SBDI was founded in 2005 by dance artist/educator Rosalina Macisco as a learning institution for all individuals. Its track record includes providing in-school and after-school dance education and professional development for individuals and organizations that want to infuse dance into their curricula and offerings. Engaging all ages and communities in dance, SBDI’s programs include creative aging classes for seniors, intergenerational learning, and arts experiences for persons with disabilities and accessibility challenges. Over the years, SBDI has enriched the lives of 27,000+ children, 80+ teachers, and 32,000+ audiences.

Focusing on community organizations with little or no arts programming and families without access to dance, SBDI has cultivated a growing demand for its inclusive programs that immerse participants in music and dance, fostering pride in personal achievement, love of the arts, and curiosity about the world. SBDI delivers consistent, structured classes, celebrating Latin cultural rhythms along with a variety of music genres. SBDI programs (for youth, seniors, and intergenerational audiences) create human connections, deepen our understanding of ourselves, and foster social-emotional learning and resilience.

SBDI has conducted programs for Santa Maria-Bonita School District, Santa Barbara Unified School District, Orcutt USD, Goleta USD, and Carpinteria USD, and held programs for community organizations in Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, and Goleta. Surveys show that 100% of participating teachers acknowledge SBDI programming for giving them the opportunity to see their students in a different light; 90% saw a positive change in the behavior of their students; and 90% incorporated SBDI’s management skills into their classrooms. A longitudinal study on SBDI students by Dr. Dabos from California State University Channel Islands showed that more than 28 of the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets (supports and strengths that young people need to succeed) improved in SBDI students as a direct result of participating in the organization’s year-long programs.