Press & News

Need for Programming During Quarantine Fuels DREAM Project@Home July 1, 2020 – New York, NY – National Dance Institute (NDI) today announced new national online programming for children with disabilities. The program, part of NDI’s renowned DREAM Project, is the first of its kind to offer a fully inclusive format that connects dancers of all abilities with one another from their homes. The DREAM (Dancers Realize Excellence through Arts and Movement) Project@Home will include Zoom classes, classes on NDI’s platform ndiLIVE! and summer workshops. DREAM Project@Home is an extension of DREAM classes and workshops traditionally offered in person at the NDI Center. In this unique program, children with disabilities and a group of age-matched, non-disabled peers dance in partnership, with the goals of maximizing participation and challenging every dancer to achieve their best through teamwork, creativity, empathy, and discovery. The program culminates in a performance celebrating every student’s talents and achievements. [...]

[PRESS RELEASE] New York, February 28, 2020— National Dance Institute was named an Official Charity Partner of the 2020 TCS New York City Marathon. The race, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, will take place on Sunday, November 1, 2020. “National Dance Institute is thrilled to be a part of the New York City Marathon’s 50th anniversary as an Official Charity Partner for this year’s race. Team NDI will raise funds to benefit children in 44 public schools throughout New York City as we promote health and fitness in our dance programs,” said Traci Lester, NDI Executive Director. “The TCS New York City Marathon provides an amazing platform for hundreds of nonprofit organizations to raise awareness and funds toward their missions. We are proud to support our team on their journey to the iconic finish line.” NDI believes that the arts have a unique power to engage children of every background, [...]

National Dance Institute’s Dream Project Shows Every Child Can Dance, If Given A Fair Chance

NDI children danced in the Thanksgiving parade. Watch the footage and see a brief interview with Ellen Weinstein.

[Press Release] October 24, 2019 - New York, NY - National Dance Institute (NDI) today announced the NDI Collaborative for Teaching & Learning, a professional development program for teaching artists, educators and organizations committed to dance education and enriching children’s lives through the arts.  National Dance Institute, founded by legendary New York City Ballet dancer Jacques d’Amboise, and now under the Artistic Direction of Ellen Weinstein, has been at the forefront of transformative dance education since 1976.  Today, NDI has grown to be one of the premier arts education organizations worldwide. “NDI is at an exciting time in its history.  We know that youth participation in dance and music empowers children to a higher level of excellence and helps cultivate leadership and development skills,” said Traci Lester, Executive Director, National Dance Institute. “With the introduction of the NDI Collaborative we are able to train more teaching artists in the NDI Method which [...]