Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Dance Education
At NDI, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are at the core of our mission and are at the center of our engagement with children, families, schools, artists, and all communities.
At National Dance Institute (NDI), we are committed to creating an environment that honors the humanity of all people. We believe that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide our work in the arts, and that the arts enable us to do our jobs best only when these values are their foundation. Placing DEIA at the center of our engagement with children, families, schools, artists, and all communities is essential to the vitality and integrity of our work and to the achievement of our core mission.
We acknowledge the patterns of racism, sexism, heterosexism, cis-sexism, classism, ableism, sizeism, nativism, ageism, antisemitism, religious bigotry, and other forms of discrimination and oppression that harm our students and communities. We are committed to dismantling these patterns and to critical examination of the ways in which equity is fostered or hindered in our teaching practices, artistic production, administrative processes, and organizational culture.
NDI is actively working toward creating an ever more just organization so that we may both uphold a healthy work environment and provide engaging, immersive, joyful arts experiences for the children and communities we serve.
Some of the ongoing ways we are doing so include, but are not limited to:
Paid positions which support our DEIA work and diversity among Teaching Staff (established in 2019, ongoing):
DEIA Manager – a Staff member dedicated to moving forward NDI’s DEIA goals
Helen Stambler Neuberger Artist-in-Residence – Year-long fellowship to support an Artist of Color, who then works with our Teaching Artists and Advanced Team dancers
Marc Solomon Teaching Artist Fellowship – Full-year employment, including benefits provided for a Teaching Artist of Color, which can lead to an ongoing full-time Staff position
Advanced Teams Family Liaison - a Staff member who works to bridge communication between families and NDI to ensure every child's success on the Advanced Teams, particularly regarding race, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Full Staff workshops concerning race, disability, gender, and more (multiple times/year)
Ongoing optional affinity/accountability group meetings for our Staff to examine racism and white supremacy within our lives and within NDI (since February 2020)
Board DEIA Committee – a committee composed of Board and Staff members, serving as a think tank for increasing equity across the organization (meets quarterly, since September 2019)
DEIA Task Force – a group of paid Staff members who continually examine our teaching methodologies through a DEIA lens and help guide the rest of our Teaching Artist team
Policy Review - a continued commitment to examining and refining our organizational policies and practices to align with our DEIA values.
*This statement was crafted with input from the full Staff and Board.
Calia Marshall (she/her) has been a Teaching Artist with NDI since 2000, became Equity Advocate in 2019, and was promoted to DEIA Manager in 2023. A dance major from Mount Holyoke College, she danced professionally from 2000-2015 and has been teaching movement and healing practices to children and adults for over 25 years, from NYC public schools to community centers in Colombia and summer camps in Ethiopia. As a dance educator, workshop facilitator, yoga instructor, musician, and choreographer, Calia strives to create spaces which are equitable and community-focused, providing opportunity for connection, healing, and growth.
This yearlong residency supports the creative work of a performing arts-based Artist of Color, providing space to grow their artistic practice while engaging with elementary and middle school students. The program advances NDI’s commitment to equity by uplifting diverse voices in dance and fostering meaningful connections between artists and young people.
This yearlong fellowship offers full-time, salaried employment with benefits to a Teaching Artist of Color, reflecting NDI’s commitment to advancing racial equity in arts education. This fellowship invests in the leadership, creativity, and career development of artists who bring culturally responsive teaching and diverse perspectives to our classrooms.
NDI's Advanced Teams Family Liaison is a full-time Staff member who works to bridge communication between families and NDI to ensure every child's success on the Advanced Teams, particularly regarding race, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Serving this role is Fiona Mills, a dancer and original cast member of the Off-Broadway show STOMP. Born in Leeds, UK, she trained at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. She then joined STOMP and toured the world for six years with the show, finally settling in NYC to become the Rehearsal Director for the North American companies. Through her son’s school, she learned of NDI and fell in love with the whole program. She is also currently an NDI Teaching Artist.
• We value all identities – race, ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status, ability, gender, culture.
• We build inclusive classrooms, rehearsal spaces and stages where every child feels welcomed, empowered and joyful.
• We design our programs so that barriers are removed and opportunities are accessible to all children.
• We strive for transparency, accountability and continuous growth in equity.
Why DEIA Matters
At NDI, we believe that every child – no matter their background, ability or language – deserves the joy, confidence and community that dance creates. Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility(DEIA) isn’t an add-on – it’s the rhythm beneath everything we do.
Dance is more than movement – it is connection, expression and belonging. When young people from diverse communities experience inclusive, accessible dance education, they unlock creative power, build lifelong confidence, and see themselves as leaders who are capable of reaching higher and farther. Ensuring opportunity belongs to all children is central to NDI’s purpose.
What We are Doing
- Inclusive Curriculum – Our teaching artists bring culturally responsive dance techniques and adaptive instruction to partner schools in low-income communities. (We can even add something about teaching artists bringing elements to the program from all around the globe. I remember our Africa, China, and Balinese themes from years past.)
Teaching Artist Training – Through specialized DEIA professional development, we equip educators to lead inclusive, culturally relevant, and accessible dance experiences.
Accessible Performance Opportunities – From translated programs to sensory-friendly performances and accessible venues, we open the stage to every child, family and community.
Diverse Leadership – We are committed to increasing staff, board, and teaching artist diversity, and we regularly review policies and practices to uphold equity.
- Staff Affinity & Accountability Groups (since February 2020): Optional, ongoing staff-led spaces to reflect on and confront racism and white supremacy within ourselves and within NDI. Meets several times each year.
Board DEIA Committee (established September 2019): A collaborative group of Board and Staff members serving as a think tank to advance equity across all areas of the organization. Meets quarterly.
DEIA Task Force: A team of paid staff members who continuously evaluate and evolve our teaching practices through a DEIA lens, offering guidance and support to the broader Teaching Artist team.
Policy Review: A continued commitment to examining and refining our organizational policies and practices to align with our DEIA values.
