National Dance Institute

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National Dance Institute (NDI) was founded in 1976 by Jacques d'Amboise, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. NDI brings dance to public schools, working with mainstream, bilingual, and special-education classes. Professional artists teach NDI, and about 6,500 New York City students take part each week in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Most NDI students come from low-income families, and all programs are free. The organization emphasizes a diverse student body. In 2001, Carole Valleskey, a former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet, started the California Dance Institute as a West Coast affiliate of NDI, using NDI's teaching methods.