Non-Profit Arts Education Organization Celebrates 10 Years of Inclusion, Understanding, and Joy Among Students With and Without Disabilities
February 16, 2024
DREAM Alumni Reunion in February Is A Testament To NDI Founder Jacques d’Amboise’s Vision to Inspire Children of All Abilities and Backgrounds through the Performing Arts
National Dance Institute (NDI), the nonprofit arts education organization that delivers award-winning dance and music programs to thousands of children worldwide, will host a DREAM alumni homecoming on February 23rd in honor of the 10th anniversary of the NDI DREAM Project (Dancers Realize Excellence through Arts and Movement), an inclusive dance program that provides children with and without disabilities the opportunity to perform together in true partnership.
The NDI DREAM Project was co-founded by Kay Gayner, NDI’s Artistic Director, and Pediatric Physical Therapist, Dr. Agnes McConlogue Ferro.
Along with Aileen Barry, NDI’s Senior Director of Education & Outreach, Gayner and Ferro developed a program that is a model for inclusivity in NYC and nationwide, growing into an increasingly popular training program that equips dance and music educators as well as physical therapists with tools to […]
NDI’s DREAM Project Marks 10 Years Of Inclusive Joy For Children With And Without Disabilities
HARLEM WORLD | FEBRUARY 6, 2024
National Dance Institute (NDI), is the Harlem nonprofit arts education organization that delivers award-winning dance and music programs to thousands of children worldwide.
Will host a DREAM alumni homecoming on February 23rd in honor of the 10th anniversary of the NDI DREAM Project (Dancers Realize Excellence through Arts and Movement), an inclusive dance program that provides children with and without disabilities the opportunity to perform together in true partnership.
The NDI DREAM Project was co-founded by Kay Gayner, NDI’s Artistic Director, and Pediatric Physical Therapist, Dr. Agnes McConlogue Ferro.
Along with Aileen Barry, NDI’s Senior Director of Education & Outreach, Gayner and Ferro developed a program that is a model for inclusivity in NYC and nationwide, growing into an increasingly popular training program that equips dance and music educators as well as physical therapists with tools to expand accessibility and […]
National Dance Institute’s DREAM Project Celebrates 10 Years With Alumni Homecoming Event
BROADWAY WORLD | Feb. 07, 2024 | By Stephi Wild
National Dance Institute will host a DREAM alumni homecoming on February 23rd in honor of the 10th anniversary of the NDI DREAM Project (Dancers Realize Excellence through Arts and Movement), an inclusive dance program that provides children with and without disabilities the opportunity to perform together in true partnership.
The NDI DREAM Project was co-founded by Kay Gayner, NDI’s Artistic Director, and Pediatric Physical Therapist, Dr. Agnes McConlogue Ferro.
Along with Aileen Barry, NDI’s Senior Director of Education & Outreach, Gayner and Ferro developed a program that is a model for inclusivity in NYC and nationwide, growing into an increasingly popular training program that equips dance and music educators as well as physical therapists with tools to expand accessibility and inclusivity in their own communities.
“Access to high quality arts education is every child’s birthright,” said Gayner. […]
National Dance Institute Celebrates Life Of Dr. Maya Angelou With Event Of The Year Performance
Harlem’s National Dance Institute (NDI) will celebrate the life of Dr. Maya Angelou at “RISE,” their 2023 Event of the Year from June 17-19 at NYU Skirball Center. This event will include vibrant performances of dance and live music from over 100 talented children from New York City public schools.
NDI Announces Jermaine Jones as Executive Director
NEW YORK, March 16, 2023 – NDI, the non-profit arts education organization that delivers award-winning dance and music programs to thousands of children worldwide, announces that Jermaine Jones will join the organization as Executive Director.
Jones joins the acclaimed organization alongside NDI’s Artistic Director Kay Gayner and Board Chair Marc Solomon. He is the current NDI Board Treasurer and Co-Chair of the Finance Committee, and former controller of Brighton Health Plan Solutions. Jones will assume his new role on March 20th.
National Dance Institute was founded by legendary ballet dancer and arts education champion Jacques d’Amboise in the belief that all children should have access to high quality arts education. Each year NDI engages thousands of children of all backgrounds and abilities through its unique NDI Method, an approach to teaching that has become a widely adopted model for arts education programs around […]
A Message From NDI’s New Artistic Director Kay Gayner
Dear NDI Community,
It is with great enthusiasm that I write to you as National Dance Institute’s new Artistic Director. I am beyond thrilled to take on this role at an organization so devoted to changing children’s lives through the arts. During my 20-year tenure, I’ve worked closely with our beloved founder, Jacques d’Amboise, as well as Ellen Weinstein, who brilliantly served NDI as Artistic Director for 26 years. I am grateful to both of these exceptional individuals for enriching my life, and this organization, in so many ways.
Jacques built the house, Ellen turned it into a home. And it is my honor to build upon their legacy, ensuring that anyone who comes through the NDI door is met with joy and love sparked by the arts. With our superb teaching staff, NDI has developed a proven teaching methodology that uses dance and music to improve children’s critical thinking, global perspectives, and […]
Remembering Jacques d’Amboise
We pay tribute to NDI’s founder Jacques d’Amboise who touched so many lives and made every day brighter with his exuberance, vitality and passion.
National Dance Institute Partners With The WNET Group On Camp TV Season 2 Summer Learning Series
New York, NY – July 19, 2020 – National Dance Institute (nationaldance.org) today announced that its programming will be part of The WNET Group’s summer learning and exploration series Camp TV which returned for Season 2 on public television stations nationwide. NDI teaching artists and musicians take children on a movement journey in eight episodes of Camp TV this summer.
The partnership comes on the heels of NDI’s programming in ten episodes of The WNET Group’s New York Emmy-nominated series Let’s Learn NYC!. The educational public television program produced by The WNET Group in partnership with the New York City Department of Education (DOE) features lessons for children in 3K through second grade that supplement remote learning.
According to Ellen Weinstein, Artistic Director, National Dance Institute, “We are excited to partner for a second year with The WNET Group on Camp TV. Through our participatory programming, NDI’s teaching artists and musicians deliver […]
NDI Connection: June 2021
A Message From NDI Artistic Director Ellen Weinstein
There are few words to describe the magnitude of loss we have felt since Jacques d’Amboise passed away on May 2. We are deeply moved by the outpouring of love and support from people around the world who were inspired by his brilliance. Thank you to everyone who has shared a memory, written a note, posted a photo, or simply taken a moment to reflect on the joy that Jacques gave to life.