Santa Monica's Westside Ballet and California Dance Institute on Wednesday announced the Pathways Partnership. The program takes children from a first dance class in their own elementary school classroom to full scholarships at Westside School of Ballet, which is now in its 60th year.
The partnership is formalized by a board-approved memorandum of understanding and supported by the Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative. It finished a pilot year at two Title I schools: Westminster Elementary in Venice and Grand View Boulevard Elementary in Mar Vista. Stoner Avenue Elementary joins this fall.
Organizers said many Westside families face barriers to the arts. These include the cost of tuition and dancewear, the ride to class and schools with no dance instruction.
CDI teaching artists lead a free, six-session residency in classrooms from transitional kindergarten through second grade. Interested students are invited to Westside Ballet's free Sunday Dance to Dreams classes and a free summer camp week each August. Children who show aptitude, enthusiasm and commitment are offered full scholarships that cover tuition, ballet attire and transportation.
"When CDI comes into a classroom, every child dances. No experience, no cost, no exceptions. What Pathways adds is what happens next," said Susan Gladstone, CDI's artistic director.
More than 200 first and second graders took part in the pilot, at Westminster in fall 2025 and Grand View in spring 2026. In January, Westminster students visited Westside Ballet's Santa Monica studios for a Non-Audition Day. The first Pathways scholar began training in August. Dance to Dreams' summer week, Aug. 3-7, drew about 80 children ages 5 to 12, its largest yet.
"We keep the door open long enough to discover that potential, and then make sure that talent, not circumstance, is what determines how far a child can go," said Adrian Blake Mitchell, Westside Ballet's artistic director.
The Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative, a Los Angeles funding collaborative, gave a $35,520 exploratory grant in 2023-24 and a $35,110 planning grant for the pilot year. More Canvas Consulting, led by Pilar Castro Di Carlo, facilitated both phases.
The partners aim to reach 20 schools and award 40 full scholarships a year by 2030.
Donors can support a school residency, underwrite a scholarship or sponsor transportation. The pilot progress report, program details, ways to give, and contact information for schools and families are at morecanvas.com/pathways.
Edited by SMDP Staff