Ballet Tech, NYC Public School for Dance

Ballet Tech offers both academic and ballet instruction for children in grades 4 through 8.
Founded in 1978, the school has trained dancers who have gone on to perform with renowned companies like Alvin Ailey, American Ballet Theatre, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Accepted students are guaranteed placement through 8th grade.

In 4th grade, students take two ballet and one creative movement class each week. By 5th grade, they have four dance classes, with more added in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Middle schoolers (grades 6 to 8) stay longer hours to fit in ballet, pointe, allegro, Horton, jazz, tap and Feld repertory, featuring choreography by founder Eliot Feld. The year ends with participation in the school’s Kids Dance concert at the Joyce Theatre.

The school uses the Wit and Wisdom reading program, adopted across District 2, which emphasizes deep text analysis over more basic reading skills. For example, 4th-graders might read "The Hope Chest," focusing on its themes of friendship and suffrage. While less time is spent on skills like phonics, fluency and vocabulary in this approach, students benefit from double English periods in 6th grade for more reading and writing instruction.

Students consistently perform well on state exams. Eighth-graders take Regents courses in Algebra I and Biology, and teachers emphasize improving writing skills across all subjects.
The academic program embraces the diversity of its students. Sixth-graders research and write about a country, sometimes choosing their own family’s country of origin. Eighth grade, students study immigration and choose how to present their research, often highlighting immigrant stories, including their family histories.

Dance is also integrated into academics. Students may write dance critiques in English after attending performances. In visual arts, they create masks for dance performances, and some build portfolios to apply to visual arts high schools. Field trips include visits to Joyce Theater and the NYC Ballet. Paul Taylor and Ballet Hispánico dancers have visited the school. 

With less than 150 students, Ballet Tech is tiny. On the upside, students get individual attention in classes of no more than 24 students. They also participate in advisory groups where they work on executive functioning skills. For example, they might plan a party, estimating the time each task will take. 

The majority of students go on to attend performing  arts high schools.Those who choose non-arts high schools typically continue to dance outside of school. 

Ballet Tech has a thriving alumni community, with former students serving the organization as class assistants, administrators, faculty, and Board members. The school offers alumni continuing classes and performance opportunities.

ADMISSIONS: Ballet Tech finds and trains young dancers through its outreach in New York City public schools. Each year, hundreds of 2nd- and 3rd-graders from over 200 schools take part in the Ballet Tech Across New York (BTANY) program. Students who show potential are invited to six intro ballet classes at Ballet Tech, and the most promising are asked to audition for the full-time program.

Open auditions are held at Ballet Tech several times a year for children who attend schools that do not participate in BTANY. To register, check the school's website or call (212) 777-7710, ext. 300. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and interviews, September 2024)