Beth Ferrell

As the @abtschool NYC summer intensive 2026 comes to a close i thought I’d post a few summer intensive memories from my youth (and from this summer!!!).
My first Summer intensive was at the School of American ballet, which I had to audition for twice (see my original rejection letter, which I triumphantly scribbled on when I got in at a later audition 😂 hey, never say never as they say). Over the summers of my teenage years, I participated at intensives in Saratoga (run by Robert Weiss), San Francisco ballet School (headed by Richard Cammack), SAB, and a special graduating year summer at the royal Danish ballet. I always came back to the fall semester 10 times stronger and with a slew of new friends.
I’m so grateful that now I get to teach at these summer intensives and watch the kids blossom and grow in strength and artistry. The talent we all witnessed yesterday at their end of the summer intensive performance was so thrilling I couldn’t stop smiling. Thank you to my class, The blue level, who outdid themselves with a beautiful performance of the sleeping beauty prologue (boys you were so awesome in the Seguidilla dance staged by ms Lydon!!!). You can see these amazing kids in the last few slides. So so proud of them.
Thank you to all the amazing @abtschool staff, Pianists, counselors (several who are former students of the ABT school, including my amazing and indispensable counselor, @mackd.12 , the superb faculty (loved catching up with you all and watching you share your expertise in the studio), ABT school Director extraordinaire @stellaabreradetsky and our fearless summer intensive leader, Kate Lydon! You’re all so inspiring! Congrats to all ❤️💛🧡💙💚💜🩵💙