WASHINGTON (Map, News) - ­Fabian Barnes is the founder and artistic director of the Dance Institute of Washington, which just opened a glittering, 13,000-square-foot building on 14th Street Northwest in Columbia Heights. Classes begin today.

Barnes, 46, began dancing at 11 in his native Seattle. He joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem in 1979, where he danced for 15 years. He founded the DIW in 1987 as a summer training program. Barnes has also served as artist-in-residence at the Kennedy Center’s Performing Arts Education Department. DIW partners with District schools to bring dance into the classroom.

Where was DIW located previously?

This is our first permanent home. Prior to this, we had been in various facilities throughout the city, from a church basement to a community center. It’s a $5 million project. We raised the money through a mixture of grants and individuals as well as corporations and some government funding. ... We bought the property from the National Capitol Revitalization Corp. The property itself is worth a lot more than what we paid for it. We paid $100,000 for it.

Why did you come to D.C.?

In 1987, I got funded to do a summer training program. I had my summers free, so I was available to do my intensive summer training program here in D.C. We provide an arts education, dance specifically, to inner-city and at-risk youth. We also offer classes to the dance community as a pre-professional dance school ... Students asked me constantly to start a performing group. I looked around at the terrain and there really wasn’t a lot for inner-city kids (in D.C.). There was definitely a need.

How does dance work as education?

We tie our programs on what curriculum the students are working on. This season, November and December, of course, is “The Nutcracker.” We really try to make sure that there’s educational content for the students to learn from as well as to actually have the creative experience in dancing and moving. We pretty much need to be able to catch them and capture their attention however we can, even if it’s working for them in the vernacular that’s popular to them. A lot of times it’s hip hop. We’re working on a hip-hop ballet.

Have any former students found success?

Our young people have gone on and done very well in the field. San Jose Ballet, the Lion King touring company, the American Ballet Theater in New Jersey. A lot of our students have gone on to colleges and repertories. – Courtney Mabeus