FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR EMERITUS

Carole danced with the Joffrey Ballet from 1976-1991, eight of those years as principal dancer, after which she was dance captain/ballet swing with the 2nd National Tour of Phantom of the Opera. Carole was Director of Education and Outreach for the Luckman Fine Arts Complex at California State University, Los Angeles. She previously worked with the Music Center Education Division as a teaching artist and writer of their arts study guides, Artsource.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Susan began her ballet training at five years old and studied at the prestigious School of American Ballet. She danced professionally with the  Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle where she performed many world premieres choreographed by some of the greatest dance makers of the 20th Century. Susan was dance captain/ballet swing in both the national touring and Broadway casts of The Phantom of the Opera. She joined the CDI team in 2005 and hasn't looked back.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Susanna has taught in the joyful CDI style for twelve years, previously with the Chicago Dance Institute. She also teaches Latin, social, and creative dance, often in Spanish. Susanna holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Dance from Macalester College, and has trained with the Creative Dance Center in Seattle, the National Dance Institute and Lincoln Center Education in New York, and Youth Home Dance Center in Ghana, West Africa. She is an avid hustle, salsa, and West Coast Swing dancer.

MUSICAL DIRECTOR
ACCOMPANIST

Kevin has a Bachelor of Arts in music from Princeton University, a Masters in piano performance from the University of Michigan, teaches private lessons, and has accompanied dance classes throughout the Southland. Kevin develops, edits, arranges, and distributes music for all CDI programs.

TEACHING ARTIST

Although her degree is in fine art from Colorado State University, Colleen is a life-long lover of dance. She has been teaching nationwide with Associates of the National Dance Institute since 2008. Colleen runs her own program in Nayarit, Mexico and has taken that program to many places around the world. She joined the team at California Dance Institute in 2018. Colleen is from southwest Louisiana.

TEACHING ARTIST

Kashana is a professional dancer, choreographer ,and teacher,  trained in Jazz, Ballet, Broadway jazz, Samba, Hip Hop and Stepping. Her credits include The Masked Dancer, Mary J. Blige, Jidenna, Daddy Yankee BET Awards, NBC World of Dance, and So You Think You Dance. She is a member of two LA-based dance companies, Stroll Groove and LA Samba Dancers.

TEACHING ARTIST

Steph is an actor, dancer, singer new to Los Angeles. She holds a BFA from New York University and has performed off Broadway and regionally in over 100 productions. She began as a classically trained dancer and currently specializes in musical theatre jazz, jazz funk, and contemporary. Most recent credits include a world premiere immersive theatrical production with David Byrne and writing/starring in an "indie horror masterpiece" titled Soft Liquid Center.

ASSISTANT TEACHING ARTIST

Cecilia Slongo is an interdisciplinary artist with a main focus in dance practices. She obtained her dance degree at University of California Riverside. She holds a dance teaching certificate from Santa Monica College. She's been teaching for different dance organizations since 2016. She's been part of CDI since 2021. Cecilia obtained a Fulbright Scholarships in 2023 where she conducted an open research project in Benin, investigating the intersection of dance and film. 

GUEST CHOREOGRAPHER

Anthony is a passionate and skilled dance educator and choreographer with years of experience in both performance and teaching. With a versatile background in hip hop, jazz, and line dance, Anthony brings creativity, energy, and a collaborative approach to every project. Whether teaching at Crenshaw Yoga and Dance or working with various community events, Anthony is committed to delivering engaging choreography that leaves a lasting impact on performers and audiences alike.

ACCOMPANIST
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Michael is a stylistically diverse multi instrumentalist. He earned a BFA in jazz trumpet in 1997. His long list of recording credits includes Jewel, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ry Cooder, and Jimmy Cliff. He can be heard performing trumpet, valve trombone, sousaphone and jazz organ in a wide variety of Los Angeles ensembles, and live in CDI classrooms.

ACCOMPANIST

Henry is a versatile pianist, percussionist, producer, and composer with a passion for rhythm, especially Latin music. A Berklee College of Music graduate with a degree in Music Production, Sound Engineering, and Contemporary Arranging, he also holds a Master’s in Music Industry Administration. Based in Los Angeles, Henry collaborates with various bands and organizations, bringing energy and expertise to every performance and production.

DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION INTERN

Lina Urquiza has been dancing since the age of 3. She is a student at USC, double majoring in American Popular Culture and Social Science with an Emphasis in Psychology. She completed her undergraduate thesis on the representation of Latina women in media and how that impacted the identity formation of now college-aged Latinas. She is also currently pursuing her master's degree in Public Diplomacy. Last year, she studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and was immersed in Irish art, dance, and culture. She has researched social issues such as representation, mental health, arts education, and Chicano/Latino art and literature.