International partnerships are in-depth and ongoing collaborations with arts and education organizations around the world to create programs based on the NDI Method. NDI leadership provides oversight, ongoing teacher training, and artistic support for all staff, as well as strategies for adapting the NDI Method to the values, traditions, and culture of the host country.  More than 8,000 children are served annually by NDI’s international partners.

CHINA


Dancing into the Future (I Can Too!)

In 2010, the China Welfare Institute Children’s Palace, the Minhang Education Bureau, and the US-China Cultural Institute approached NDI to create a professional development program titled “Dancing Into the Future (I Can Too!)”  Through this initiative, NDI teaching artists travel to China to train educators and artists from the Minhang school district in NDI’s dance and music methodology. This partnership provides a joyful and rigorous exploration of the arts to children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds throughout Shanghai, including a large population of children of migrant workers.
  • Founded in 2011
  • Number of schools:  30
  • Number of children served each year:  8,000
  • Number of children participating in Advanced Teams:  80
  • Number of Teaching Artists trained (dancers and musicians):  80
For more information on our DIF partners, click here:  http://www.usccii.com/dif.html

Lebanon


Dance by C.L.E.S.

In 2017, the Lebanese Center for Special Education, approached NDI to create “Dance by CLES” (DBC).  A team of NDI teaching artists travel to Beirut several times a year to train dancers, educators and musicians in the NDI Method.  With a mission to bring dance and the arts to private and public schools in Lebanon, DBC started its pilot program in the academic year 2017-2018.  The program aims to help children with and without learning disabilities to gain discipline, self-confidence, and trust in others.

  • Founded in 2017
  • Number of schools:  6
  • Number of children served each year:  750
  • Number of Teaching Artists trained (dancers and musicians):  40

For more information on CLES, click here:  CLES.org

Contact Us

Emily Meisner, Director of the NDI Collaborative

For more information about NDI’s International Projects, please email emeisner@nationaldance.org or call 212-226-0083.