ABT's New York Summer Intensive Final Performances Scheduled, Begins 7/30

Final performances for American Ballet Theatre's New York Summer Intensive Program are scheduled for Friday, July 30, 2010 at 12 P.M. and 4 P.M. at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts. The performances mark the conclusion of ABT's 15th annual New York Summer Intensive, a six-week training program for dancers ages 12 to 22.

In honor of the 30th anniversary of La Bayadère, Summer Intensive students will perform excerpts from the ballet, including the "Kingdom of the Shades" scene. The Summer Intensive final performances will also feature excerpts from Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty and Raymonda, as well as original choreography by Aszure Barton, Leslie Browne, Olga Dvorovenko, Joe Istre, Jessica Lang, Brian Reeder and Kanji Segawa.

Participants in American Ballet Theatre's Summer Intensives are chosen through a cross-country audition tour sponsored by Freed of London, Ltd. This year, more than 3,400 students auditioned in 21 cities across the United States. ABT's 2010 Summer Intensives will reach over 1100 participants in New York City and through satellite programs in Michigan, Alabama, Texas and California.

260 students are currently participating in the 2010 New York Summer Intensive. The annual program 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, choreography, jazz, character dance, modern dance, musical theater, Pilates and yoga for young dancers. To complement the dancers' training, lectures are offered on injury prevention, nutrition, and dance history.

Under the direction of Melissa Allen Bowman, the 2010 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, Wes Chapman, Kate Lydon, Ethan Brown, Leslie Browne, Hilary Cartwright, Harriet Clark, Olga Dvorovenko, Brian Reeder, Lupe Serrano, Eleanor D'Antuono, David Howard, Johanna Butow and Rosanna Seravalli.

Scünci is the Official Hair Accessory of the ABT Summer Intensive.

Frank Sinatra School of the Arts is located at 35-12 35th Avenue in Astoria,

New York. For detailed directions, please visit http://www.franksinatraschoolofthearts.org. Tickets are $16 for adults, $11 for children and students and will go on sale to the public on Friday, July 30 at 11 A.M. in the theatre lobby. For more information, please call the Summer Intensive Hotline at 212.477.3030, ext. 3416 or email summerintensive@abt.org. Please visit www.abt.org for more information.