ABS (Austrian Ballet School) opened in Tokyo in April 2009. The school was founded by Rio Mitani and Christian Martinu, who train under Vladimir Tsukanov in the Vaganova method. The school offers a three-year professional training program for students aged 7 to 19, with classes conducted in English and Japanese. Students receive a diploma upon completion of the full program.
The curriculum includes ballet, pointe, pas de deux, variations, repertory, character dance, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, stretch and conditioning, ballet studies, stage makeup, and audition preparation. A teachers course in ballet methodology began in 2015. Classes are organized by age groups: Pre-ABS for ages 7 to 11, Junior A for ages 10 to 12, Junior B for ages 13 to 15, and Seniors for ages 16 to 19. Students may attend one or two classes per week or participate in a full-time evening program.
The school offers full and partial scholarships for students aged 13 to 19 based on audition results. Scholarship students perform with ABC-TOKYO Ballet Company. Students have joined institutions including the Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, and School of American Ballet.