The Dance Barns in Santa Fe

In 2001, in an unprecedented move, the Santa Fe School Board voted to lease National Dance Institute of New Mexico (NDI New Mexico) 3.5 acres of school land for $1/year for 50 years with an option to purchase. In 2002, the NDI New Mexico Board of Directors met to discuss strategic planning for the future of our organization. At that meeting, the main concern was the lack of sufficient space to provide NDI New Mexico programs to the ever-increasing number of children in communities throughout the state that have expressed a need. With the extraordinary agreement with the Santa Fe Public Schools in place, NDI New Mexico embarked upon an ambitious capital campaign to construct a new facility and to establish an endowment to insure the future of NDI New Mexico.

Through the concerted efforts of Board members, staff and volunteers, Making the Move raised more than $7 million to build The Dance Barns and to start an Endowment. In May 2003, NDI New Mexico opened the doors of our new statewide headquarters in Santa Fe, The Dance Barns.

Our 33,000 square foot facility holds five spacious dance studios (two of which combine to form a 500-seat theatre), plus production space, costume shop, recording studio, storage, conference room, and administrative offices.

The Dance Barns provides a home and a launching pad for our statewide programs, as well as a vibrant, creative center for our staff, dancers, families and community members.