North Carolina Dance Institute

★★★★★Hannah Richman

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.

★★★★★R B

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.

★★★★★Tia Redman

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!!

★★★★★Sierra Scott

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!

★★★★★Anna Huang

I joined the studio during serious COVID times, and they're the only one that's able to offer safe private lessons. The private lessons were well designed, and the instructor (also director) Kirstie has been very supportive and positive. I later on joined the in person ballet classes with Ms Carolyn, and had a few classes with other teachers, and the experience has been great. The instructors focus on your learning, but not being so tough on you that you get discouraged. All of them are very open, supportive, warm, and fantastic teachers. The students there are just the same, they make me - an adult dancer feel so comfortable and welcomed dancing with them, whereas in other studios I always fee intimidated.