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Ajkun Ballet Theatre Inc
Bronx, NY · EIN 134159687 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A60 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · ajkunbt.org
revenue
$625K
expenses
$625K
net assets
$600K
employees
0
volunteers
125
program ratio
100%
mission · from form 990

The mission of the ballet theater is to advance the art of dance by means of performances promotion and education.

profile · synthesized from sources

Ajkun Ballet Theatre Inc is a New York City-based nonprofit advancing classical ballet through performance, education, and a science-based training methodology. The organization trains pre-professional dancers using the Ajkun Methodology, a 21st-century pedagogical system integrating biomechanics, psychology, and artistic development. It operates a professional ballet company and offers educational programs for children, teens, and international dancers, with a focus on ethical training and dancer longevity.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $207K
    Ajkun Ballet Theatre remains dedicated to the unique vision of choreographer teacher and cultural leader Chiara Ajkun who pioneered an innovative all-American methodology rooted in science and a repertory relevant in our current society. Our Dance Education Programs aim to instill a lifelong passion for dance in every student by inspiring nurturing and developing the full individual potential. The professional division includes a competitive trainee program and summer session accessible by audition and attracting global talent. These programs follow the Ajkun Methodology curriculum integrating biomechanics physiology psychology and pedagogy and ever evolving scientific research. Our Children and Teens programs introduce dance and promote creativity through movement. Ajkun Ballet engages the community by offering mentoring and workshop activities. Our education programs strive to offer free or subsidized access based on merit and need.
named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Ajkun Ballet Company
Professional performing company presenting classical ballets and original choreography in New York City and on international tours, serving as the performance arm of Ajkun Ballet Theatre.
Ajkun Ballet Theatre Trainee Program
Full-time pre-professional ballet training program in New York City for advanced dancers aged 16+, offering daily training, repertory experience, and mentorship in the Ajkun Methodology; accepts international dancers with H-3 visa sponsorship.
Children and Teens Dance Programs
Education programs introducing dance and creativity through movement for younger students, promoting early engagement with ballet and artistic development.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Ballet and Dance Education Programs 2 activities
    • Operates pre-professional and youth dance training programs
      Provides comprehensive ballet training for students ages 12–18 and emerging professionals aged 15–26 through year-round and intensive programs, including technique, repertory, pas de deux, musical intelligence, and stagecraft. Programs emphasize long-term dancer health, artistic mentorship, and professional preparation, with alumni employed by 150 professional companies worldwide.
    • Provides community-based dance education for children
      Offers weekly ballet and hip-hop classes for children ages 3–13 during fall and spring sessions, requiring no prior experience. Produces full-scale performances such as The Nutcracker with roles for young dancers, including soloist parts, and maintains tuition-free programming with suggested donations to increase accessibility.
  • Original Dance Performance Production 2 activities
    • Produces and tours original and classical ballet performances
      Creates and performs original choreographic works and classical ballets in New York City at venues in Midtown and the Upper East Side, and tours internationally across four continents. Productions include The Originals, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, and A Midsummer's Night Dream, with performances televised and streamed online.
    • Runs summer and festival performance programs for dancers
      Hosts a four-week summer program in New York City offering professional-level training, housing, and performance experience, culminating in public performances. Also organizes the annual New York Winter Festival as a platform for dancers and choreographers of all styles, featuring daily training and a judged showcase.
  • Cultural Exchange and Mutual Understanding Programs 1 activity
    • Organizes international educational tours and collaborative performances
      Conducts international study and performance tours for students and trainees, staging commissioned works in 27 countries using narrative-driven, cinematic approaches. Facilitates cross-cultural exchange through global performances and collaborates with artists internationally to present new works.
  • Performing Arts Production Support 1 activity
    • Supports choreographic development and artist funding via grantmaking
      Funds dance education and artistic careers by awarding grants through the AjkunBT Fund and Creativity Matters campaign, distributing millions of dollars to dance students, professional dancers, and choreographers from 150 countries. Grants are awarded annually on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Administers international trainee program with visa sponsorship
      Offers a competitive Trainee Program with 10 annual positions for advanced dancers aged 16+, compliant with U.S. H-3 cultural trainee visa regulations. The organization petitions for H-3 visas to enable participation by international trainees from 135 countries, providing professional-level training within a company environment.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$625K
Contributions & grants$406K65%
Program service revenue$219K35%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$625K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$600K
Cash$600K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$600K
Liquid reserves11.5 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +5.0%
relationships · 14

Who they work with

  • 150 professional dance organizations Network — Network of organizations that share Chiara Ajkun’s vision of expanding opportunities for talented youth in dance.
  • Ajkun Ballet Company Network — Official performance company housed under Ajkun Ballet Theatre
  • Ajkun Ballet Company Partner — Participants in the summer program work alongside dancers from the Ajkun Ballet Company during training and performances.
  • Ajkun Ballet Company Partner — Senior artists and dancers from the Ajkun Ballet Company teach classes and curate the festival.
  • Ajkun Ballet School Network — Professional dance school operated by Ajkun Ballet Theatre
  • Dr. Chiara Ajkun Partner — Artistic Director and primary mentor in all programs, providing artistic leadership and direct mentorship to students.
  • Dr. Chiara Ajkun Partner — Artistic director and choreographer who provides direct artistic coaching and creates original choreography for trainees.
  • Dr. Chiara Ajkun Partner — Artistic director and cultural leader whose philosophy inspires the AjkunBT Fund
  • Herman Cornejo Partner — Guest coach providing coaching for principal roles with Ajkun Ballet Company.
  • Hillary Clinton Partner — Recognized by Hillary Clinton for her contributions to the arts.
  • Isaac E. Young Middle School Partner — Hosts dance classes and rehearsals for Ajkun Ballet Theatre's youth programs in New Rochelle, NY.
  • New Rochelle High School Campus Partner — Venue for performances by Ajkun Ballet Theatre's young dancers.
  • New York Winter Festival Partner — Performance platform hosted in partnership with Ajkun Ballet Theatre for dance of all styles.
  • United States Government — Recognized under the H-3 visa category for ballet trainee programs, affirming the methodology's international relevance.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Contemporary Reinterpretation of Classical Ballet for Audience Engagement
    methodology: contemporary_reinterpretation_of_classical_ballet
    By reinterpreting classical ballet through athletic movement, dramatic intensity, and original choreography, the organization increases emotional resonance and relevance for contemporary audiences, because modernizing form and content reduces historical distance and enhances audience connection.
  • Ethical Pedagogy Based on Nonmaleficence and Artistic Autonomy
    methodology: nonmaleficence_and_pedagogical_sovereignty
    By rejecting "survival of the fittest" training models in favor of an ethical framework centered on nonmaleficence, dancer autonomy, and intellectual empowerment, the organization achieves artistic excellence without compromising well-being, because respectful, science-informed pedagogy fosters sustainable motivation and creative ownership.
  • Individualized Dancer Development through Anthropometric and Holistic Support
    methodology: individualized_anthropometric_training
    By tailoring training to each dancer’s anatomy, strengths, and goals using anthropometry and a whole-artist approach, the organization fosters sustainable artistic growth and professional readiness, because personalized instruction increases physical resilience, artistic identity, and career longevity.
  • Science-Based Ballet Training with Biomechanics and Injury Prevention
    methodology: science_based_movement_education
    By integrating biomechanics, kinesiology, and physiology into ballet training, the organization produces technically precise and artistically expressive dancers while preventing injury and extending professional longevity, because scientific understanding of movement enables safer, more efficient, and individualized technique development.