ABT's 2016 Summer Intensive Puts on Final Performances in Astoria This Month

Final performances for American Ballet Theatre's New York Summer Intensive Program are scheduled for Friday, July 29, 2016 at 12:00 P.M. and 2:30 P.M. at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, New York. The performances mark the conclusion of ABT's 21st annual New York Summer Intensive, a five-week training program for dancers ages 12 to 22.

Summer Intensive students will perform selections from ABT's repertory including Birthday Offering, Don Quixote, Études, Giselle, La Bayadère, Le Corsaire, The Sleeping Beauty and Raymonda.

Participants in American Ballet Theatre's Summer Intensives are chosen through a cross-country audition tour sponsored by Freed of London, Ltd, which auditioned more than 5,000 students in 24 cities across the United States. ABT's 2016 Summer Intensives will reach over 1,400 participants in New York City and satellite programs in North Carolina, Alabama, Texas and California.

The annual Summer Intensive at ABT's New York City studios is a comprehensive course that begins with daily ballet technique class and includes specialized classes in pointe work, partnering, musical theater, character dance, contemporary, Pilates and yoga for young dancers. To complement the dancers' training, lectures are offered on injury prevention, anatomy, nutrition and music. Forty-five of American Ballet Theatre's current roster of Company dancers are Summer Intensive alumni.

Under the direction of Julie Kent, the 2016 New York Summer Intensive Program incorporates a faculty of ABT alumni, members of ABT's Artistic Staff and renowned teachers including Kevin McKenzie, Franco De Vita, Kate Lydon, Lupe Serrano, Charles Askegard, Ethan Brown, Gabrielle Brown, Leslie Browne, Yan Chen, Harriet Clark, Olga Dvorovenko, Maina Gielgud, Carlos Lopez, Rosanna Seravalli and Cheryl Yeager.

Frank Sinatra School of the Arts is located at 35-12 35th Avenue in Astoria, New York. For detailed directions, visit www.franksinatraschoolofthearts.org.

A limited number of seats will be on sale for $15 at the door one hour prior to the performance. Adults and children, aged two and up, require a ticketed seat. For more information, please call the Summer Intensive Hotline at 212.477.3030, ext. 3416 or email summerintensive@abt.org. Visit www.abt.org for more information.