National Dance Institute of New Mexico (NDI-NM) brings award-winning arts and physical education programs to underserved children in urban, rural and Native American communities throughout New Mexico. NDI-NM has three streams of programming — Outreach, Advanced Training, and Teaching Excellence® which enable us to provide direct services to thousands of children and hundreds of teachers each year.

In the 2008-2009 school year, NDI-NM Programs will reach over 6,100 children, over 650 public school teachers, and more than 64,000 audience members statewide.

NDI-NM's statewide Outreach Program partners with public schools throughout New Mexico to provide dance classes as part of each school's regular curriculum. A certified NDI-NM instructor and professional pianist teach every class. At the conclusion of each program, students celebrate and share their successes through a performance or assembly attended by family, friends, peers, and community members.

"National Dance Institute of New Mexico sets high standards for training the thousands of children it reaches every year from Raton to Silver City, in isolated rural communities and inner city schools, and in reservations and Pueblo schools throughout New Mexico."

-Bill and Barbara Richardson, Governor and First Lady of New Mexico

NDI-NM offers children an array of programming beyond our In-School and Residency Outreach Programs. Advanced Training is designed for children and teens who are inspired by our Outreach Programs and want to take the performing arts to the next level through advanced, after-school instruction.

Teaching Excellence® Teacher Training was established to codify and disseminate the NDI methodology and to ensure a consistently high standard in the quality of NDI-NM instructors. Teaching Excellence® Teacher Training includes a two-week Intensive Introductory workshop for aspiring NDI-NM instructors, and a year-long apprentice training program for dance teachers working to become certified NDI-NM instructors.

Evaluation Results Show Positive Impact!

National Dance Institute of New Mexico is proud to announce the release of a Public Brief of the National Dance Institute of New Mexico Comprehensive Evaluation Report. This report demonstrates that NDI-NM positively impacts its students in several areas.

NDI-NM contracted with RMC Research in Denver to implement a scientific study that examines NDI-NM’s impact in the following areas: healthy risk-taking; confidence; discipline/tenacity; goal setting; physical fitness and dance skills; attitudes toward physical fitness and dance; connectedness; teamwork; and self-confidence.

Data was collected from 2,700 students, 129 classroom teachers, 19 principals, 95 parents, and 15 NDI-NM program staff and analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. This study reveals that at NDI-NM the key ingredients for success, working hard, doing your best and never giving up, means successful students, inspired teachers, and a brighter future for New Mexico!

<2005-2006 NDI-NM Comprehensive Evaluation Public Brief Download>

<2006-2007 NDI-NM Comprehensive Evaluation Public Brief Download>

2008-2009 NDI-NM Statistics

72% of NDI-NM children and their families live in poverty;
NDI-NM programs reach a diverse population of students-61% Hispanic, 20% Anglo, 17% Native American, 1% African American, 1%Asian American;

NDI-NM instructors will teach in 74 schools throughout New Mexico;
NDI-NM instructors will teach more than 242,000 hours in public school classrooms;
NDI-NM classes are held in 35 communities in 17 counties in New Mexico;
NDI-NM programs will reach 656 public school teachers;
More than 560 children statewide are enrolled in NDI-NM Advanced Training Programs such as Super Wonderful Advanced Teams (SWAT), Celebration Team, and Company XCel;
More than 700 students take after-school classes in the NDI-NM School for the Performing Arts, from Tiny Tots to Adults.