I got a new gig, and it’s with one of the coolest organizations around. They’re called NDI New Mexico. The National Dance Institute was founded in New York City in 1976, and in 1994 they opened the New Mexico campus in Santa Fe. They have after-school and summer programs for kids to learn to dance, from beginners to advanced classes. In Albuquerque, they meet at the old Hiland Theater on Central.
In addition, they have an amazing in-school program that is just the coolest thing. Public schools all over northern New Mexico provide weekly dance classes through NDI during their school day. Every class has a certified NDI dance instructor and a pianist. Did you catch that? They have a real-life musician providing actual live music for every class at these schools.
This is an exceptional idea. In a time when arts programs are being taken out of schools, these kids are being exposed to two real art forms on a weekly basis. They’re learning about dance – which is fantastic. And they’re also seeing live music that’s being performed by a professional. They’re learning to see musicians and dancers as people – not just inaccessible performers. And, as a result, they’re being confronted with the idea that perhaps they, too, could become artists.
How cool is that??