What Sets PDI Apart?

Francisco Gella Dance Work’s annual PDI program offers serious-minded and highly motivated aspiring professional dancers the opportunity to hone their skills and further prepare themselves to enter the world of dance - doing so while among a supportive community of young artists with aspirations much like their own. Over this five-day program, an intimate group of 100 dancers ages 13-18, selected by the faculty, work intensely with acclaimed teaching artists Francisco Gella and Julie Friedrich and esteemed guest artists to elevate their technique, broaden their range of stylistic diversity, explore new applications of movement, and refine their creative voices. The workshops, panels, and mentoring sessions with our experienced faculty and other dance professionals empower participants to understand their professional options, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and prepare them to thrive in their careers while maintaining a healthy body, mind, and spirit.

PDI brings students in contact with dancers and artistic staff from the collegiate and professional dance worlds. This allows emerging dancers with professional aspirations to engage in open conversations about their career options and the best avenues and strategies for pursuing their goals. Experts in college dance programs – with knowledge of curriculum, expectations, and the admissions process – provide insight into proper preparation for BFA and BA programs. Dancers are introduced to a range of professional career choices beyond performance. Esteemed professional performing artists share their own experiences as members of companies, giving you unique insights to get you ready for what’s ahead. As a result of this deep dive into the professional world of dance, PDI alums have gone on to be accepted into some of the most exemplary collegiate programs and professional companies in the United States and beyond, and have been recognized by the National Young Arts Foundation Awards.

Aspiring professionals attending PDI accomplish all of this through Francisco’s positive, nurturing, and challenging philosophy of cultivating holistic dancers who pursue excellence in mind, body, and spirit. Our young artists form a community where members feel challenged and supported. All of this in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico, one of the world’s leading tourist destinations and cultural epicenters!

Recent PDI Alumni have gone on to be accepted at these and many other exceptional colleges, universities, and other post-secondary study opportunities:

• SUNY Purchase
• Boston Conservatory
• University of Southern California
• Juilliard School
• Pace University
• Johns Hopkins University
• New York University
• Northwestern University
• Troy University
• The Rambert School
• Point Park University
• University of Utah
• Florida State University
• The Ailey School / Fordham University
• Texas Christian University
• Chapman University
• Arts Umbrella Dance
• University of California, Santa Barbara
• Loyola Marymount University

A Carefully Curated Experience: Curriculum, Classes, and Activities

PDI provides training and exposure in concert dance (ballet, modern, and contemporary), show dance (Broadway and Las Vegas), commercial dance (Hollywood), and improvisational techniques, as well as pointe, a men’s style ballet class, and partnering. As the larger group is split into two concurrently running smaller ones, reduced class sizes allow participants the benefit of higher levels of personalized attention, while a rigorous and varied training schedule lifts dancers to meet the profession’s high expectations of endurance, focus, and adaptability. All activities are designed to better prepare students for the rigors of professional dance and performing arts education.

Since PDI focuses on preparing students who have decided to pursue a career in dance or who are seriously exploring, the artistic directors have developed the curriculum and focused the instruction toward this end. Classes are modeled after the key elements of a collegiate dance program. PDI includes workshops geared toward career-related topics and personal goal setting to add time for discussion and reflection. 

Classes and Workshops:

• Barre Work
• Regular barre sequence from plie to Grande Battements interspersed with conditioning and stretching elements designed under Francisco Gella Dance Works
• Work’s methodology
• Center Barre Work
• Tendu, Adagio, Pirouette Prep Drills, Grande Battement
• Across The Floor Work
• Waltz, Petite Jumps, Petite Allegro, Grande Allegro and Coda
• Modern Dance – Limon Technique
• Improvisation Techniques
• Floor Work Techniques
• Pilates for Injury Prevention
• Hip-Hop Fundamentals
• Jazz Technique
• Musical Theatre
• Pointe
• Traditional Men’s-Style Class
• Composition for Choreography
• Careers in Dance Panel
• College Dance Workshop
• What We Look for When We Hire
• Mental Health and Wellness
• Self-Care Discussion: Tending to your body, mind, and spirit
• Career Exploration and Planning Workshop