Music
At NDI, dance and music are the vehicles for connection, self-discovery, and personal and collective growth. The joy, agency, and feeling of accomplishment that students experience with NDI carry over into all aspects of their lives and learning.
National Dance Institute (NDI) envisions a world in which every child experiences the arts as an essential part of their education. Since its founding in 1976 by legendary ballet dancer Jacques d’Amboise, NDI has been guided by the belief that the arts are critical to a child’s social development, hold the power to transform lives, and that background, ability, identity, or zip code should never be a barrier to any child’s participation. NDI’s mission is to provide children with spirited dance and music classes that spark learning in and through the arts.
Since the day
Today, NDI is poised to grow and serve more children than ever before. We are now reaching over 6,000 New York City public school children each week through our in-school partnerships.
Music is wondrous. It powerfully engages the emotions, and we know that when emotions are engaged, children get excited about learning.
Often, an NDI musician may represent the only exposure to and interaction with live music and music education that our students receive during the year. In this age of drastic cuts imposed on public school budgets, the arts—including music—are frequently the first to be eliminated.
In the course of a year, NDI offers its students experiences in general music appreciation. Within the context of a dance class, they learn about composers (from Mozart to John Lennon), form, and basic music theory including instruction in rhythm, time signature and note value. Students learn about ⅛ notes, ¼ notes, ½ notes and whole notes, by physicalizing the counts with their movement. In addition, students learn rhythm and body percussion, and receive basic vocal technique and training while rehearsing songs to be performed at mid-year and year-end assemblies.
Music is a universal language and is an effective communication tool in NDI classes, particularly among those children who are recent immigrants and do not speak English. Our students are exposed to many different styles of music, including classical music, pop, jazz, Broadway, Rock and Roll, Rhythm & Blues, and world music. In learning about the various genres of music, children are also learning about world history, and the setting and sequence of events that gave birth to a particular type of music.
Live music is also the underpinning of all of our public performances. The NDI Orchestra is featured in our large-scale Event of the Year at NYU’s Skirball Center and our acclaimed series, Jacques’ Art Nest, as well as our annual engagements at NDI’s Gala, and other prominent venues.
To ensure NDI continues the successful delivery of its programs for generations to come, we would be honored if you would make
To see the joy in the face of a child that has been connected to music—by participating and interacting, not just observing—is the vision that anchors NDI’s deep-rooted dedication to this effort. Together, we hope to nurture the next generation of dancers, musicians, and music enthusiasts who will understand and pass along the value and power of a world filled with music and song.