the Chairman ’s Council , a comparatively new computer program . It expect a three - year allegiance of giving , but in exchange , members are pay insight into the caller ’s artistic goals and business strategy . fellow member at the depressed level , such as the Dancers ' Circle , get perks such as priority ticketing and hand to a apparel rehearsal .

extremity of the Premiere Club get to support the creation and staging of one fresh production a year . In 2010 , it ’s John Neumeier ’s " Lady of the Camellias . " Supporters at this level , which starts at $ 3,000 , are rewarded with sneak trailer , dry run tickets , performance tickets and an invitation to a post - performance reception with Neumeier and the dancers .

Another means to help the ABT is through the Costume Fund , which helps furbish up and preserve the amazing costume the terpsichorean have fall apart over the decades . Started in 2003 , the Costume Fund keeps these wearable work of art in do condition as well as preserving them for posterity . And in 2005 , the ABT begin an endowment fund that met its goal of rear $ 30 million in three year . Thatmoney , keep on as principal , will buckle under an annual income of more than $ 1 million for the ABT . Finally , concert dance lovers can make certain their Passion of Christ lives on by join the Lucia Chase Society . Named for an ABT founding director , the Society helps members include the ABT in their landed estate plan .

Maybe it ’s not money but dance that gets you going . retrieve you have what it adopt to become a appendage of the ABT ? The piece of work is hard and the competition is fierce , but the way are there if you ’re willing . Keep reading to find out about the equivalent weight of ballet kicking camp and what might be the most rigorous summertime break of your life .

American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive

Encouraging and nurturing young endowment is one of the American Ballet Theatre ’s main missions . The ABT operates the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York City , which offers course for children and immature dancer at a pre - professional level . The American Ballet Theatre also provide progression study programme for dance educators , including an ABT enfranchisement program . A partnership with New York University also enable dance pedagog to obtain a masters degree in dancing education with a concentration in concert dance teaching .

But it ’s ABT ’s Summer Intensive that inspires care and awe among untested professional dancer . Summer Intensive is probably the most vivid – and rewarding – way to spend a schoolhouse break . Young terpsichorean take class from current ABT member and alumni , along with renowned guest instructors . form range from pointe to hip joint - hop , with less physical subjects such as terpsichore history and sustenance offered , too .

summertime Intensive at the ABT studios in New York City lasts for six weeks , but brusque political platform are offered at various locations – usually college campuses – throughout the commonwealth . price vary depending on the location . The New York City program is more than $ 2,700 , not include lodging andfood . At the other locations , student are housed and fed on campus . Scholarships are available to help with cost , however . The NYC Summer Intensive is designed for terpsichorean age 12 through 22 , while the program in other area have an geezerhood limit of 18 . The ABT also offers a collegiate summertime intensive and a young dancer summertime intensive .

The untested dancers , who are chosen by tryout – either in person or through submitted DVDs – take course of study for about eight hours a day , Monday through Friday , with some electives and special programs scheduled on Saturdays .

For great deal more data on terpsichore and the arts , see the links on the next page .

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