FRANCO DE VITA
Principal
American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School

Upon graduation from the Conservatoire de Musique de Charleroi, Belgium, Mr. De Vita was awarded the “Premier Prix” and Gold Medal. His principal teacher was Hanna Voos. Mr. De Vita made his professional stage debut at age 9 and began his career as a professional ballet dancer at the age of 15.
He danced, with several European Companies, in ballets of the classical repertoire, and by choreographers such as Peter Van Dyk, George Skibine, Antony Tudor and George Balanchine. Also, in Europe, he performed in musical comedies and operettas such as Hello Dolly, Kiss Me Kate and My Fair Lady.

When he retired from performing, Mr. De Vita earned teaching qualifications acquiring the Enrico Cecchetti Diploma and the highest teaching degree given by the Italian Ministry of Education through the “Accademia Nazionale di Danza,” Rome.
He is a Fellow of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, London.
In 1983, together with Raymond Lukens, he directed the Scuola di danza classica Hamlyn in Florence, Italy. He was President and co-founder of the Associazione Nazionale Coreutica Enrico Cecchetti (the Italian Cecchetti Society).
In New York City, Mr. De Vita was faculty member at The Ailey School, The Ailey/Fordham BFA program and guest company teacher for The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II. He was company teacher for Hartford Ballet and principal faculty member of School of Hartford Ballet and the BFA dance program of the University of Hartford for which he was head of the pedagogy courses; and was part of the task force that revised School of Hartford Ballet’s curriculum.

Before joining American Ballet Theatre, Franco De Vita was Dean of Faculty and Curriculum of the Boston Ballet School and company teacher for Boston Ballet. Mr. De Vita has been guest teacher for Virginia School of the Arts, Peridance International, Dance Connecticut, Dance Educators of America, Youth America Grand Prix and Alberta Ballet Company and School.
Mr. De Vita’s students have won prestigious international dance competitions including the Prix de Lausanne and have danced in many of the world’s major companies such as London’s Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The English National Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Boston Ballet.
Most of the teachers qualified in the Cecchetti Method in Italy were trained by Mr. De Vita. He is regularly invited to teach at international seminars.

Together with Raymond Lukens, Mr. De Vita, authored the ABT National Training Curriculum.

• Found an error ? something is missing ? Help us to improve the site, contribute to the project. •