"The Preprofessional Dancer Institute is unique for its rigorous, tailored training that bridges the gap between aspiring dancers and the demands of a professional career, fostering both technical mastery and artistic growth. Through the process of striving together toward a shared commitment to excellence, dancers leave PDI with an entire community of other young artists who they will journey with together in the years ahead at auditions, college, and in the professional world."

– Julie Friedrich, Co-Artistic Director

Preprofessional Dancer Institute

August 28 - September 1, 2025 in Albuquerque, New Mexico

For five days every Labor Day weekend, 100 exceptional young dancers-in-training from all over the world will arrive in New Mexico for this amazing training experience at the state’s flagship University in Albuquerque.

The young artists accepted into the Preprofessional Dancer Institute (PDI) have the unique opportunity to be challenged through rigorous technical and artistic training, as well as being equipped with vital knowledge, tools, and resources for their future careers in dance. The PDI experience is not something you can easily describe, you just know it is special and - unlike any other experience – because you can feel it!

When the fifth and final day arrives, all of our dancers and faculty understand that they have gone through something unique together and have been forever changed. In its high-desert home,  PDI has become a sanctuary for young dancers journeying toward their future as professionals.