School of American Ballet

School of American Ballet offers Preparatory Division classes for 6- and 7-year-olds, Children's Division classes for students ages 8 to 13, and Intermediate & Advanced Division classes with technique, pointe, variations, adagio, character, contemporary, choreography projects, music, and an artistic health and wellness curriculum. It also offers a five-week Summer Course, a New York Junior Session with daily classes, seminars, and activities, and a one-week Open Division experience for advanced students and professional dancers.

Programs

• Preparatory Division — 6 and 7 year olds · Wed and Thu 4:00 PM-6:00 PM; Fri 4:00 PM-6:00 PM; Sat 9:00 AM-10:00 AM; Sun 9:30 AM-12:30 PM · Enrolls students who are either new to ballet or who have taken creative movement and beginning ballet classes elsewhere.
• Children's Division — 8 to 13 · Mon-Sat with level-specific classes; times vary by level · For students from the greater New York metropolitan area. Boarding is not available.
• Intermediate & Advanced Division — Weekly class schedules vary by level · Includes classes such as technique, pointe, variations, adagio, character, contemporary, choreography projects, music, and artistic health & wellness curriculum.
• Summer Course — 12 to 18 · Classes six days per week · Five-week summer program.
• New York Junior Session — 10 to 12 · Week-long program · Includes daily classes, seminars and activities.
• One-Week Experience — 18 to 24 · One-week program in August · Open Division experience for advanced students and professional dancers.

At a glance

• Ages: 6–18 years old
• Current session: Summer Course (Jun 28–Jul 30, 2027); New York Junior Session (Jun 21–Jun 26, 2027)
• General schedule: Year-round training includes a Winter Term; 2026-2027 classes begin in September 2026 and Winter Term ends in June 2027.

About the provider

School of American Ballet was founded in 1934 by George Balanchine. It is described as the preeminent ballet school in the US and the official school of New York City Ballet. Its mission is to train talented dancers from diverse backgrounds for professional careers in ballet while enriching the life of every student.

Admission to summer programs is by audition only. Online registration is required for all auditions. Boarding is not available for Children's Division students. Students audition in the age group equal to their age at the time of the audition. Current SAB Winter Term families can refer to the Student and Parent Handbook for dress code details.

Last updated November 7, 2026.