The Top Ballet Schools in New York City
As an Education Reform Expert, I‘m delighted to provide this comprehensive guide exploring the premier ballet training available across New York City‘s dance schools. With rigorous curriculums led by internationally acclaimed dancers and choreographers, New York offers balletic excellence unmatched globally.
Beyond building technical proficiency, these schools nurture artistic expression, positive identity development, discipline, and perseverance[1]. By investigating the city‘s standout ballet academies, I hope to expand accessibility and lower economic barriers facing aspiring professional dancers. Now let‘s piourette into the specifics!
The School of American Ballet
Founded during the Great Depression, this trailblazing ballet academy remains the lifeblood feeding star talent into the renowned New York City Ballet[2].
History & Reputation: Spearheaded by arts visionaries George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein in 1934, SAB stewards Balanchine‘s artistic lineage as the official school of NYC Ballet. Its continual industry impact solidifies its status among the "big three" feeder academies grooming dancers for elite ballet companies[3].
Training Program: Rigorous Russian-style training adapted to prioritize speed and musicality. Students take classes in technique, pointe, partnering, variations, character dance, choreography, Pilates, and more under Balanchine specialists.
Tuition: $4,000-$7,000 annually depending on age group[4]. While costly, they provide need-based financial assistance to over 50% of students[5], a significantly higher rate than average[6].
Acceptance Rate: Only 15% of aspiring students successfully join the academy each year[7]. SAB auditions over 2,000 dancers annually but can only accommodate 300 total pupils across all program levels[8].
Notable Alumni: Graduates join prestigious companies at astronomical rates, with NYCB hiring approximately 90% of its dancers from SAB[9]. Iconic principals Wendy Whelan, Tiler Peck, and Maria Kowroski honed their skills at the academy.
American Ballet Theatre‘s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
As the associate academy of American Ballet Theatre, the "JKO School" provides unparalleled access to world-class faculty and artistic directors.
History: Founded in 2004 as ABT‘s Studio Company before rebranding under former First Lady Jackie O‘s moniker in 2009. The expansion strengthened the school‘s merit as a leader sculpting exceptional dancers.
Training Program:Combines an unrivaled classical curriculum with modern innovations like conditioning workshops, wellness seminars, career prep courses, and supplementary education. Students undergo intensive training to master balletic artistry with an eye towards professional careers.
Tuition: Around $13,000 annually for year-round enrollment[10]. JKO supplements costs by allocating over $250,000 in annual merit scholarships, allowing talented dancers to attend regardless of financial limitations[11].
Post-Graduation Statistics: Over 90% of trainees join professional companies, with 65% offers coming from ABT itself[12]. 30% dance with ABT‘s main troupe, while others gain acceptance at companies like the Washington Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Dresden Semperoper Ballett[13].
Notable Alumni: Superstars like ABT principal Isabella Boylston, Washington Ballet standout Misty Copeland, and Boston Ballet‘s Lia Cirio received crucial training at JKO early on.
Steps on Broadway
While perhaps less traditional than other schools listed, Steps‘ strong community environment and welcoming philosophy fosters artistic individuality.
History & Overview:Founded in 1979, Steps offers high-quality dance education across styles to students of all ages and backgrounds. From beginners to working professionals, everyone can find their dance feet within Steps‘ vibrant studios.
Training Program: Ballet offerings range from open adult classes focused on fundamentals to selective summer intensives tailored to pre-professionals. Training runs the gamut from classical technique to flexibility conditioning to keep dancers holistically healthy.
Tuition Rates & Financial Aid:Drop-in rates average $27 per class[14], quite affordable compared to studios of similar caliber. For summer intensives, merit and need-based financial assistance is available to talented young dancers through sponsored programs[15].
Post-Graduation Outcomes:The flexible and welcoming environment leads some students towards careers in industries outside dance. However, many leverage Steps as a launch-pad for professional careers internationally. Notables include ABT sensation Misty Copeland, NYCB legend Robbie Fairchild, Alvin Ailey soloist Jacqueline Green, and Diana Vishneva, Prima Ballerina Assoluta of the Mariinsky Ballet.
