American Ballet Theatre and Harlem School of the Arts Announce Ballet Training Partnership

American Ballet Theatre (ABT) and the Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) Dance Department have formed a unique training partnership, which will incorporate ABT's National Training Curriculum in HSA's dance curriculum. Beginning Fall 2013, ABT will train HSA's dance faculty in the principles of its National Training Curriculum. The establishment of an ABT Certification for HSA will provide a comprehensive training program in ballet for all HSA dance faculty, including student exams to evaluate teachers and students, refresher courses and mentorship. The partnership will be introduced to the Harlem School of the Arts community of dance families and students on Tuesday, May 21 at 7 pm at HSA's Theater, 649 Saint Nicholas Avenue with a lecture-demonstration presented by the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (JKO) School at American Ballet Theatre.

As part of the training partnership between American Ballet Theatre and the Harlem School of the Arts, JKO School Principal Franco De Vita will conduct master classes at HSA throughout the year and serve as an advisor to HSA faculty in order to effectively integrate the new ballet curriculum into HSA's diverse offering of dance techniques including jazz, tap, modern, African and hip hop.

"Over the past few years, the Harlem School of the Arts has experienced a rebirth, returning to the core values instilled by its founder, Dorothy Maynor, offering its students access to world-class training in the arts. To that end, this alliance with American Ballet Theatre will further enhance the quality of dance training provided at HSA for the future dancers of the world's stages," said Yvette L. Campbell, President and CEO of the Harlem School of the Arts.

"The Harlem School of the Arts' outstanding reputation of excellence is very much in keeping with American Ballet Theatre's mission of bringing excellence in dance to America," said Rachel Moore, CEO of American Ballet Theatre. "We are so pleased to collaborate with an organization that has made a difference in the lives of so many young people."