“At the River’s Edge,” a vibrant production featuring original choreography and live music, will be performed by young talents of National Dance Institute’s (NDI) Celebration Team in a return visit to New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Sunday, March 10. The event takes place at 3 p.m. in NJPAC’s Victoria Theater.
Children of all ages and all levels are invited to participate in a free, pre-performance workshop with NDI teaching artists at 2:30 p.m. before taking their seats. This high-energy dance class, which introduces children to NDI choreography, is accompanied by live music.
Inspired by the power of rivers, “At the River’s Edge” is a celebration of the cultures, creatures and cities that thrive along the world’s waterways. The spectacular young dancers of NDI’s Celebration Team samba in the Amazon, strut along the Hudson, pay homage to the Ganges, and set sail on the Mississippi. Ranging in age from 9 to 15, these promising artists are selected from schools throughout the New York metropolitan area.
Founded by ballet superstar Jacques d’Amboise, NDI uses dance and music to instill in students a love of the arts, a passion for learning, and a desire to strive for their personal best. Over the last four decades, this acclaimed organization has transformed the lives of more than 2 million children through its award-winning arts and learning programs and high-energy public performances.
“How can young dancers so adorable be so exquisitely talented? What a gift! We’re thrilled to welcome back these brilliant young people, who carry on the tradition and long-held vision of Jacques d’Amboise that the arts truly transform lives,” says NJPAC President and CEO John Schreiber.
“We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to present the dancers of National Dance Institute at NJPAC, and are honored to partner with such a stellar organization that shares our unwavering belief in the importance of the arts in children’s lives,” says Ellen Weinstein, NDI’s Artistic Director.
“You can’t really go wrong with kids dancing,” The New York Times writes of NDI. “The students of the Celebration Team transcend cuteness. They are remarkably musical, with rock-solid rhythm …”
