What are the opening hours?

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

California Dance Institute

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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, CDI 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.

10/28/2026

It's Time For Your CDI Dance Break!

Get Grooving w/ Cecilia Slongo 💃🏽

Mike Bolger on the 🎹

Show us your dance moves! Tag Us!

10/26/2026

MUSIC MONDAY 🎼🎹🎵WITH OUR AMAZING MUSICIAN

Alex Arango

10/23/2026

Our Artistic Team at CDI wears many hats!

Check out Susan and Colleen The Mighty Builders,
putting together a storage rack for our amazing costume collection!

How many hours did it take?

Drop your guesses below!

10/20/2026

CDI is thrilled about its partnership with the West Side Ballet of Santa Monica!

Westside Ballet of Santa Monica

Check out our BTS!

10/14/2026

CDI DANCE BREAK!
Get Up!
Get Moving!

This week we are Shaking It Off with Susanna and Kevin!

10/12/2026

10/08/2026

CDI Artistic Director and California Dance Education Association (CDEA) board member Susan Gladstone was thrilled to attend the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) Conference in beautiful Albuquerque, New Mexico! 💃✨

It was such a joy to reconnect with former colleague Teresa Goetz, Director of Creative Dance Center, and to spend time with colleagues and friends from National Dance Institute (NDI), New Mexico and Celebrate the Beat.

Most of all, it was inspiring to be surrounded by so many passionate, generous people who believe deeply in children, and in the importance of dance education as a critical part of every child’s education, not simply an enrichment or extracurricular activity.

Grateful for the connections, inspiration, and renewed commitment to making sure every child has access to the transformative power of dance. ❤️

Dance Center

New Mexico

10/05/2026

MUSIC MONDAY W/ Kevin and Mike

Take a look behind the scenes as they rehearse
for our upcoming 2026-27 season!

Live Music Always Wins! 🎹🎵🎼

10/05/2026

Let's get the week started with MUSIC MONDAY'S!

LIVE MUSIC ALWAYS WINS! 🎼🎵🎹

09/30/2026

CDI DANCE BREAK!
Get Up!
Get Moving!

Enjoy the Motown Vibes 🎵🎵🎵

Did you know?
Moving to music releases feel-good chemicals like serotonin and endorphins, which reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.

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

Website

https://www.californiadanceinstitute.org/donate

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