Press & News

This winter event kicked off the nonprofit's 50th anniversary year with a star-studded evening, including conversation with American Ballet Theatre's newly retired Misty Copeland and New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck. Misty and Tiler discussed their newly published children's books (Letters to Misty and XO Ballerina Big Sis, respectively) with Broadway legend Charlotte d'Amboise, who is also the daughter of NDI's founder, Jacques d'Amboise. The evening also included joyful performances from the Children of NDI, who shared the stage with Tony-nominated actor and singer Liz Larsen, and dancers from New York City Ballet-including principal dancer Isabella LaFreniere. Former New York City Ballet principal dancer, and the son of NDI's founder, Christopher d'Amboise shared behind-the-scenes insights into the world of dance with the audience.

Born in Alameda in 1991, Jerron Herman found his home in the arts from an early age. Exploring drama, writing, and self-expression were vital for him. His artistic life took shape in New York City, training in playwriting at NYU and New Victoria Theater and completing a degree in Media, Culture, and Art from Kings College.

The National Dance Institute (NDI) has launched its 50th anniversary season, celebrating five decades of providing arts education to New York City schoolchildren. Founded by Jacques d’Amboise, the Harlem-based organization is calling on its extensive network of over 2 million alumni to reconnect and participate in the celebration, including through a series called Jacques Art Nest.

If it takes two to tango, then Brooklyn-based choreographer Jerron Herman’s personal identities serve as perfect dance partners. “There’s a connection between Blackness and disability in my work and in my art,” he said in a Zoom conversation. “It supports more literacy around that deep connection that is there between the disenfranchisement of Black people and often disabled people.”

Host Tiffany Hanssen on WNYC's radio show, "All Of It with Alison Stewart," interviews NDI Artistic Director Kay Gayner and NDI Board member Daniel Ulbricht, who is also Principal Dancer at the New York City Ballet. Listen as they discuss NDI's mission, the legend of Founder Jacques d'Amboise, and its impact over the past five decades in bringing free, inclusive dance education to over 6,500 children in the NYC area.

Princeton Alumni Weekly features NDI Artistic Director Kay Gayner in its "Inspiring Alumni" column: Kay Gayner (Class of ’86) Created an Inclusive Space for Children to Dance. The article focuses on Kay's inspiration and motivation for co-founding the NDI DREAM Project as an inclusive dance program that focuses on partnerships between children with and without disabilities in joyful dance collaboration with performance and live music at National Dance Institute.