The National Dance Institute (NDI) has returned to Artesia this year to introduce Artesia Public Schools fourth-graders, alongside select fifth-grade and kindergartn students, to fine-art style dancing.
The NDI instructors stay in Artesia for a two-week residency during which they meet with every fourth-grader in the school district for one hour each day.
During instruction time, the students learn more than dance. NDI instructors dedicate lesson time to healthy habits, self-esteem, the history of each year’s theme, and more. This year, NDI began their residency Jan. 8 and will conclude their work on this year’s theme, “Reach Out! The Sweet Sounds of Motown,” on Jan. 19, when the students will perform the dance learned.
The students will be brought together to practice for the first time Thursday, Jan. 18, followed by a dress rehearsal the morning of the performances on Friday, Jan. 19. All students of the district will watch the performance during school hours on Friday before the show opens to the public at 6 p.m. at the Artesia High School Auditorium. The 6 p.m. performance on Friday will be free to the public.
This year Artesia has added a team of seven fifth-graders to the performance lineup, called S.W.A.T. — the Super Wonderful Advanced Team. The fourth-graders will also be accompanied by a group of 20 “tiny tot” kindergartners, who will perform between dances, and a group of teachers who will perform a teacher dance.
According to Tammy Davis, assistant superintendent of Elementary Education and Federal Programs, the public will be amazed at how much the students are able to learn and retain in such a short amount of time, and the show is sure to be worth attending. Davis also spoke of the benefits of the program, which has travelled to Artesia for more than a decade.
“NDI opens a world for our students that they might not ever get the opportunity to experience otherwise,” she said. “The emphasis on health and wellness has been a huge benefit to our students for many years. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Yates family for supporting the arts in Artesia.”
