TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Culture abounds for the next three weeks on The University of Alabama campus as the American Ballet Theatre conducts ballet classes. For the seventh season, ABT, one of the world’s premiere ballet companies, is hosting some of the finest dance students from around the world.

Classes started on July 5 and will continue through July 26. The ABT holds the special three-week residential intensives in only five venues, with UA joining Detroit, Los Angeles, New York and the University of Texas. Students include junior high school, high school and college students who were selected in auditions this past spring. ABT members, guest artists and UA dance faculty members teach classes during the intensive.

UA was chosen by the ABT for the first summer intensive to be held outside of New York or in partnership with a university in 1997. Through this partnership, promising young dancers can and have achieved the highest level of dance training with ABT’s summer program and strong academic curriculum of dance studies.

“The most important thing about ABT is that it brings the finest teachers and professors in the world of dance to Alabama, and that raises the bar for the entire field of dance -- not just ballet,” said Edie Barnes, professor and director of the dance department in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The American Ballet Theatre is the nation’s premiere dance company. Founded in 1940, the company has been home to many of the world’s greatest dancers, including Natalia Makarova, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Cynthia Gregory. ABT is known internationally for establishing the American identity for ballet through the choreography of Agnes de Mille, George Balanchine and Twyla Tharp. Today, ABT continues to be the destination of choice for the world’s most accomplished dancers.

As in past years, the three-week ABT intensive at UA will conclude with two Gala Showcase performances on July 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the Moody Music Building. Tickets will be $10 and will be on sale from July 21-25, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. in room 115 of Rowand-Johnson Hall, 205/348-5283. Tickets also can be purchased at the door. Cash and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard or Discover) will be accepted.