The Dance Institute of Washington

To be selected is an honor.
To be invited is a testament to impact.

The Dance Institute of Washington was proudly invited by to Johannesburg, South Africa—an opportunity that reflects the global resonance of our work and the artists we nurture. 🌍✨

Through DIW Connects, our mission has always been to move beyond borders—building bridges between cultures, artists, and communities across Latin America, South America, and Africa. While we’ve been forced to temporarily pause our own international programming, moments like this remind us: the vision is still alive, still expanding, still reaching.

We are especially proud to see our community represented through Kaleb—DIW alum, now BTBB dancer, and a powerful example of what it means to carry your roots with you wherever you go. Alongside him, DIW’s Executive Director , a member of BTBB’s Board of Advisors, continues to help shape spaces that amplify global Black and Brown voices in ballet.

From Washington, D.C. to Johannesburg—this is what it means to move with purpose.

Class at the one and only ✨⭐️✨

From dancer to leader, Rýa “Mystii” Montez returns not only to inspire but to embody what DIW stands for: creating advocates, leaders, and artists of impact. We’re proud to celebrate her and all our alumni, because at DIW, we’re always your allies, always your family, and always nurturing the changemakers of tomorrow.

So so so proud of you 💜

Watch Divine Femin9 at link in Bio ✨

Let’s talk about it.

For far too long, the world of ballet has upheld traditions that were never designed with everyone in mind. Pointe shoes, an essential tool of the art form, were historically created without this exact purpose of inclusion.

These conversations matter. Because equity in ballet isn’t just about who gets to perform, but who has access to the tools, resources, and support needed to thrive.

That’s why we’re continuing our Pointe Shoe Fund.

At DIW, we are committed to breaking down barriers by providing pointe shoes at no cost to our young Black and Brown students so they can train fully, confidently, and without limitation.

This is about more than shoes. It’s about representation, opportunity, and building a future in ballet where every dancer feels seen, supported, and valued.

Huge thanks to for sitting with us!

⬆️Donate today by clicking the link in our bio, and share this with a friend who believes in making ballet accessible for all.

Dancers, let this be your reminder that your why is bigger than any obstacle and any challenge out there. Honor this and continue to carry it with you.

Dear Timothée, you may not know this but our founder once said “The arts are important to uplift the human spirit, and in troubled times, mankind has always turned to the arts in one form or another”. A testimony that impacts so, so many people.

At DIW we believe that ballet, opera, and the arts are not just relics of the past. They are living, breathing expressions of passion, discipline, and storytelling.

Every day our dancers step into the studio with a fierce dedication, and a deep respect for the art forms that came before them. The arts continue to inspire, educate, and transform lives. Especially in our community where every step fills a beat and a rhythm that moves this very country.

People do care. Our students care. Our audiences care. And we will continue to uplift and preserve the beauty of ballet for generations to come.

Don’t you just love the gems that show up at the end of class?

From start to finish, plié to révérence, the growth never stops🤍

Train the DIW way this summer with our Summer Training Experience! Open to ages 3-6 for our Summer Sizzler program and 7-17 for junior and teen programming.

🔗Tap on the link in our bio to learn more & apply today!