Miss Diane

"This year marks my 25th year of teaching dance in Los Angeles. I couldn't be more thankful for every year, every student, every friend, every teacher and all the wonderful parents who have been on this journey with me! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!"

Diane Collins, Owner and Artistic Director

Originally from Boston, Diane trained at the Donna Miceli Dance Center of Boston for over 20 years, traveling and performing internationally.  Her training included classical ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance.  Diane also studied with the Boston Ballet and the Jeanette Neill Dance Studio.

Moving to LA over 25 years ago, she opened DC Dance LA in Santa Monica as a performance and competitive dance studio for kids ages 3 to 18. With her strong foundation in ballet, she makes ballet a core part of the curriculum at all levels. Her annual tradition is to put on a big Nutcracker show during the holidays with extra contemporary, jazz and modern "treats." This past year the show went virtual but gave students and teachers the opportunity to create, practice and present. 

Diane was able to keep her studio operating during the pandemic through a mix of online classes, outdoor parking lot classes and small pods. She recently relocated her studio to an enormous 4,000 square foot indoor/outdoor dance space in Culver City to help her students keep moving, dancing and having fun in a safe way. 

Celebrating 25 Years of DC Dance LA

Hundreds of Miss Diane's family, friends, current and former students, parents and teachers surprised her with an emotionally heartfelt video tribute on the 25th Anniversary of DC Dance LA. This video tells the story of the close-knit, loving and supportive community she has helped foster.