The Dance Institute of Washington

The Dance Institute of Washington EDUCATE. CREATE. ADVANCE. Eliminating barriers and advancing equity in the dance industry worldwide.
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Through intentional inclusion and equity, the Dance Institute of Washington increases diversity at every level of pre-professional Ballet training. We provide additional training in key genres to create a well-rounded dancer that can successfully enter the dance industry at large. Through this exemplary effort, DIW positively impacts racial and economic inequities in dance globally.

04/09/2026

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 ✨⭐️✨

✨ A summer of strength, artistry, and development awaits at 3400 14th St NW.We invite all young dancers to step into our...
04/07/2026

✨ A summer of strength, artistry, and development awaits at 3400 14th St NW.

We invite all young dancers to step into our Summer Training Experience—a space where discipline meets inspiration, and each dancer is guided with care, rigor, and purpose.

Our placement auditions are designed to honor where each dancer is in their journey while opening the door to what’s possible. This can be the beginning of a transformative experience rooted in excellence and community.

What to Expect:
A thoughtfully structured class experience including technique, movement, and a glimpse into the depth of DIW training.

We look forward to welcoming every dancer into a space where artistry is cultivated, voices are nurtured, and potential is realized.

Sign-up below:
https://tinyurl.com/DIW41926

✨ Some stories don’t expire… they expand. 🤎Our Executive Director, is featured in Making Their Pointe— a powerful docum...
04/06/2026

✨ Some stories don’t expire… they expand. 🤎

Our Executive Director, is featured in Making Their Pointe— a powerful documentary honoring the women whose influence has transformed ballet in the nation’s capital and beyond.

Through intimate storytelling, this film preserves a lineage of excellence— one that has shaped generations of dancers and continues to live on through institutions like Dance Institute of Washington.

To see Kahina’s voice woven into this narrative is to witness not only her personal impact, but the legacy of DIW as part of a larger cultural movement—one rooted in access, representation, and excellence in dance.

This is more than a film.
It’s preservation. It’s representation. It’s the continuation of a story we are proud to be part of.

Honoring the visionary behind it all, Kamilah Forbes , and every woman whose story carries this legacy forward. 🖤✨

The premiere was a special kind of night at and now it’s time for everyone to experience it.

Watch Making Their Pointeon Saturday, April 18 at 2:30 PM at Regal Gallery Place. Grab your Free Tickets at the Link in our Bio✨

04/02/2026

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 ✨

03/19/2026

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.

On this very special day, our Executive Director was born to take the stage and the world by storm! Let’s all wish THEE ...
03/16/2026

On this very special day, our Executive Director was born to take the stage and the world by storm!

Let’s all wish THEE a happiest of birthdays 🥳

Did you hear? Registration is officially OPEN for our Summer Sizzler and Summer Training Experience! Designed for ages 3...
03/13/2026

Did you hear? Registration is officially OPEN for our Summer Sizzler and Summer Training Experience!

Designed for ages 3-17, tap the link in our bio to learn all about how you can train with us this summer!

03/12/2026

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.

03/10/2026

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.

03/04/2026

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!

Address

3400 14th Street NW
Washington D.C., DC
20010

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 9pm
Tuesday 9am - 9pm
Wednesday 9am - 9pm
Thursday 9am - 9pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12023719656

Website

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