Our Achievements
2025
DIW was honored to receive a Foot Locker Foundation & LISC Grant, strengthening dance, education, and mentorship programs to help young artists thrive.
2024
DIW received a $2,000,000 grant from MacKenzie Scott, enabling the expansion of inclusive and accessible dance education locally and worldwide.
2023
DIW received a transformative $1,000,000 Community Project Funding grant from the Department of Education thanks to Congresswoman Norton.
A graduate of DIW’s school and Allegro Program, Samaree Lawson, got accepted for a high profile role with The Lion King on the Broadway North American Tour
2022
DIW won the 2022 NBC Project Innovation Award.
Executive Director, Kahina Haynes, won the 2022 Black Voices for Black Justice Fund Award and has been invited to speak and teach about equity at symposia and convenings in DC, across this nation, and around the world
2021
Wins the Robert Wood Johnson Sports Award.
Wins the National Summer Learning Award.
Recognized as 21st Century Community Learning Center.
Executive Director Kahina Haynes wins prestigious American Express NGen Fellows Award.
Awarded the 2-year New York Life Foundation Aim High Grant.
Designated as “One of the Best” nonprofits by Catalogue for Philanthropy (2020/21).
2020
Constructed the beautiful new Fabian Barnes Black Box Theater, adding an intimate, convertible, 85-seat Black Box Theater space to DC’s cultural arts landscape.
Elevated its voice for social justice with the viral performance of Ashante Green’s “Feeling Good” by student Faith Kelly at Black Lives Matter Plaza.
Wins the Learn 24 Summer Award.
Awarded the Events DC Cultural Institutions Grant.
Awarded the Hearst Foundations Grant.
Made a successful pivot to a virtual dance education model and remote workforce during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recognized by Bloomberg Philanthropies for the creation of its Online Learning Center giving students and families 24/7 access to on-demand lesson plans, legendary performance footage, creative content and COVID-19 information and resources.
Designated as “One of the Best” nonprofits by Catalogue for Philanthropy (2019/20).
2019
Awarded 3-year OSSE 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant.
Awarded 3-year Bloomberg Philanthropies AIM Grant.
2018
DIW student Samaree Lawson wins 2nd Place in Men’s Contemporary Dance at Youth American Grand Prix.
2017
Organization celebrates its 30th Anniversary.
DIW students awarded 3rd Place Ensemble at Youth America Grand Prix (Regional).
Positive Directions Through Dance program students win 1st Place at Best of Both Worlds Competition.
2015
Designated as “One of the Best” nonprofits by Catalogue for Philanthropy (2014/15).
2013
Founder Fabian Barnes awarded the Amtrak Pioneer award for outstanding involvement in the community dealing with Washington, DC youth and beneficial community outreach efforts.
2010
DIW’s pre-professional and community students perform an adaptation of West Side Story at Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods.
2009
DIW’s Youth Repertory Ensemble performs as part of a special concert in honor of Judith Jamison, Artistic Director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, at the historic Lincoln Theatre.
DIW is recognized as one of the Daily Points of Light by the Points of Light Foundation.
Awarded a generous grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities to participate in the UPSTART capacity building program.
2008
Washingtonian Magazine honors Founder Fabian Barnes as a Washingtonian of the Year.
2007
Organization celebrates its 20th anniversary.
2006
WYCB 1340 AM recognizes Founder Fabian Barnes as an African American Faces in High Places Local Honoree.
Celebrates the grand opening of its state-of-the-art dance facility in Columbia Heights.
2005
Founder Fabian Barnes is featured on the Remarkable Journey hosted by Kweisi Mfume.
2004
NBC Today Show credits DIW with “keeping Dr. King’s dream alive” by creating a center to performing arts education, youth development, child development and community enrichment.
The Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington honors Founder Fabian Barnes as the 2004 recipient of the Founder’s Award.
Leadership Greater Washington inducts Fabian Barnes as a member.
2003
Dance Institute of Washington is recognized as Outstanding School at the Youth America Grand Prix Regional Semifinals and its Senior Youth Repertory Ensemble is recognized as 1st Place Ensemble.
2002
Founder Fabian Barnes establishes Washington Reflections Dance Company.
2001
CNN’s “American Heroes” recognizes Founder Fabian Barnes for his tireless work in bringing dance, arts education and performance opportunities to inner-city youth.
2000
Oprah Winfrey presents Fabian Barnes with the prestigious Use Your Life Award.
1996
Founder Fabian Barnes retired from the Dance Theatre of Harlem to give his full attention to DIW’s school of dance and outreach program.
1993
Incorporates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and establishes its first holiday performance at the Kennedy Center.
1991
Holds its program at six recreation centers throughout DC, giving special attention to Wards 7 and 8.
1987
Fabian Barnes begins the Dance Institute of Washington as a summer intensive dance program for hearing-impaired youth at Gallaudet Model Secondary School for the Deaf.