North Carolina Dance Institute

I am a current college student at UNC Chapel Hill, and I can confidently say that coming to North Carolina Dance Institute in my free time is one of the highlights of my week. I make the effort of commuting all the way to the studio from Chapel Hill each week because to me, NCDI is vibrant community I want to keep in my life. The Artistic Director, Kirstie Spadie, genuinely cares about the well-being and happiness of all of her students. She goes out of her way to ensure NCDI is a place of inclusivity and positivity for everyone. Her professional and energetic character keeps NCDI bustling! In addition to an emphasis on technique, I find it valuable that Kirstie encourages student leadership. Frequently, she will appoint a student to assist a class so that they may gain experience being the leader in the classroom. From learning to choreograph, to learning how to direct a room full of energetic children, I too have been given the opportunity to work at NCDI and have gained many beneficial life skills. For background, I started coming to NCDI in high school. At that point, I already had classical dance experience. I was looking for a studio that would continue the rigor of ballet, but also help to make me a stronger jazz and contemporary dancer. NCDI had all of it-- and at a high level, too. Even now, as a college student, I feel right at home at NCDI. In class, there are dancers of all ages. We are all here to improve our technique and have fun! NCDI is a place I feel comfortable talking to everyone. It is truly gem. No matter your level: from beginner to advanced, NCDI is the place for you. I know you will come to love the studio as I have.

The technical aspects of dance training can probably be learned from any dance teacher, but it takes a special kind of teacher to inspire a fundamental sense of joy for dance. Ms. Kirstie wants you to learn how to dance, but also how to love and accept your body and honor yourself through music and movement. She will always be a bright, warm hug on an overcast, rainy day. NCDI classes are indeed the brightest spots on my calendar. The teachers are phenomenal, and the community is amazing.

I have been dancing for over 20 years and recently moved to the Raleigh area from Orlando. I spent many months in search of a studio that offered a variety of adult classes but nothing ever compared to the studios I was used to back home. That is until I visited the NC Dance Institute! I have taken a few different classes already and every teacher has been so kind and welcoming. They not only offer a variety of classes for all ages, but also a variety of skill levels. They don’t focus all of their time teaching students how to be a competitor, rather, they teach them the necessary skills to advance in their own personal practice. It truly is the only studio in the area that a long time dancer like myself can practice and improve my skills while also having a great time. Highly recommended!!

My experience growing up as a dancer at NCDI was nothing short of wonderful! Kirstie Spadie, the artistic director, made my mom and I feel like family the minute we walked through the door. We came from a competitive studio and wanted a more organic studio experience that focused on technique and building an all around dancer. I ended up training here for around 7 years, and the atmosphere at the studio was always more than welcoming. Not only were my teachers there for me, but my fellow dancers and other parents as well, which really allowed me to begin to flourish as a dancer ; knowing I had so many people who genuinely cared for my success. Mrs. Kirstie goes above and beyond as a dance teacher and I genuinely could not say enough wonderful things about her. I would absolutely say I left NCDI a much more confident and well rounded dancer than when I entered and I’d recommend this studio to absolutely anyone, there is something for everyone!

I am so grateful for NCDI! The sweet Director Kristi, really took the time to get to know me and place me in the best classes for my training. I was able to learn from some of the best and most highly recognized dance teachers in the area. They were all professional, yet fun with traditional styles that kept up with the times. And the community surrounding the studio is truly fulfilling; unbeatable amount of love and support. I highly recommend taking classes at NCDI- you will love it too!