How NDI New Mexico Embodies
“COURAGEOUS INNOVATION”
NDI New Mexico’s staff members were both honored and thrilled when they learned the Santa Fe Community Foundation had selected NDI New Mexico for its 2022 Piñon Award for Courageous Innovation. The Piñon Awards have been conferred annually since 1987 to recognize local nonprofit organizations and philanthropists for extraordinary contributions to northern New Mexico communities. The Courageous Innovation Award specifically honors an organization that “uses a bold approach to solve a persistent problem in the community.”
These two words – “courageous” and “innovation” – are both powerful and meaningful, evoking the willingness to persevere in the face of difficulties and the unknown, as well as the ability to adapt and apply new ideas. We asked some members of the NDI New Mexico community to tell us how they interpreted the idea of “courageous innovation.”
and try to solve problems in a unique way…”
Russell Baker, Executive Director, NDI New Mexico“NDI New Mexico uses the performing arts – specifically dance – to help children develop life skills, self-confidence, and positive attitudes that collectively become a guiding star as they move from childhood to adulthood. We know that participating in NDI New Mexico programs has a profound, positive effect on school attendance, academic performance, how one approaches challenges and creates positive relationships. NDI New Mexico is an integral part of a larger
WORK HARD | DO YOUR BEST WHAT’S new 2023 Upcoming Performances (continued)
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New Mexico’s
community that helps children and supports them as they strive to succeed in life.
It definitely takes courage to go out on a limb and try to solve problems in a unique way, like using the arts to have a lasting, positive impact on children throughout the state. It takes the courage of our families, students, teachers, and public-school partners to lead and work with our broader communities to improve the lives of our children. What motivates me is seeing the community continue to rise to these challenges in support of our children.”
Christopher Goett, President and CEO, Santa Fe Community Foundation
“NDI New Mexico’s programs have engaged, inspired, and uplifted countless children and families across our state – and it was incredibly inspiring to see that continue without pause during the pandemic. In the face of such a widespread challenge, NDI’s team displayed courage and saw an opportunity for innovation. They quickly pivoted their programs online to uphold their core values and continue being a positive force in the lives of thousands of children. It was our
honor to recognize NDI New Mexico with the ‘Courageous Innovation’ award this year, and I am personally looking forward to seeing how the new paradigms they adopted during the pandemic continue to benefit our community for years to come.”
Hervey Juris, NDI New Mexico donor ”The goal of NDI New Mexico isn’t necessarily to produce dancers, but rather children and young adults with the confidence in their ability to succeed if they put in the work. This mission is both innovative and courageous, and the result is that some students do continue to dance at a very high level. One student, who joined NDI New Mexico as a third grader, continued to perform in the organization’s advanced after-school programs, then worked as an NDI New Mexico teacher and choreographer while studying computer science at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro. He now works at Los Alamos Labs as a computer scientist and was recently elected to the NDI New Mexico Board of Directors.”
STATEWIDE MAP
(COURAGEOUS INNOVATION, continued) DULCE 135 Children PECOS 30 Children POJOAQUE 75 Children 3rd Grade SOCORRO/ SAN ANTONIO 180 Children CUBA 90 Children CHIMAYO 30 Children CHAMA/TIERRA AMARILLA 110 Children SILVER CITY/ SANTA CLARA 198 Children ARTESIA 266 Children RATON 60 Children ESPAÑOLA 135 Children 3rd-8th Grade WAGON MOUND 40 Children ALCALDE 30 Children RIO RANCHO 180 Children GALLUP 80 Children TAOS 75 Children Residency Program Santa Fe Program Northern New Mexico Program Albuquerque Program OHKAY OWINGEH 15 Children K-5th Grade 3rd & 4th Grade 3rd Grade 3rd Grade 3rd-5th Grade 5th Grade K, 3rd-5th Grade 2nd-5th Grade 3rd & 4th Grade K-6th Grade 2nd-5th Grade 4th Grade K-12th Grade K, 4th-12th Grade K, 4th-12th Grade K, 4th Grade MAGDALENA 100 Children K-5th Grade SANTA FE 830 Children K-12th Grade DEMING 60 Children 4th Grade LOVINGTON 90 Children 4th Grade LAS VEGAS 80 Children 4th Grade LAS CRUCES 60 Children K-6th Grade ROSWELL 146 Children K, 3rd & 4th Grade SHIPROCK 3rd-5th Grade 100 Children 80 Children 4th-5th Grade RANCHOS DE TAOS
First Place Winner in THREE CATEGORIES Best Dance Company, Youth Arts Program, and Youth Fitness Program!
