National Dance Institute

What National Dance Institute does

National Dance Institute (NDI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 by New York City Ballet principal dancer Jacques d'Amboise to deliver inclusive dance education to children in New York City public schools. Headquartered at the Jacques d'Amboise Center for Learning & the Arts in Harlem, NDI delivers weekly in-school dance programs during the school day using teams of teaching artists and live musicians, reaching approximately 6,500 students across 50+ partner schools in the 2025-26 academic year. The organization has impacted more than two million children over its 50-year history.

NDI's product platform is organized around the proprietary NDI Method — a trademarked pedagogy emphasizing joyful, rigorous learning, live music, teamwork, and culminating performances — and is delivered through several channels. The flagship In-School Programs serve NYC public school students; the NDI Collaborative for Teaching & Learning (launched 2019) trains teaching artists and dance educators worldwide; the DREAM Project offers inclusive summer programming for children with and without disabilities; and advanced programs (SWAT/RISE, Celebration Team) provide scholarship-based progression pathways. Reach is extended through 12 Associates of National Dance Institute (ANDI) affiliates serving 30,000+ children annually in the US and international partnerships in China and Lebanon reaching an additional 8,750 children.

Revenue is generated primarily through philanthropic channels: an Annual Gala raising $1.7M+ annually, individual and corporate donations, foundation and government grants, and recurring giving programs. Secondary revenue comes from tiered teacher training fees ($35-$1,350), a free inclusive summer camp (DREAM), and event registrations. The organization employs 11-50 staff, has received an Academy Award, Peabody Award, MacArthur Fellowship, Kennedy Center Honors, and National Medal of Arts in connection with its founder's work, and holds Platinum Transparency status from Candid for 2026.

Name

National Dance Institute

Legal name

National Dance Institute

Website

https://nationaldance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

National Dance Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers inclusive dance education to NYC public school children through weekly in-school programs and extends its trademarked NDI Method worldwide via teacher training, 12 ANDI affiliates, and international partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses (MPACALAD), Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Arts education
• Dance instruction
• In-school programs
• Teacher training
• Inclusive dance

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Gala: NDI's Annual Gala is the highlight of the Spring social calendar and raises over $1.7 million annually in support of award-winning arts education programs.
2. Individual Donations: NDI receives secure one-time or recurring donations online, by mail, phone, email, and through donor-advised funds. EIN: 13-2890779.
3. Corporate Partnerships: NDI offers corporate partnership opportunities including event sponsorship and matching gifts.
4. Event Revenue: Revenue from events including Runs & Leaps Extravaganza registration ($25 per participant).
5. Government and Foundation Grants: NDI receives funding from city and state governments, foundations, and private donors. Historical budget mentioned as nearly $1 million.
6. Teacher Training Fees: Revenue from professional development programs including Level One Intensive ($850-$1350 tiered pricing) and Fundamentals workshop ($150-$250 tiered pricing).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

National Dance Institute delivers inclusive weekly dance classes led by teams of professional teaching artists and live musicians in over 50 NYC public schools, reaching 6,500 students per week. The organization also trains dance educators worldwide through the NDI Collaborative, offering tiered-fee workshops such as the Level One Intensive and Fundamentals, and licenses its proprietary NDI Method through a network of 12 ANDI affiliates and international partnerships in China and Lebanon.

Product overview

National Dance Institute operates as a platform of interconnected arts education programs organized around its core In-School Dance Programs and the NDI Collaborative for Teaching & Learning. The In-School Programs serve over 6,500 students weekly in NYC partner schools through teams of teaching artists, while the NDI Collaborative trains teachers worldwide in the NDI Method through public workshops (Level One Intensive, Fundamentals, Early Childhood) and Customized Trainings. Specialized offerings include the DREAM Project for inclusive dance, Advanced Teams (SWAT/RISE, Celebration) for scholarship students, and community programs like the Runs & Leaps Extravaganza, NDI Alumni Network, and Annual Gala. NDI extends its reach through 12 Associates of NDI (ANDI) programs serving 30,000+ children nationally and 2 International Partnerships reaching 8,000+ children globally. Supporting infrastructure includes Star Builders Club recurring giving and the 'I Was A Tomato' alumni campaign.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NDI Collaborative for Teaching & Learning: Professional development division offering teacher training programs in the NDI Method worldwide.
• DREAM Project
• In-School Program
• Star Builders Club

