California Dance Institute

California Dance Institute California Dance Institute is an in-school and after-school arts education program that uses dance to teach life and learning skills.

CDI works to give students in Los Angeles public schools opportunities to experience the joys of art and exercise. Founder and Director Carole Valleskey, formerly a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet, started CDI in 2001. During the current school year CDI is serving over 1600 children in ten public schools in underserved neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles. In its thirteen-year history, CD

I has served over 14,000 Los Angeles area children. CDI is the California associate of the National Dance Institute (NDI), founded in 1976 by New York City Ballet’s Jacques d’Amboise. The program is unique in the arts education world because its focus is not on achieving mastery of a particular dance form, but rather on recognizing and striving for excellence. The athletic, high-energy dance style appeals to boys and girls alike, and studies have shown that participation in the program improves students’ academic performance and self-confidence. In the schools CDI serves, 87% of children are on the free lunch program (indicating an income of $33,000 or less for a family of four), 81% are Hispanic, 9% are African American, 4 % are Caucasian, 3% are Filipino, and 2% are Asian. 53% are of Limited English Proficiency and 2% are Special Education students. CDI employs only professional dancers and musicians. Each class is taught by a Lead Teacher, an Assistant Teacher and a Musical Accompanist, all of whom have been trained in the rigorous NDI teaching methodology. CDI is one of the only dance programs in Los Angeles to employ live musical accompaniment in dance classes taught in public schools.

You’ve got ONE MORE CHANCE! See you at at 7pm. If you don’t have a ticket, there’s a chance you can get one at the door...
05/21/2026

You’ve got ONE MORE CHANCE! See you at at 7pm. If you don’t have a ticket, there’s a chance you can get one at the door MAYBE.

See you tonight!

COUNTDOWN TO THE END OF THE YEAR EVENT: ONE DAY!!Tomorrow is the day and we want to highlight the beautiful, historic, i...
05/20/2026

COUNTDOWN TO THE END OF THE YEAR EVENT: ONE DAY!!

Tomorrow is the day and we want to highlight the beautiful, historic, incredible Alex Theatre! The Alex Theatre is 101 years old and seats 1,400 people. Wha a gift to perform in such a glorious location where every person we come in contact with is helpful and talented.

It’s 24 hours away! Get. Your TICKETS.

COUNTDOWN TO OUR EVENT OF THE YEAR: 3 DAYS! Huge thanks to St. John’s Community Health for their “Party with a Purpose”....
05/19/2026

COUNTDOWN TO OUR EVENT OF THE YEAR: 3 DAYS!

Huge thanks to St. John’s Community Health for their “Party with a Purpose”. We try to make every class, every performance, every interaction a party with a purpose so this was a match made in heaven. Thank you for letting us teach your community some dance moves. We loved bringing a little joy and music and a heart rate spike or two to St. John’s

You can feel this exact joy on May 20th and 21st at our Event of the Year. There’s still tickets at the link in our bio. Hope to see you there! You will see bubbles from dancers and teachers alike!

COUNTDOWN TO OUR EVENT OF THE YEAR: 5 DAYS!To follow up on yesterdays post, a huge thank you to the for their support. ...
05/15/2026

COUNTDOWN TO OUR EVENT OF THE YEAR: 5 DAYS!

To follow up on yesterdays post, a huge thank you to the for their support. We got to meet incredible people, perform a snippet of the sassy Mardi Gras dance, and celebrate among like minded individuals.

We couldn’t do the work we do without the support of our community!

Still time to snag a seat for the show! Link in bio for tickets.

05/13/2026

ITS ONE WEEK TO THE SHOW! For our final countdown of days we want to highlight some incredible wins we have had this year. May we continue having these wins for 25 MORE YEARS!

Up first we want to highlight HOW we teach:
In less than 30 minutes, these first graders learned dance steps AND the learned a series of academic skills, including, but not limited to multiplication addition, subtraction division, executive functioning, cooperation, self regulation. They learned about cultures, animals, geography, teamwork, repetition. They learned musical timing, body awareness, active listening. And they learned dance steps.
With our specific pedagogy, our dancers learn all of these skills while having fun and making their heart beat a little faster.
California Dance Institute classes are powerful. We can’t wait for you to see the power at our Event of the Year!
Tickets are still available at the link in bio!

7 days to go!

We’re only a few weeks away from our debut !! So in preparation, today our Production and Artistry team went to the the...
05/01/2026

We’re only a few weeks away from our debut !! So in preparation, today our Production and Artistry team went to the theatre for a site visit. It was awesome to see our name on the marquee and to envision our wonderful 25th anniversary performance, all in person at this beautiful theatre. After, the team grabbed a bite to eat, and further discussed costumes, staging and lighting. This production is gonna be a good one!!

You won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind show, so buy your tickets today! Link in bio :)

04/18/2026

At CDI, live music isn’t just for the stage, it’s part of every class, rehearsal, and performance too!
Sometimes… even the dash to the bathroom has a score 🏃‍♂️💨

After a long night, the people who keep LAUSD running reached an agreement—avoiding the strike and keeping classrooms, c...
04/14/2026

After a long night, the people who keep LAUSD running reached an agreement—avoiding the strike and keeping classrooms, campuses, and communities moving forward. For California Dance Institute, that means our Event of the Year is back in motion!

04/12/2026

Celebrating 25 years of CDI 🎉

To mark the occasion, a custom 3D sign was designed and built our team member Lucas— bringing tangible art into a space shaped by movement and creativity!

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the process so far, and stick around for part 2 soon!

Honoring 25 years of inspiring young people through dance, expression, and community.

CDI is grateful to announce that we are recipients of the Find Your Light Foundation’s 2026 grant! Their support allows ...
04/04/2026

CDI is grateful to announce that we are recipients of the Find Your Light Foundation’s 2026 grant!

Their support allows us to provide high-quality, in-school dance education rooted in live music, creativity, and discipline, ensuring that students in underserved Los Angeles communities have access to quality arts education. Find Your Light Foundation is dedicated to supporting exceptional arts programs where the need is greatest, recognizing arts education as an essential part of a young person’s development. Thank you, Find Your Light, for championing the power of the arts and helping us make a lasting impact alongside California Dance Institute! ✨

At California Dance Institute, students find their light through the joy, discipline, and self-expression of dance. Our program creates a space where every child can succeed, be seen, and feel proud of who they are. Through high-energy classes with live music, students build confidence, resilience, and a personal standard of excellence. They learn to take risks, work as a team, and express their cultural identities through movement.

Thank you again to the Find Your Light Foundation for your support and generosity 💫

Address

1171 S. Robertson Boulevard #602
Los Angeles, CA
90035

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

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