Albuquerque Founders’ Circle members enjoyed an enthusiastic student demonstration! Residencies in Hobbs and around the state inspire rural students and communities
After our Teaching Excellence ® Teacher Training workshop this summer, we hired nine new instructors!
NDI New Mexico receives Santa Fe Community Foundation’s 2022 Piñon Award for Courageous Innovation
NDI New Mexico welcomes new Board members Del Archuleta, Maria Gale, Joelle Mevi, and Jessie Martinez
NDI New Mexico’s XCel Team dances with Stars of the American Ballet and founder Daniel Ulbricht at The Lensic Theater
NDI New Mexico’s Celebration Team dancers perform at the Buckaroo Ball
FELI BLEA
Feli Blea (Feli prefers the pronouns they/them) was already so passionate about NDI New Mexico as a third grader at Navajo Elementary School in Albuquerque they hatched a plan to join a Spanish-language class when they reached fourth grade since it was the only fourth-grade class that participated in NDI New Mexico’s weekly outreach program at their school.
“I didn’t last in that class because I didn’t understand Spanish,” Feli said with a laugh. “But I loved NDI New Mexico and I loved dancing, so I tried to find the one teacher whose class participated in the program.”
Feli’s moment finally arrived the following year, when their fifth-grade class joined the weekly outreach program. From there, Feli made a swift progression to NDI New Mexico’s After-School programs, participating in the Super Wonderful Advanced Team (SWAT) and moving up to the even more advanced Celebration Team.
Feli is frank about just how much they needed this very special environment when they were younger. “My teenage years were some of the hardest in my life,” Feli said.
At age 14, Feli initiated their own apprenticeship of sorts, helping instructors during class, sorting and folding costumes, and supporting students in any way they could. And in 2022, after participating in NDI New Mexico for well over a decade, Feli was accepted into the organization’s official teaching apprentice program. They were thrilled with the opportunity and the challenge. And recently, Feli successfully completed NDI New Mexico’s Teaching Excellence program.
Feli said that among the most important lessons they’ve learned thus far is “showing students that I’m here for them and letting them get to know me as a real person who believes in them and wants to have fun with them.” Once that connection is established, Feli said, that special NDI New Mexico magic occurs.
“I love what I’m doing at NDI New Mexico,” Feli said. “I’m following my passion and hopefully helping children in the way instructors helped me. I feel like NDI New Mexico saved my life. It brought me a lot of joy back then, and brings me great joy now.”
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NDI New Mexico Students Qualifying for the Federal Free or Reduced Cost Meal Program 18% Don’t Qualify 82% Do Qualify 300 Northern New Mexico Outreach & Advanced Programs 465 The Dance Barns & The Hiland Theater Afterschool Program NDI New Mexico Children Served 605 Santa Fe Outreach & Advanced Programs 1,807 Albuquerque Outreach & Advanced Programs 4,375 Residency Outreach & Advanced Programs & Video Packets Demographics of NDI New Mexico Outreach Students 15% Anglo 68% Hispanic 4% Multiracial, Asian, Pacific Islander/ African American 13% Native American/ Alaskan Native NDI NEW MEXICO STUDENTS QUALIFYING FOR FEDERAL FREE OR REDUCED COST MEAL PROGRAM NDI NEW MEXICO CHILDREN SERVED DEMOGRAPHICS OF NDI NEW MEXICO OUTREACH STUDENTS This year we will serve more than 7,500 children, reach 234 public school teachers in 87 schools in 31 communities, and deliver 200,000 hours of instruction.
full circle!
