In the summer of 2015, my search for my fall semester internship began. I was entering my second year in Performing Arts Administration at NYU Steinhardt. My goal was to secure an internship at a ballet company, and what better name is there in the world of ballet than the American Ballet Theatre. I applied online like a hundred other applicants that apply to ABT from all over the world. Being relatively new in the country, I didn’t expect to make the cut. One morning as I was sipping a cup of tea, Dennis called, asking me to come in for an interview. I was ecstatic that I was even being considered, so you can imagine my joy when I actually secured an internship in the Education and Training department of ABT. Interning at ABT meant I would be involved in some way with performers I had seen only on TV back in India. How star-struck was I, when I got to meet Ethan Stiefel on my very first day! Meeting everyone else, I just knew I was going to get an opportunity to learn from the best people in the business and witness, first-hand, all their efforts in making ABT the well-oiled machine that it is.
I got the chance to work on different programs throughout my internship period such as ABT’s Make a Ballet program at P.S. 20 and the Young People’s Ballet Workshop at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts. When I was not working on these programs I got a chance to create a school database, which consisted of schools participating in ABT’s Educational Outreach programs. I would say the most important program in ABT’s education and outreach initiatives is its award-winning Make a Ballet program. It reaches out to schools that are in the need to and want to introduce arts education in their curriculum. This model program introduces students to all aspects of the creative and administrative theatrical experience.
Working at ABT and experiencing the office environment at one of the best ballet companies in the world was a dream come true for me. Completing my credit requirement at NYU was only an added benefit for me. I would do it all over again if I get the opportunity. Thank you Dennis and all the staff members.
Sanket Kodolikar
Education and Training Intern
Fall 2015
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