About  the  AMERICAN  BALLET  THEATRE®  National  Training  Curriculum  

AMERICAN  BALLET  THEATRE’S®  National  Training  Curriculum  is  a  program  for  the  development  and  training  of  young  students  that  embraces  sound  ballet  principles  and  incorporates  elements  of  the  French,  Russian  and  Italian  schools  of  training.  Under  the  direction  of  ABT  Artistic  Director   Kevin   McKenzie,   ABT’s   National  Training   curriculum   was   designed   and  

written   by   Franco   De   Vita   and   Raymond   Lukens   in   collaboration  with   ABT’s  Artistic  Advisors  and  the  Medical  Advisory  Board,  representing  experts  across  many   disciplines.     ABT’s   National   Training   Curriculum   aims   to   train   dance  students   to  use   their  bodies  correctly,   focusing  on  kinetics  and  coordination,  as  well   as   anatomy  and  proper  alignment.    Artistically,   the  National   Training  Curriculum  strives  to  provide  dance  students  with  a  rich  knowledge  of  classical  ballet  technique  and  the  ability  to  adapt  to  all  styles  and  techniques  of  dance.  

The   Oakville   School   of   Classical   Ballet   is   proud   to   include   AMERICAN   BALLET   THEATRE®   National   Training   Curriculum,   a  breakthrough  8  level  program  that  combines  high  quality  artistic  training  with  the  basics  of  dancers  health  and  child  development.    The  ABT®  National  Training  Curriculum  consists  of  a  comprehensive  set  of  age-­‐appropriate,   outcome-­‐based   guidelines   consistent   with   the   best   practises   in  the   fields   of   sports   psychology,   child/adolescent   development,   nutrition   and  training  to  provide  the  highest  quality  of  ballet  training  to  dance  students  of  all  ages  and  skill  levels.  

The  AMERICAN  BALLET  THEATRE®  National  Training  Curriculum  is  effective  for  both   the   average   child   and   the   gifted   child.     It   has   at   its   cornerstones   the  health,       safety  and  well-­‐being  of   the  child  and  challenges  each  student  with  developmentally   appropriate   milestones.     In   June   of   2012,   OSCB   Artistic  Director  Amanda  Paterson  and   faculty  member  Kathryn  Park  were  honoured  by   Franco   De   Vita   (principal   of   the   Jacqueline   Kennedy   Onassis   School   of  American  Ballet  Theatre),  as  Affiliate  Teachers  of  American  Ballet  Theatre.    The  Affiliate  Teacher   is  a   level  of  distinction  for  ABT  Certified   Teachers  who  have   successfully   presented   students   for   exams.     The  OSCB   is   proud   to   have   hosted   Franco  De  Vita   to  adjudicate  the  examinations,  and  has  made  history  by  being  the  first  Canadian  school  to  present  these  exams!    Mr.  De  Vita  was  thrilled  with  the  numerous  students  who  participated  in  these  exams,  (Levels  1A  through  5)!    Students  received  marks  of  Merit,  Honours  and  High  Honours!      Congratulations  to  nearly  100  candidates  who  took  exams!!!  

Oakville  School  of  Classical  Ballet  Artistic  Director  Amanda  Paterson  is  an  ABT®  Certified  Teacher,  who  has  successfully  completed  the  ABT®  Teacher  Training  Intensive  in  Primary  through  Level  7  and  Partnering  of  the  ABT®  National  Training  Curriculum.  

 

Photos:    Artistic  Director  Amanda  Paterson  with  ABT’s  Franco  De  Vita  and  Level  5  examination  candidates.  

 Faculty  Member  Kathryn  Park  with  ABT’s  Franco  De  Vita  and  Level  1A  examination  candidates.  

 Artistic  Director  Amanda  Paterson  with  ABT’s  Franco  De  Vita  and  Level  4  examination  candidates.  

   

   

     

2014,  Miss  Susan  Brooker  (ABT  examiner),  with  Artistic  Director  Amanda  Paterson  and  Level  5  and  6  exam  candidates  

The  National  Training  Curriculum  is  a  critical  part  of  American  Ballet  Theatre’s  mission  to  bring  the  highest  quality  dance  to  the  widest  possible  audience.    While  several  training  methods  are  in  soundly  in  place  world-­‐wide,  the  ABT’s  NTC  can  be  used  to  enhance  an  existing  syllabus.    Through  this  effort,  the  ABT  that  greater  and  greater  numbers  of  dance  students  will  develop  a  rich  knowledge  of  classical  ballet  technique,  the  ability  to  adapt  to  multiple  styles  and  and  techniques  of  dance,  and  a  life-­‐long  commitment  to  the  art  of  classical  dance.