Run and leap in Central Park on
Jacques d'Amboise's birthday
July 28, 2026 in Central Park
A run and a leap. It’s a simple act of joy and a quick moment to shine. It’s the feeling of being exactly enough, exactly as you are.
That's what NDI's signature step has given to more than two million children over the last 50 years. On July 28, we're coming together to show how powerful this one step can be. Join us at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park — we’re inviting 500+ alumni, families, supporters, and arts education advocates to perform it together.
No dance experience needed. Invite your friends and family. You'll learn everything in a short rehearsal when you arrive.
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 — Jacques d'Amboise's birthday
Naumburg Bandshell, Central Park, New York City
Check-in begins at 10 am | Performance at noon | Event concludes at 1:30 pm
Rain or shine
Under the artistic direction of Kay Gayner and Christopher d'Amboise, NDI Teaching Artists will guide participants through an excerpt from beloved NDI repertoire, accompanied by NDI's live band under Music Director Yakir Ben Hur. We want every one to dance with us — to experience the joy and exuberance of movement, embodying the positive effects of arts education.
When 500+ people do this in the same place, on the same day, for the same reason, it isn't just a performance. It's a statement that the arts are essential and that early experiences in the arts stay with us forever.
The Runs & Leaps Extravaganza is the culminating event of a fun-filled NDI Alumni Weekend, July 25–28. If you're coming back for the reunion, the full weekend includes:
- Saturday, July 25: Dance-a-Thon Party
Perform a mash-up of NDI classics and join us for a full-on dance party at NDI
- Sunday, July 26: Film screening of He Makes Me Feel Like Dancing
Watch the Academy Award-winning documentary about Jacques d'Amboise and the founding of NDI at Symphony Space.
- Monday, July 27: NDI Community Gatherings & Rehearsals
- Tuesday, July 28: Runs & Leaps Extravaganza in Central Park
The culminating event — 500+ alumni, supporters, and arts advocates perform NDI's signature step together
