American Dance Institute (ADI), a 501(c)(3) organization, is dedicated to advancing artistic excellence through dance education, performance and a strong commitment to emerging dance companies, artists and new works.

School

Under the direction of former Washington Ballet and Suzanne Farrell Ballet dancer Erin Du, ADI’s School offers dance instruction in a variety of styles for children ages 2-18 and adults. Youth may enroll in one of two tracks of study: ADI’s School of Ballet, a pre-professional ballet-focused track, or ADI’s School of Dance Theatre, a recreational track comprised of a variety of dance styles such as tap, hip hop, modern dance, jazz, flamenco and acting. Adult offerings include ballet, tap, flamenco and stretch classes. Through ADI’s Future Artists Endowment Fund, the organization grants $25,000 in financial aid and merit scholarships to students annually.

Performance Series

As part of ADI’s re-envisioned mission, the organization launched its Performance Series in 2011 becoming one of a limited number of presenters in the Washington DC area focusing on presenting contemporary, modern and post-modern dance. With a commitment to presenting cutting-edge dance companies, ADI has earned a reputation as progressive dance venue, with the Washington Post calling ADI, “one of the area’s leading presenters of choice experimental dance.” Performance Series dance companies have included Jane Comfort and Company, David Dorfman Dance, Doug Elkins Choreography, Etc., Brian Brooks Moving Company, David Neumann and Jodi Melnick, among others.

Ballet ADI

Under the direction of former Washington Ballet and Suzanne Farrell Ballet dancer Runqiao Du, ADI’s resident dance company features classical and contemporary ballet works performed by professional dancers working in the Washington DC area. Performances have featured new works choreographed by Du as well as excerpts from classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Giselle and Le Corsaire.

ADI Incubator

Now in its second year, ADI’s Incubator program was established as a way to provide literal and emotional space around forward-thinking artists to cultivate and introduce new, important works to the world of American dance.

As a presenting organization, we believe that it is our obligation to support the creation of new works as much as we celebrate the product.  While there is powerful value in supporting artists as they create, we also hope our audiences will have a more fulfilled artistic experience being allowed to participate in the creative processes of some of our country’s most innovative artists.

Incubator artists have included David Neumann, Dan Hurlin, Joshua Beamish, Tzveta Kassabova, Erica Rebollar, Karen Reedy and Vincent Thomas.

** ADI  was co-founded in September 2000 by Pamela Booth Bjerknes, a former dancer with American Ballet Theatre and the late Michael Bjerknes, a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet with financial support from Solange MacArthur.