Products and services

• In-School Dance Programs Quality weekly dance classes delivered by teams of three teaching artists (two dance teaching artists and a musician/accompanist) in over 50 partner schools across the NYC metro area. Programs run for the full school year with culminating performances and serve over 6,500 elementary students weekly.
• NDI Collaborative for Teaching & Learning Professional development division offering teacher trainings, workshops, and certifications in the NDI Method for teaching artists, dance educators, musicians, and arts organizations worldwide. Includes public workshops, customized trainings, and international partnerships serving 2,500+ teachers across 41 states and 22 countries.
• DREAM Summer Camp Free inclusive summer dance camp for children ages 8-16 with and without disabilities. Two daily sessions (morning 9AM-12PM, afternoon 1PM-4PM) with a culminating Friday performance. Enrollment is free on first-come, first-served basis.
• Level One Intensive Training Two-week in-person immersive training program teaching the NDI Method. Participants work with real children ages 8-10, receive coaching from NDI Teaching Artist Trainers, and learn classroom management techniques and the power of live music. Fee range $850-$1,350 with scholarships available.
• NDI & The Art of Teaching: Fundamentals Virtual online workshop on Zoom teaching fundamentals of the NDI Method. Four-session program covering joyful dance classes with live music, community building, and mentorship with feedback from experienced NDI educators. Fee range $150-$250 with scholarships available.
• Early Childhood Workshop Workshop teaching the NDI Method as it applies to early elementary children (ages 4-8). Covers storytelling in motion, student-generated movement games, and integrating process-driven exploration with performance skills. Fee range $35-$65 with scholarships available.
• Customized Teacher Trainings Tailored teacher training programs designed for specific arts organizations, dance companies, and schools. Includes Core NDI Method Training, Choreography Training, DREAM Project Training, Early Childhood Training, and Musician Training. Flexible fee structures based on length, participants, planning time, and organizational budget.
• I Was A Tomato Campaign Alumni storytelling campaign celebrating NDI's 50th anniversary. Invites former participants to share NDI memories and experiences to demonstrate the lasting impact of arts education.
• NDI Annual Gala Annual fundraising gala raising over $1.7 million for NDI's arts education programs. Features honorees, performances by NDI students, silent auction, and recognition of supporters.
• Runs & Leaps Extravaganza Signature community event at which participants perform NDI's signature step together in Central Park, led by teaching artists with live music accompaniment. Registration is $25 and includes an NDI t-shirt shipped to the participant's home.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 2 million children impacted globally over 50 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lebanese Center for Special Education (CLES)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017NDI partnered with CLES to create 'Dance by CLES' (DBC) program in 2017. Between 2017-2020, NDI trained dancers, educators, and musicians in Beirut and neighboring towns. Program serves 6 schools, 750 children, and trained 40 teaching artists. NDI Collaborative continues to provide ongoing training and mentorship remotely.
• China Welfare Institute Children's Palace (CWICP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011NDI partnered with CWICP and Minhang Education Bureau to create 'Dancing Into the Future (I Can Too!)' program. Between 2010-2020, NDI teams trained educators in China 2-3 times annually. Program serves 30 schools and 8,000 children annually with 80 teaching artists and 80 children in Advanced Teams. Though in-person trainings suspended in 2020, program continues to serve thousands of children.
• California Dance InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate of National Dance Institute (ANDI) serving children in California using the NDI Method.
• Celebrate the Beat (Colorado)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate of National Dance Institute (ANDI) serving children in Colorado using the NDI Method.
• Treasure Valley Institute for Children's Arts (TRICA) - IdahocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate of National Dance Institute (ANDI) serving children in Idaho using the NDI Method.
• Kids Dance Outreach (Indiana)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate of National Dance Institute (ANDI) serving children in Indiana using the NDI Method.
• New Hampshire Dance InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate of National Dance Institute (ANDI) serving children in New Hampshire using the NDI Method.
• Trenton Education Dance Institute (TEDI) - New JerseycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate of National Dance Institute (ANDI) serving children in New Jersey using the NDI Method.
• NDI New MexicocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate of National Dance Institute (ANDI) serving children in New Mexico using the NDI Method.
• Arts in Action (North Carolina)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate of National Dance Institute (ANDI) serving children in North Carolina using the NDI Method.
• ArtSparks (Ohio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate of National Dance Institute (ANDI) serving children in Ohio using the NDI Method.
• Momentum (Ohio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate of National Dance Institute (ANDI) serving children in Ohio using the NDI Method.
• Kids Excel El Paso (Texas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate of National Dance Institute (ANDI) serving children in Texas using the NDI Method.
• Minds In Motion (Virginia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate of National Dance Institute (ANDI) serving children in Virginia using the NDI Method.
• Houston BalletminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNDI Collaborative provided customized teacher training for Houston Ballet's teaching artists and faculty on how ballet can be taught in a fun and engaging way in community school settings.
• Boston Ballet SchoolminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNDI Collaborative provided customized teacher training for Boston Ballet School.
• Miami City BalletminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNDI Collaborative worked within the Miami City Ballet curriculum to demonstrate how ballet can be taught in a fun and engaging way, increasing impact in community schools.
• The Ailey SchoolminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNDI Collaborative provided customized teacher training for The Ailey School.
• Pennsylvania BalletminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNDI Collaborative provided customized teacher training for Pennsylvania Ballet.
• Fort Wayne BalletminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNDI Collaborative provided customized teacher training for Fort Wayne Ballet.
• Misty Copeland FoundationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNDI Collaborative provided customized teacher training for Misty Copeland Foundation.
• Lucia Marthas Institute for Performing Arts (Netherlands)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNDI Collaborative provided customized teacher training for Lucia Marthas Institute for Performing Arts.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater / The Ailey School: Iconic NYC-based dance organization with The Ailey School and extensive K-12 educational outreach in NYC public schools, directly comparable to NDI's school-based dance education model and one of NDI Collaborative's customized training clients.
• Dance Theatre of Harlem: NYC-based dance institution with active school-based education programs and a mission of access through dance, directly parallel to NDI's school-residency model in the same city.
• Young Audiences (Arts for Learning): National nonprofit network delivering in-school arts residencies across many disciplines; the closest large-scale operating analog to NDI's community-led, school-partnership GTM motion.
• Lincoln Center Education: Lincoln Center's arts-education division delivers in-school and community programs across NYC — overlapping audience and donor base with NDI in NYC school-district arts education.

