Santa Barbara Dance Institute was founded in 2005 by Rosalina Macisco with the belief that high-quality dance education belongs to everyone, regardless of income, zip code, or ability. For twenty years, SBDI has delivered free, inclusive dance programming directly to low-income, Latinx, and underserved individuals through community schools, early childhood centers, public libraries, and senior care facilities across Santa Barbara County.

From toddlers to older adults, SBDI believes movement is a lifelong right. Children – the majority low-income, Latinx, and underserved – receive free creative movement and dance through in-school and after-school programs. Classes build artistic skill alongside social-emotional learning, confidence, and cultural pride. All programming is inclusive of children with IEPs and disabilities, taught in English and Spanish, with Latin cultural rhythms woven throughout to appreciate the heritage of the families served. During the 2024–2025 school year, SBDI delivered 606 classes, serving 221 children. Surveys show that 85% of children improved in behavior and 89% developed critical life skills.

A longitudinal study found that more than 28 of the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets improved in SBDI students.

SBDI’s Professional Development Program trains educators and staff at under-resourced schools and community organizations to integrate dance into their teaching, building internal capacity for an affordable, sustainable path to arts education that reaches children who would otherwise not have access. In 2024–2025, we trained 17 teachers, impacting 200 children annually.

SBDI’s “Dance On” Creative Aging program brings free, bilingual dance and music experiences to older adults in senior centers, rehabilitation facilities, and memory care settings. Designed for all mobility and cognitive levels, including wheelchair users and those living with Alzheimer disease and dementia, Dance On supports mobility, memory, emotional expression, and social connection. In 2024–2025, Dance On served 150 seniors.

SBDI has enriched more than 30,000 lives across Santa Barbara County.