2025 ABTIncubator to be Held at ABT’s 890 Broadway Studios from November 10–21, 2025, with Full In-House Choreographic Slate

Melvin Lawovi, Duncan Lyle, Aleisha Walker, and James Whiteside to Choreograph

NEW YORK, NY - ABT Incubator, American Ballet Theatre's in-house choreographic program, is scheduled for November 10-21, 2025. In its seventh year of nurturing ABT's in-house talent, the 2025 ABT Incubator will feature four choreographers from its ranks of dancers.

Choreographer auditions for the 2025 ABT Incubator were held in June in front of a selection panel comprised of ABT Artistic Director Susan Jaffe; ABT Soloist and ABT Incubator Director Jose Sebastian; ABT Associate Artistic Director Clinton Luckett; Artistic Director, ABT Studio Company, Sascha Radetsky; and Artistic Director, ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, Stella Abrera. From the audition, four choreographers were selected: Principal Dancer James Whiteside and corps de ballet dancers Melvin Lawovi, Duncan Lyle, and Aleisha Walker.

Lawovi, Lyle, and Whiteside have all previously choreographed for ABT Incubator.

Two private viewings of the 2025 ABT Incubator works will be held on Friday, November 21 at ABT's 890 Broadway Studios.

ABT Incubator Director Jose Sebastian remarked, "This year's choreographers are all seasoned artists with distinct voices. I can't wait to see what they create-and to support them however I can along the way."

During the November workshop period, each choreographer will have the chance to create new works on ABT dancers. Each will be provided with studio time, a stipend, and mentorship, in support of their new pieces.

Noting the contributions of the program, ABT Artistic Director Susan Jaffe said, "ABT Incubator continues to be a vital space for exploration and discovery. It's where our dancers are empowered to expand their voices as creators, pushing the boundaries of what ballet can express while remaining rooted in the technical excellence that defines ABT."

Melvin Lawovi (he/him) was born in Toulouse, France, and began dancing in a small studio in his hometown. At age 10, he joined VM Ballet School, under the direction of Vinciane Ghyssens and Matthew Madsen. In 2015, he appeared on Season 2 of the French television show Prodiges and won the Golden Award. Lawovi has participated in many international competitions including in Grasse, Cannes, Biarritz, and Toulouse, winning gold medals and special prizes in each. He participated in the IBStage International Summer Program and Gala and spent summers training at The Royal Ballet School and Varna International Ballet Competition. In 2018, Lawovi finished first place at the Youth America Grand Prix semi-finals in Barcelona. Lawovi joined American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in January 2018, became an apprentice with the main Company in December 2019, and joined the corps de ballet in September 2021. For ABT Incubator, Lawovi has created Soirée Nocturne (2021) and Concerto for Five (2024).

Duncan Lyle (he/him) was born in Melbourne, Australia, and began his training at Camberwell District Ballet with Janina Ciunovas, Susan Thomson, Toivo Taves, and Barbara Nimmo. In 2007, he was accepted into The Royal Ballet School from which he graduated in 2010. He performed the role of Franz in Coppélia as a guest with The Russian Choreographic Academy in Melbourne in 2009. Lyle joined the corps de ballet of Boston Ballet in 2010 before joining the corps de ballet of American Ballet Theatre in 2012. For ABT Incubator, Lyle has created The Same Cage (2018) and For the Fallen (2024).

Aleisha Walker (she/her) was born in Houston, Texas. At the age of 11, she began to study classical ballet at Houston Ballet Academy. She attended Houston Ballet Academy from 2012 to 2017 on full scholarship. In 2018, Walker attended American Ballet Theatre's Summer Intensive and began training at the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School that September. Walker joined ABT Studio Company in September 2019, became an apprentice with the main Company in November 2022, and joined the corps de ballet in June 2023. At the 2023 Prix de Lausanne Competition, Walker received a Young Creation Award for her solo Do You Care?

James Whiteside (he/him) was born in Fairfield, Connecticut. Whiteside began his training at age nine at the D'Valda & Sirico Dance and Music Centre, where guest faculty included Charles Kelley, Franco De Vita and Raymond Lukens. He continued his training at the Virginia School of the Arts for one year under the direction of Petrus Bosman and David Keener. In 2002, Whiteside joined Boston Ballet II, where he continued to train under the tutelage of its director Raymond Lukens, now director of ABT's National Training Curriculum. Whiteside joined the corps de ballet of Boston Ballet in 2003 and became a second soloist in 2006. He was promoted to first soloist in 2008 and to principal dancer with Boston Ballet in 2009. Whiteside joined American Ballet Theatre as a Soloist in September 2012 and was named a Principal Dancer in October 2013. Whiteside has choreographed for music videos, commercials, film, and ballet, including City Of Women for ABT Incubator. Whiteside hosts his own podcast, "The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside." In 2021, his memoir, Center Center, was published by Penguin Random House.

ABOUT AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE

American Ballet Theatre is one of the greatest dance companies in the world. Revered as a national treasure since its founding season in 1940, its mission is to create, present, preserve, and extend the great repertoire of classical dancing for the widest possible audience. Headquartered in New York City, ABT is the only cultural institution of its size and stature to extensively tour, enchanting audiences for eight decades in 50 U.S. states, 45 countries, and over 480 cities worldwide. ABT's repertoire includes full-length classics from the nineteenth century, the finest works from the early twentieth century, and acclaimed contemporary masterpieces. In 2006, by an act of Congress, ABT was designated America's National Ballet Company®.

For more information, please visit https://www.abt.org/ABTIncubator.

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