Frequently Asked Questions: Our Ballet Curriculum

Q: What is the difference between the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) National Training Curriculum and the Russian (Vaganova) method?

A: This is one of the most common questions we get from parents! The most important thing to know is that they are not entirely different techniques; it is all fundamentally the same classical ballet technique. A plié is still a plié, and a tendu is still a tendu.

The primary difference lies in the style, training focus, and aesthetic:

• The Russian (Vaganova) Method: Developed in the Soviet Union, this style is known for its intense high-energy drama, extreme flexibility, deeply arched backs, and high leg extensions. It was designed specifically to train dancers for big, dramatic Russian companies like the Bolshoi.

• The ABT National Training Curriculum: This is an American-designed system that blends the best aspects of the Cecchetti (Italian) method, the Vaganova (Russian) method, and the old French school. Rather than focusing on just one strict regional style, it is a holistic, healthy approach designed to build a highly adaptable, clean, and safe technique.

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Q: Why does Prima Dance Co. use the ABT National Training Curriculum?

A: We choose the ABT Curriculum because it focuses on a clean, pure aesthetic and child developmental health. It is engineered to build a well-rounded dancer who understands proper alignment, core stability, and musicality.

Because it incorporates elements of Italian, French, and Russian training, it prevents dancers from becoming "stuck" in only one way of moving. It teaches them how to be incredibly versatile, which is exactly what modern dance requires.

 

One of the most definitive facts that sets the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) National Training Curriculum apart—and makes it a superior choice for modern students over the strict Russian Vaganova method—is that the ABT curriculum was specifically co-developed with a dedicated Medical Advisory Board to incorporate modern sports science and child anatomy.

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While the Vaganova method is a beautiful, historic tradition developed in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was designed for a highly selective, subsidized state school where children were rigorously screened for specific bone structures. It applies the same rigid physical demands to every body, often pushing young joints and spines past their natural limits.

 

By contrast, here is the fact that makes ABT uniquely excellent:

• Scientific Age-Appropriateness: The ABT curriculum is divided into strict developmental stages that dictate exactly when a young dancer's bones and muscles are ready for certain stresses. For example, it legally and textually forbids certain types of extreme rotation (turnout) or intensive pointe work until a child reaches specific skeletal milestones.

• The Medical Backing: ABT worked alongside orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, and sports psychologists to build a syllabus that actively prevents the chronic hip, knee, and lower-back injuries frequently seen in strict Vaganova training.

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Q: If my child wants to dance professionally, which style is better to study in the United States?

A: If a student’s goal is to dance professionally in the United States, studying the American style is overwhelmingly the best choice.

American ballet companies (such as American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and regional companies across the country) have a highly diverse repertoire. In a single season, an American dancer will be asked to perform a classical French ballet, a fast-paced contemporary Balanchine work, and a modern piece.

The realistic truth we share with parents is that American students are almost never recruited into strict overseas institutions like Russia's Bolshoi Ballet. Instead, they will be auditioning for American companies that heavily favor the clean, fast, and highly adaptable style that the ABT National Training Curriculum provides. By training in this method, your child is learning the exact language and aesthetic used by the companies they will actually be auditioning for.

 

Q: Does this mean they won't be able to dance Balanchine or other fast styles?

A: Quite the opposite! Because the ABT curriculum builds such a clean, unmannered foundation, our dancers can easily adapt to the lightning-fast footwork of Balanchine ballets, the dramatic requirements of classical roles, or the fluid movement of contemporary dance. It gives them the ultimate "blank canvas" to step into any audition room and succeed.

 

Q: My child is young. Does the curriculum choice matter right now?

A: Yes, because the ABT National Training Curriculum is built entirely around age-appropriate skeletal and muscular development. It ensures that young dancers are not forced into extreme rotations or extensions before their bodies are physically ready, preventing early injuries and building a love for dance that lasts a lifetime.