Broad incumbents

• American Ballet Theatre (ABT): Major US ballet institution with national education and training initiatives (ABT JKO School, ABT Kids) — broader portfolio than NDI but operates in the same children's dance-education and teacher-training orbit.
• New York City Ballet: Founder Jacques d'Amboise's former principal-dancer home; runs NYCB Education programs for NYC schools, the closest large-incumbent parallel to NDI's in-school methodology.
• Carnegie Hall Education Programs: National music-arts-education programs with NYC school partnerships and teacher professional development; operates in the same school-district, foundation, and corporate-sponsor ecosystem as NDI.

Regional players

• The Joffrey Ballet: Major ballet company with community education programs; Chicago-based but operates a similar children-and-schools outreach program and is a comparable US dance-education nonprofit.

Emerging players

• Boston Ballet: Operates Boston Ballet School community and education programs; has been a client of NDI Collaborative for customized teacher training, making it both a peer and a downstream user of the NDI Method.

Others

• Misty Copeland Foundation / Turn Around Arts: Adjacent arts-education initiatives that train teaching artists and work in underserved schools — they intersect with NDI's teacher-training mission and several have appeared as NDI Collaborative clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjm5Ko6RH19j8oPlSPrKr_w
• Facebookfacebook.com/nationaldanceinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-dance-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationaldanceinstitute/?igsh=MTE1aXQxbG50MG5oMA%3D%3D
• Xx.com/nationaldance

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Dance Institute