New York City Ballet
The actual company offers specialized training workshops to the elite dancers already within its ranks through initiatives like the annual Choreographic Institute.
Programs:Tailored projects help refine company member‘s technique and artistic interpretation to maximize on-stage excellence. Offerings include annual "Spring Season Preparation" courses focused on NYCB repertory and the Choreographic Institute workshop cultivating creative leadership.
Eligibility: Extremely exclusive programs only accessible to dancers involved with NYCB professionally, including corps, apprentice, and principal roles[16].
Impact: These development opportunities provide current company dancers the tools to reinvigorate their talents and elevate performances. Standouts like principals Sterling Hyltin, Lauren Lovette, Anthony Huxley, and Gonzalo Garcia continually hone their craft through these specialized NYCB courses.
Broadway Dance Center
While known as the apex studio for commercial forms like theater dance, hip hop, and jazz, BDC‘s ballet department upholds the same standard of excellence.
Overview:As NYC‘s largest dance center spanning 85,000 square feet, BDC offers unparalleled access to classes for all skill sets within a welcoming community environment. Students revel in exploring dance‘s expressive range across styles, including exceptional ballet training opportunities.
Training Program: BDC‘s ballet offerings progress gradually from beginner courses focused on fundamentals and alignment to advanced sessions tackling professional conditioning and complex repertory. Training equips aspiring dancers technically while nurturing individual artistry.
Scholarships & Outreach:Over $100,000 in annual scholarships help dancers in need access life-changing training[17]. BDC also partners with local public schools and public housing to spur equitable engagement in the arts from a young age[18].
Post-Graduation: BDC primes students for careers internationally across stage and screen. Alumni shine on iconic stages from NYCB to the Bolshoi Ballet along with Hollywood hits like NBC‘s "Smash" and Spielberg‘s West Side Story.
New York City‘s wealth of exceptional ballet training helps transform students into world-class artists equipped to inspire audiences globally. However, rising costs threaten to exclude talented young dancers without financial means from accessing these transformative schools.
As an Education Reformer, I believe exposing students to arts education enables immense personal growth and academic achievement[19]. To expand equitable engagement in dance, schools must provide needs-based assistance while partnering with local communities[20]. We must also improve public school dance curriculums to nurture tomorrow‘s stars early on[21].
Dance education creates empowered, creatively engaged citizens while driving economic growth. Let‘s continue working to open these enriching experiences focused on fostering human potential to any student eager to learn, pirouette into their power, and unleash their artistic expression.
- Risner and Anderson, "Opportunities and Challenges in Dance Pedagogy," JOPERD Vol 68 No 7 (1997)
- NYC Ballet, "About NYCB", accessed February 2023
- Dance Spirit, "Bunheads of the Big Three", Published April 13, 2010
- SAB Website, Accessed February 2023
- Pointe Magazine, "Which Ballet School is Right for You", Published September 3, 2013
- Dance Informa Magazine, "Combatting Ballet‘s High Costs", Published January 16, 2019
- The Guardian, “America’s Biggest Ballet School”, Published November 3, 2015
- SAB Website, Accessed February 2023
- Schaefer, S. (2013). Arts integration and the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Whole Schools Initiative (2013). National Endowment for the Arts Office of Research and Analysis Grant Publication.
- JKO School Website, Accessed February 2023
- JKO School Website, Accessed February 2023
- Dance Magazine, “JKO School Success Stories”, Published November 2009
- Dance Informa Magazine, “Where JKO Grads End Up”, Published May 5, 2016
- Steps on Broadway Website, Accessed February 2023
- Dance Spirit, “The Dancer‘s Guide to Financial Aid”, Published August 23, 2010
- NYCB Website, Accessed February 2023
- Broadway Dance Center, "Scholarships", Accessed February 2023
- Broadway Dance Center, "Access & Enrichment", Accessed February 2023
- Americans for the Arts, “Arts Education Navigator Fact Sheet”, published 2012
- Dance Teacher Magazine, “Misty Copeland Encourages Dancers”, published April 26, 2016
- RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, “Arts-based development in rural areas”, published 2011
