Dance programs for children with disabilities

Dancing and ‘DREAM’ing: 10 Years of National Dance Institute’s DREAM Project

Dance Informa Magazine | April 1, 2024

By Kathryn Boland

Picture this: a dance studio full of children moving and creating. You may not have expected it, but some of them are using wheelchairs and other assistive devices. Led by a skilled teaching artist, all of these children work together – regardless of ability or disability. Such a scene is only the norm within National Dance Institute (NDI)’s DREAM Project: “Dancers Realize Excellence Through Arts and Movement.”

The program pairs disabled and non-disabled students in order to build friendships, promote artistry, foster the skill of collaboration, spark empathy and much more. Such work expands NDI’s mission of inclusive, far-reaching dance education, shining the light of its Founder Jacques d’Amboise through subsequent generations of artists.

2024-04-10T17:00:35-04:00April 9th, 2024|

Absolute magic: National Dance Institute marks 10 years of Dream Project performances

News 12 | Mar 11, 2024 | By News 12 Staff

Dancers with the National Dance Institutes’ Dream Project were ready to get to work ahead of their 10th annual performance.

The program is part of the curriculum of 50 schools throughout New York City – giving dancers of all abilities a stage to strut their stuff.

News 12’s Jordan Kissane went behind-the-scenes during a rehearsal and spoke with Dream Project co-creator Dr. Agnes McConlogue Ferro.

“We know that magic is in inclusion. The magic is in dance. And we saw this firsthand with the children who were our very first participants. Some of whom are still with us and some who are not,” she said.

Learn more about the Dream Project at the National Dance Institute website.

See News 12’s story with video here.

2024-03-11T14:02:13-04:00March 11th, 2024|
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