As founder and executive director of the Santa Barbara Dance Institute (SBDI), Rosalina Macisco has long believed in the transformative power of dance. It’s why she first fell in love with dance during her childhood in New York, why she went on to study dance education through the National Dance Institute and Luna Dance Professional Learning Programs, and what ultimately led her to establish SBDI 20 years ago.
“Growing up with an Italian-American dad and a mom from Puerto Rico — two very different cultures and a home with two languages — I learned early on that dance was a way to connect and communicate, regardless of language, opinion, or circumstance,” shares Macisco, who performed jazz and ballet in New York. “Dance taught me confidence, expression, and commitment while uplifting my spirits — components that have been essential to SBDI’s mission for the past 20 years.”
Working with schools, community organizations, and senior centers with limited-to-no arts programming, SBDI provides direct programming and professional development that immerses people in the world of dance and music, while nurturing creativity, dedication, and teamwork. Since its inception, the nonprofit has reached more than 26,000 individuals and more than 33,000 audience members throughout Santa Barbara County. “Access to dance and the musical arts is so incredibly important — maybe now more than ever,” says Macisco. “From preschool-aged children to our elderly and vulnerable communities, bringing dance and music into their lives can help them build confidence, connect with others, develop social-emotional skills, or simply find a deeper connection to themselves.”