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Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
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Ballet

Photo Essay of Franco De Vita's Class at Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet

by Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
May 26, 2006

About the Author:

Photo Essay of Franco De Vita's Class at Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet

Photo Essay of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
American Ballet Theatre
www.abt.org
890 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
212.477.3030

Franco De Vita, Principal

Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
May 26, 2006


(See Reviews of American Ballet Theatre)

I was invited today to observe and photograph one of the advanced ballet classes at the new Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School (JKO) at American Ballet Theatre (ABT), taught by the school principal, Franco De Vita. For the first half of the class, the female dancers used ballet slippers, and for the second half, they were en pointe. Mr. De Vita modeled warm up and cool down exercises at the beginning and end of the 90 minute class, held in a large dance studio at the ABT headquarters on Broadway. The students were given brief instructions for each choreographic exercise, and Eugenia Lev, a piano accompanist, provided popular, classical, and jazz fused music.

The JKO School is a pre-professional program for students 12-18 years, with senior and junior levels of preparation. Auditions were held in April, 2006, for the coming year, when the school will expand to elementary, intermediate, and advanced divisions. A Final Showing for parents and guests was held at the ABT Studios on the morning of May 20, 2006, with nine different ballets, performed by the JKO students. The faculty includes members of ABT's artistic staff, ABT alumni, and other renowned teachers, including Kevin McKenzie (ABT Artistic Director), Ethan Brown, Olga Dvorovenko, Martine van Hamel, Jessica Lang, Clarice Marshall, Raymond Lukens, and Lupe Serano. In this second year, JKO School presents classes six days/week, with ballet techniques of the French, Italian, and Russian genres.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was a member of ABT's Board of Trustees for more than 25 years. Her daughter, Caroline Kennedy, has served as Honorary Chairman of ABT since 1995, and this unique school of ballet is a fitting tribute to the artistic passion of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower




Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower




Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower




Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower




Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower




Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower




Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Eugenia Lev, Piano Accompanist
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower




Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower




Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower




Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



Students of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, with Franco De Vita, Principal and Teacher
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



JKO Students, Junior Division, Arrive for Class
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower



JKO Students, Junior Division, Arrive for Class
Photo courtesy of Roberta E. Zlokower

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