About Us

Who Are We?

CDI is a dance studio located in Encinitas that specializes in classical dance training for all ages. We believe it is important to cultivate a learning environment that is healthy, all-inclusive, welcoming, and fun! We push our dancers to be the best they can be by providing constructive feedback in a positive manner.

What Sets Us Apart?

Well, many things! One is that we don’t compete. Competition is great for many studios, but we would rather focus on instilling the LOVE for the ART of dance in our students, rather than promoting competitiveness. But don’t worry! Your student will get to show their skills at our end-of-year recital.

We also tend to have smaller class sizes, so your student will have a better chance of getting one-on-one attention and a bigger opportunity to grow!

Another aspect that sets us apart is that we make sure only to play appropriate music, teach appropriate dance moves, and choose appropriate costumes based upon your child’s age. We don’t believe in bringing attention to our students’ bodies in a sexualizing or provocative manner at any age. And we don’t encourage listening or dancing to suggestive music containing curse words or questionable lyrics. We pride ourselves on creating family-friendly performances, full of great talent that everyone can enjoy! In other words, you won't be embarrassed to invite Grandma and Grandpa to your child's performance.

What Styles Do We Offer?

We offer classes for all ages in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, hip hop, and tumbling! Complete with genre-specific technique training, and general flexibility building and strengthening.

Check out our class schedule on our "classes" page.

Recitals and Conventions

We put on end-of-year recitals! We love showing our friends and families what we've been working on all year! These recitals are also benefits to raise money for Connor's Cause. More about them on our "Connor's Cause" tab.

We also attend annual dance conventions!

Meet Our Instructors

Linda Wilkerson

Owner & Director

Ballet, Pointe, Tap/Jazz, Combo Classes

Linda Wilkerson, "Miss Linda", started dancing at the age of 10, and at the age of 14 received a scholarship to attend the American School of Dance in Hollywood. She trained under the direction of Eugene Loring and took master classes from Robert Joffrey, Marcel Marceau, and many others—the same classes as Juliet Prowse, Mary Tyler Moore, and George Chakiris, just to name a few. She went on to own, direct, and teach at Village School of Dance in Los Angeles County for 18 years. VSD won multiple awards, having placed in many competitions at the national level and attended dance conventions in LA, Orange County, New York, and Las Vegas. In 1991, she sold her studio and moved to San Diego where she has owned, directed, and taught at CDI for the last 28 years.

"It brings me great pleasure to give your child the gift of dance and to make this an experience that they will be able to enjoy for many years. Dancing not only builds their bodies physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Now is the time to build our children’s self-esteem and to give them the confidence that we all need in life. A positive environment can only help build that confidence".

Aishlin Plummer

Linda Wilkerson

Musical Theater

Aishlin Plummer is 16 years old and a junior at Sage Creek High School. She is very passionate about musical theater and has been in many productions with her school and local companies. She is currently playing the roles of both Morticia in Addams Family and The Escapologist in Matilda. She loves dancing in and outside of theatre and through her many experiences has learned an abundance of techniques. Aishlin can't wait to share her passion and knowledge to the students of CDI!

Ella Siplyak

Lyrical

Ella Siplyak has been dancing with Carlsbad Dance Images for five years. She is currently a senior at San Dieguito High School Academy and wants to pursue a career in dance and choreography once she graduates. She has performed in multiple recitals and has created choreography for the past two. Ella loves to create different pieces and is excited to teach her students at CDI!

Darla Bergen

Ella Siplyak

Hip Hop

Darla Bergen has been dancing since the age of 4. She received a BA in Physical Education from San Diego State University and is a certified group fitness instructor with the American Council on Exercise. She has had the pleasure of instructing and choreographing cardio dance classes including Zumba for over 30 years, and is how she met Linda Wilkerson many years ago. Darla looks forward to sharing the joy of dance with her students!