Since 1976, National Dance Institute (NDI) has provided transformative dance education—free of charge—to over 2 million children of every background and ability, revealing limitless potential while proving that artistic excellence and inclusion are not mutually exclusive.

Founded by New York City Ballet principal dancer Jacques d'Amboise [1934-2021], NDI was built on an unwavering belief that the arts have unique power to engage and motivate every child toward excellence. That vision has evolved into a proven methodology that maintains rigor while fostering joy, develops skilled dancers alongside confident citizens, and trains educators worldwide to bring this approach to their communities.

For 50 years, NDI has consistently proven that excellence and inclusion are not competing priorities—they're complementary forces. Removing barriers like cost and ability doesn't lower standards. It elevates what's possible.

Through the NDI Method, we produce not only skilled dancers but confident, empathetic, collaborative young people:

• Turning the room around so no child is in the back row

• Treating the child who needs extra time to learn as the most important person in the room

• Inclusive programming that pairs children with disabilities with non-disabled peers 

• Using individuals to uplift the group, and the group to uplift individuals

These aren't just nice ideas—they're proven methodologies that create measurable outcomes.

Preliminary pilot work with WolfBrown, an arts research and planning consultancy specializing in market research, confirms that students identified as “struggling” in traditional classrooms exhibit engagement profiles nearly identical to “thriving” students during NDI sessions. Children who rarely raise their hands or struggle to focus become fully engaged, confident participants. The arts don't just supplement education—they transform who gets to succeed.