Starting next month, six dancers will begin training for apprenticeships with American Ballet Theatre, as part of a new program to help students transition to the main company. Chosen dancers will be coached by ballet master Clinton Luckett, along with DanceMedia’s own Kate Lydon, a former Editor in Chief of Dance Spirit who still contributes to our magazines as Editor at Large since being named artistic associate of ABT’s Studio Company.

The dancers will make their debut as ABT apprentices during the company’s run of The Nutcracker this fall at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), and the program will continue through the end of ABT’s performance season in July 2013. Along with performance opportunities, apprentices will continue their training with technique classes, pas de deux and variations and seminars on hair and makeup and company ettiquete designed to guide dancers through their transition to a professional career.

Some of the apprentices will be selected from the JKO School, a pool that includes First Position‘s Michaela DePrince and Dance212 star Catherine Hurlin (pictured). We can’t wait to see who makes the cut!