Press & News

Featuring more than 200 talented young dancers from New York City schools, m2026 Event of the Year returned to the NYU Skirball stage this June. The beloved and frequently sold-out annual tradition was an exciting culmination of NDI’s 50th Year of In-School programming. 

Picture a school gymnasium in the Bronx. Or a cafeteria in Harlem. Or a multi-purpose room in Queens that doubles as a storage space for gym equipment. The tables have been pushed to the walls. A pianist is warming up in the corner — live, present, tuning to the room. Thirty second-graders are about to walk through the door. This is where NDI Teaching Artists work.

Young people are currently facing epidemic levels of social isolation, emotional dysregulation, and loneliness. NDI knows dance and music education can be the solution. Artistic Director Kay Gayner explains how.

"With casual swagger and his trademark enthusiasm, d'Amboise seems like just a regular guy—until he starts jumping. He finishes off a series of four consecutive double tours (at 3:15) with a triumphant toss of the head, then hangs midair in his double cabrioles, showing off his spectacular beats before he even thinks about landing."

"National Dance Institute (NDI), the non-profit arts education organization founded in 1976 by legendary New York City Ballet principal dancer Jacques d’Amboise, hosted its 42nd Annual Gala at the Zeigfeld Ballroom in New York City. The annual event, which is NDI’s largest fundraising event of the year, raised $1.5 million, with all proceeds benefitting NDI’s award-winning arts education programs."

In this PIX 11 News segment, the National Dance Institute (NDI) celebrates a major milestone during its 50th Anniversary Gala at the Ziegfeld Ballroom on April 27, 2026. The event successfully raised a record-breaking $1.9 million to support the Harlem-based nonprofit’s music and dance initiatives. The video highlights NDI’s commitment to accessibility, noting that the organization provides free programming for New York City public school students. Their reach extends to over 6,500 children across the city, including specialized dance classes designed for children with disabilities.