The culminating public performance of this year’s NDI New Mexico Residency Program will take place on Friday, November 13, at the WNMU Fine Arts Center Theatre, at 7:00 pm. Free admission, doors open at 6:30.
NDI New Mexico is a statewide outreach program which places a certified instructor and professional pianist in schools throughout New Mexico as part of their curriculum. NDI New Mexico uses dance to teach children an important life lesson: working hard, doing your best, never giving up, and living a healthy lifestyle equals success!
NDI New Mexico has been bringing its award-winning programs to Silver City for eighteen years, in cooperation with the Silver City and Cobre Municipal School Districts. The performance on Friday will feature the 4th grade children who participated in daily NDI New Mexico classes for the last three weeks in their schools. These include: Central Elementary, G.W. Stout Elementary, 6th Street Elementary, Guadalupe Montessori, Harrison Schmitt Elementary, and Jose Barrios Elementary.
Led by NDI New Mexico Residency Director, Hannah Foss, the residency not only serves the 4th graders in their schools (as well as one very lucky kindergarten class), but also provides after-school programming free for families, serving nearly 40 5th-8th graders. These dancers are featured in the performance, and many of them are participating in the NDI New Mexico residency for the third or fourth year in a row!
This year’s performance is called Rollin’ on the Rio! Dancers will take the audience on a journey down the rivers of the world, including the Amazon, the Ganges, Nile, and our very own Rio Grande. The show will also share NDI New Mexico’s core messages of teamwork, perseverance, and self-confidence. A live band of professional musicians from around the state will bring great music to life, and the vibrant costumes make the children’s performance truly shine.
Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. continues each year, as they have for the past 18 years, to support the initiative. "We also get great support from Sen. Howie Morales," Liz Salganek, NDI New Mexico artistic director told the Beat. "The program is accessible to all students even those without any dance background. They often discover they have the capability of dance. We believe dance also teaches life lessons, such as working through difficult tasks, perseverance, and how to work as a team."
We invite the Silver City residents to this special tradition which has been a part of the Silver City community for 18 years!
NDI New Mexico is founded with the knowledge that the arts have a unique power to engage and motivate children. The purpose of our distinctive programs is to help children develop discipline, a standard of excellence and a belief in themselves that will carry over into all aspects of their lives. In 2015--2016, NDI New Mexico’s programs will reach 9,500 children and nearly 75,000 audience members statewide. For more information, visit www.ndi-nm.org.