Press & News

"Jacques d’Amboise is a legend and a hero not only in New York but around the country and throughout the world. He wants each child to succeed, and he has created an environment that helps them excel. His goal is pure and simple – instilling the desire in kids to be the best that they can be. What better way to do this than through dance?"​

A street in New York City has been renamed in honor of  Jacques d'Amboise, legendary ballet dancer and founder of the arts education organization National Dance Institute (NDI). 

Dear NDI Community, It is with great enthusiasm that I write to you as National Dance Institute’s new Artistic Director. I am beyond thrilled to take on this role at an organization so devoted to changing children’s lives through the arts. During my 20-year tenure, I've worked closely with our beloved founder, Jacques d’Amboise, as well as Ellen Weinstein, who brilliantly served NDI as Artistic Director for 26 years. I am grateful to both of these exceptional individuals for enriching my life, and this organization, in so many ways. Jacques built the house, Ellen turned it into a home. And it is my honor to build upon their legacy, ensuring that anyone who comes through the NDI door is met with joy and love sparked by the arts. With our superb teaching staff, NDI has developed a proven teaching methodology that uses dance and music to improve children’s critical thinking, global [...]

A Message From NDI Artistic Director Ellen Weinstein There are few words to describe the magnitude of loss we have felt since Jacques d'Amboise passed away on May 2. We are deeply moved by the outpouring of love and support from people around the world who were inspired by his brilliance. Thank you to everyone who has shared a memory, written a note, posted a photo, or simply taken a moment to reflect on the joy that Jacques gave to life.

This year, National Dance Institute celebrates its 45th Anniversary. As we reflect on NDI’s extraordinary achievements of inspiring children through the arts, we look ahead to the promise the future holds. We salute NDI and recognize that many exceptional individuals have made our remarkable success possible. Traci Lester, NDI’s Executive Director, has guided NDI for the past four and a half years with great skill, clarity, and dedication, especially as we navigated through the impact of an unprecedented global health crisis. Today, we announce that Traci has shared she will be stepping down from her role to pursue another professional opportunity. We are grateful for Traci’s many contributions. We wish her all the very best and we know we will continue to see her in the audience cheering on NDI. Thank you, Traci Lester.

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.