New York Junior Session
For students ages 10-12, the New York Junior Session is a week-long, immersive experience at SAB’s headquarters in Manhattan. It offers an excellent introduction to SAB’s training, faculty and wellness programs. Students take daily classes with the School’s permanent faculty and guest teachers, including principal dancers from New York City Ballet. Participants benefit from the use of SAB’s state-of-the-art facilities on Lincoln Center’s pristine campus which is a mecca of arts and culture in New York City. In addition to daily ballet classes, the New York Junior Session offers wellness seminars and cultural enrichment programs to further broaden young minds’ exposure to the arts.
2025 NY Junior Session
The 2025 New York Junior Session will take place from Monday, June 23 through Saturday, June 28, 2025
Age and Admission Criteria
Students must be no younger than 10 as of July 31, 2025, and no older than 12 on final day of the program, June 28, 2025. For admission to the New York Junior Session, students 10 or younger (including 9 year olds who will be 10 by July 31, 2024) are expected to have completed a minimum of 1-1/2 years of training by the time of their audition. Eleven year olds should have completed a minimum of 2 years of training, and 12 year olds should be training at the intermediate level. Previous pointe work is not required for admission to this program.
Auditions
Admission to the New York Junior Session is by audition only. SAB offers several opportunities for students to attend auditions every January. We will also accept video applications for any applicant who cannot attend and audition in person in 2025.
Curriculum
The New York Junior Session curriculum consists of the same varied course offerings as SAB’s core Winter Term program. Classes are geared towards young students who are working towards the possibility of a career in classical ballet.
Technique
Daily classical ballet technique classes with barre and center work emphasize the hallmarks of the Balanchine aesthetic: precision, musicality, control and speed.
Boys and the most advanced girls in the New York Junior Session participate in a seminar introducing the fundamentals of ballet partnering.
Pointe
Beginning and Intermediate pointe classes take into account each class level’s degree of previous exposure to pointe work. Beginning pointe classes include barre exercises to prepare or introduce a young dancer to the first stages of pointe work. Intermediate pointe classes feature both barre and center work aimed at increasing strength and proficiency en pointe. Students who have not begun pointe work will participate in pointe classes in their ballet slippers.
Variations
The mastering of choreography from landmark ballets is an important element to the transformation from student to performer. The Young Dancer Series presents opportunities to learn parts from works such as George Balanchine’s the Nutcracker® and The Sleeping Beauty.
Character Dancing
This course acquaints students with the polonaise, mazurka, and other formal and folk dances of the past that appear not only in the classical repertory but also in contemporary works.
Male Technique and Conditioning
Male students participate in boys-only classes, including daily morning and afternoon technique classes that include an enhanced focused on turns and jumps. Boys also participate in an introductory partnering seminar and take strength and conditioning classes with SAB’s male strength training expert.
Pilates
SAB’s certified Pilates instructor leads mat classes in the Pilates Method.
Nutrition & Physical Therapy
Seminars on nutrition for optimal performance and stretching, strengthening and injury prevention are conducted by our professional nutritionist and licensed physical therapist.
Cultural Education
Seminars and Q & A’s with accomplished dancers are offered throughout the week. New York Junior Session participants also tour the world-famous Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Faculty
Members of SAB’s permanent faculty, as well as guest teachers from New York City Ballet, will comprise the faculty of the New York Junior Session. View our complete faculty listing.
Housing and Meals
The New York Junior Session is designed for local-area students or for those who are able to arrange temporary accommodations within commuting distance of SAB. Families of students from around the United States and abroad are responsible for making their own short-term housing arrangements. There are multiple hotel options in the Lincoln Square area in addition to many hotels a short subway ride away. Students enrolled in the New York Junior Session may purchase an optional 6-day lunch plan at SAB’s on-site, full service cafeteria. Students are alternately welcome to bring their own bagged lunches.
Tuition and Scholarships
2025 New York Junior Session Tuition Rates
Tuition | $950 |
Registration Fee | $100 |
A deposit is due approximately 10 days after a student is accepted to the New York Junior Session. Final balances will be due on April 1.
Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded on a case-by-case basis and are determined at the time of the audition. Student are informed of scholarship amounts as part of their acceptance notifications. There is no separate application for scholarships.
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
The School of American Ballet has a nondiscrimination policy with respect to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, national origin or any other protected characteristic in administration of its education policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs or any other school-administered programs.