Inspiring Creativity, Sparking Joy
The new year is bursting with new opportunities for National Dance Institute to share dance, music, and joy with our communities. On social media, ndiLIVE! is reaching a national audience with classes led by our teaching artists, such as Yakir Ben-Hur, pictured above giving a music program accompanied by his two young children. Our In-School Program is in full gear, bringing NDI into the lives of thousands of children at our partner schools. In collaboration with WNET, our exuberant dance classes are part of the “Let’s Learn” series on public television. (Fun fact: In 2020, NDI reached the equivalent of more than 25,000 full classrooms via WNET!) And the NDI Collaborative for Teaching & Learning is hosting three workshops in February to share the acclaimed NDI Method with teaching artists around the world. To learn more about any of these programs, please visit www.nationaldance.org.
Meet NDI’s New Artist-in-Residence!
National Dance Institute is proud to welcome Camille A. Brown & Dancers as our 2020-2021 Artist-In-Residence. Founded in 2006, the company is led by Camille A. Brown, an award-winning Black female choreographer whose work reclaims the cultural narratives of African American identity.
“I am truly excited by this partnership with NDI,” Ms. Brown said. “I have been a fan of their programming for a while so it’s wonderful to now be collaborating. Cheers to the journey!”
Dancers from the company will join NDI throughout the year to lead the children in master classes and to create their own new dance works on the students. The children will also have the opportunity to interact with Ms. Brown during a Question-and-Answer session. NDI’s teaching artists have already taken part in a professional development workshop based on Camille A. Brown & Dancers’ “Every Body Move” initiative, rooted in the belief that “social dance works as a powerful tool for social change.”
ABOVE: Camille A. Brown & Dancers in “ink”; Photo by Christopher Duggan
In Memoriam: Shirley Young and Donald Tober
NDI Board member and tireless advocate Shirley Young was a passionate believer in NDI’s mission to nurture the social development of children. She was driven to build cultural bridges through the arts and helped NDI dream bigger and reach further, including into China. She was masterful at bringing people together, and her guiding hand will be felt for generations to come. She will dance on in our hearts, and her family has our deepest sympathy.
A dear friend, patron, and former Board member of NDI, Donald Tober was a gracious man and a natural leader. Donald propelled forward NDI’s mission to transform children’s lives through the arts. Along with his beloved wife, Barbara, Donald graced NDI gatherings for over two decades, and the impact of his advocacy and generosity will live on in all the children who dance through our doors. We will always remember and be grateful for the sweetness in Donald’s heart.
New Additions to the NDI Board of Directors
Two accomplished leaders, Heather Weston and Steve Jordan, are bringing new perspectives to the NDI Board. Heather (left) is COO of Hats & Ladders, a nonprofit helping young people build careers. She carries on the legacy of her mother Judy Weston, a longtime NDI champion. Steve, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, award-winning producer and musical director, participated in a 2020 Art Nest (right) and was inspired to join NDI’s mission.