Dancing with NDI New Mexico was an escape, almost like therapy. It was the one place where I always felt joy.”
comes
COMPELLING STORIES AND MOVEMENT
Among the many celebratory highlights enjoyed by the NDI New Mexico community each year, few are as eagerly anticipated as the Winter Dances performance at The Hiland Theater in Albuquerque and the Spring Into Motion performance at The Dance Barns in Santa Fe. NDI New Mexico’s Company XCel, Apprentice, and Junior Companies rehearse for months with artistic staff to create singularly inventive evenings of dance that showcase the students’ artistic virtuosity and technique.
Winter Dances at The Hiland Theater in Albuquerque will take its creative inspiration from renowned choreographer Robert Moses, founder of the internationally celebrated dance company Robert Moses’ KIN (RMK). The company is known for using movement as a medium in which to explore issues such as class, culture, and individual expression. The company’s teaching artists will lead workshops in January and February for The Hiland Company dancers, as well as their families and community members. Participants will be instructed in multiple disciplines, including movement, music, storytelling, and creative writing. They will be joined by four Albuquerque-based professional dancers (including NDI New Mexico alums Veronica Estrada and Gabriel CarrionGonzales), as well as RMK dancer Vince Chavez (born and raised in Albuquerque) and Cora Cliburn (a Santa Fe native).
The 2023 performances promise to reach new heights of artistic expression while also celebrating students’ unique experiences and cultures.
This eclectic group of artists will work with students to create an original piece inspired by their stories. NDI New Mexico students will perform an original piece choreographed by Hiland Artistic Director Layla Amis, centered on the expression of the authentic, empowered voice through movement language.
Spring into Motion at The Dance Barns in Santa Fe will celebrate the diversity and multiculturalism that characterizes NDI New Mexico with “Second Home.” The performance showcases three original pieces that express the unique power of dance to unite people from different backgrounds and to create meaningful, lasting connections among people.
The first piece in the program is “Pearls and Pliés,” choreographed by Allegra Lillard. It is a tribute to ballet teacher Sheila Rozann, who for more than seven decades has masterfully imparted her knowledge and passion for ballet. Her singular career includes a decade at NDI New Mexico, where she left an indelible mark on her students, as well as the entire community.
The second piece, choreographed by Eugene Ballet Company resident choreographer Suzanne Haag, is “Pale Blue Dot”. The performance is an exploration of the two homes we all have in common: the home each of us has within our own body, and the global home – Earth – that we all share.
To close the evening, “Second Home,” created by Dance Barns Artistic Director Rodney Rivera, will reveal the relevance and strength of the cultural diversity of NDI New Mexico dancers. The choreographer created the piece inspired by poems written by students about their respective families and cultural identities, and how these differences make The Dance Barns their “second home.” A chamber orchestra conducted by renowned Taiwanese concert pianist Jessie Wenchieh Lo will grace the evening with live music.
TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE IN MID-JANUARY @ndi-nm.org!
WINTER DANCES
The Hiland Theater in Albuquerque February 17 & 18 Hilandtheater.com
SPRING INTO MOTION
The Dance Barns in Santa Fe February 24 & 25 Dancebarns.com
NDI New Mexico dancers rehearse for Spring Into Motion (below) and Winter Dances (bottom left).
teaching children excellence
The Dance Barns 1140 Alto Street | Santa Fe, NM 87501
The
Theater 4800 Central Avenue SE | Albuquerque, NM 87108
FIRST CLASS MAIL PRESORTED U.S. POSTAGE PAID SANTA
PERMIT NO. 173
Hiland
FE, NM
“What we love about dancing at NDI – everything!” Share the joy with NDI New Mexico’s children! NDI NEW MEXICO GALAS 2023 May 6, 2023 in Santa Fe presenting Route 66 May 13, 2023 in Albuquerque presenting Got Jazz! SAVE THE DATES!