AMERICAN DANCE INSTITUTE

Here's a little bit about who we are, what we do, how we impact the DC metro community, and how YOU can be a part of it.

Cofounded in 2000 by Pamela Bjerknes, a former dancer with American Ballet Theatre and the late Michael Bjerknes, a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet, ADI's 20,000-square-foot space serves as a cultural cornerstone in Montgomery County, MD.

ADI's mission is realized through four programmatic pillars:

• The School:

ADI offers dance instruction for children ages 2-18 and adults in a variety of dance styles, including ballet, pointe, tap, hip hop, jazz, modern, flamenco and acting. Through ADI's Future Artists Fund, the organization grants $25,000 annually in financial aid, merit scholarships and work study assistance to students studying at ADI's school.

• Ballet ADI:

Led by former Washington Ballet and Suzanne Farrell Ballet dancer Runqiao Du, ADI's resident dance company provides local professional dancers and career-ready dance students the opportunity to perform new ballet works by Washington DC-area choreographers. Deemed an editor's pick by The Washington Post and described by dance critic George Jackson as a "small, flexible entity that provides the Washington area with new work and exciting performances," Ballet ADI has secured its place as a rising star in the DC dance community.

• Performance Series:

ADI's Performance Series provides the metropolitan area with affordable access to diverse programming consisting of emerging and professional dance companies. Each year, ADI presents three to four companies in its on-site professional theatre in Rockville, MD, and also offers master dance classes led by performance series dancers, pre-show discussions led by local dance artists and post-show meet-the-artist receptions to enable audiences to engage with artists. Through its Performance Series, ADI strives to expand the scope and impact of dance in the Washington DC region.

• ADI Incubator:

The goal of ADI's Incubator dance residency program is to contribute to the future of American dance by supporting the creation of daring new choreographic works. ADI provides two choreographers annually with rent-free space where they can develop new works as well as free marketing, ticketing and production support leading up to the debut of their new works in ADI's on-site theatre.

By making a contribution to American Dance Institute, you help ensure ADI continues to provide metropolitan Washington DC with unique, influential and transformative dance programming.

Your contribution makes an even bigger impact by helping us compete for more than $100,000 in prizes!

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