Press & News

Summer 2019  |  Downtown Magazine  |  By Deborah L. Martin A WISE PERSON ONCE SAID, “Charity begins at home,” and we agree. The problems of the world often seem insurmountable, but there are organizations that are doing life-changing work right here in New York City—helping one person, one child, one human being at a time. For this special feature, we focused on just six out of the countless worthy organizations working to better this city, and as a result, the world. The Museum of Jewish Heritage, Henry Street Settlement, Girl Be Heard, National Dance Institute, Oliver Scholars, and Project Renewal all focus on different issues affecting our New York communities. With the help of dedicated staff and volunteers, they use their creative energy to reach our most at-risk, vulnerable residents, and to help them achieve their fullest potential. They teach lessons in acceptance and tolerance, appreciation for the arts, and cooperation, [...]

"Swope viewed Balanchine and his muses—among them Allegra Kent, Suzanne Farrell, Patricia McBride, and Jacques d’Amboise—with intimacy and tenderness. The genius technique and style of Farrell and Balanchine, especially when she danced under his tutelage, often softens into vulnerability through her lens."

"Mr. d’Amboise is clear that Apollo is “a wild, untamed youth who learns nobility through art.” Balanchine, he said, loved to recall the Paris critic who, reacting negatively to the original 1928 production, said, “Whoever saw Apollo on his knees?” (Balanchine’s response: “Whoever saw Apollo?”)"

“Before his debut, Mr. d’Amboise recalled, the company’s hair stylist attempted to curl his hair to make him look more like his idea of a Greek god. “Balanchine said no!” Mr. d’Amboise said in an interview at the National Dance Institute, a dance-education organization he founded in 1976.”

Fear turns to joy as the students smash the balloons, raise their fists and find strength in numbers while the ominous end notes read: “an estimated 3 million American children experience gun violence every year… Gun violence is now the second leading cause of death for American children… Over 2,600 children and teens are shot and killed every year… An average of 47 children and teens are shot every day… Enough!”

"Everyone can — and should — have the chance to dance." Dance is a powerful form of expression that can be used to communicate who you are, and how you feel. The amazing people at the National Dance Institute (NDI) know this better than most, and believe everyone, of all abilities, should have the opportunity to dance. That's why they created the DREAM Project or Dancers Realize Excellence through Arts and Movement, a semi-annual week-long inclusive dance program for children who are differently-abled. Each child who goes to DREAM gets partnered with a neuro-typical peer who helps them get the most out of the program through teamwork. At the end of the five days, all the kids get to put on a performance to celebrate their hard work and achievements. We got to sit down and talk with three [...]