Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Did you know that National Dance Institute of New Mexico (NDINM) is celebrating their 20th year in New Mexico?  I’ve always loved NDINM, but I had no idea they have been here since 1994.

NDINM teaches children life lessons through dance ~ as well as build friendships, self-esteem and self-confidence. They strive daily to instill positive messages to each of the over 7,000 students they serve each year:

• Work hard!
• Do your best!
• Never give up!
• Be healthy!All this being said, if you’ve never attended one of their awesome performances, you are missing out on a REALLY great time.

I’ve always wondered what it might be like to poke around NDI’s costume department and to get a better sense of what goes on behind the scenes.

I reached out to my friend, Gretchen Williams – Albuquerque Director of Development, and she was more than happy to comply.  Not only was she happy to she comply, she didn’t even squawk (not even a peep) when I suggested we try on costumes.

Who are these two cute chick-a-dees?  (Thanks for the clucks…I mean the yucks, Gretchen! )

National Dance Institute’s wardrobe department is immense.  Two stories of tees, clown pants, boas, mickey mouse shaped hands, noses, wigs, crazy glasses, horns, bells ~ every theatrical accessory one could imagine.  No wonder there are so many children who want to be a part of this!

Then, someone mumbled something about a huge shoe room.  Whaaa?   A HUGE SHOE ROOM???  Might it be something like this?

Actually, it was like this ~

EQUALLY as great (just in a different, non-Louboutin way)  This room is stacked high full of shoes for NDI’s outreach program. NDINM does wonderful things for our community and helps set our children on the right path with in-school, after school, weekend and summer programs.

To learn more and to find out all the various ways you can get involved, just click here.

NDINM also has amazing yearly galas and have even had special guest dance performers, such as Shirley MacLaine and Governor Susana Martinez. Save the dates!  Santa Fe, May 3, 2014 and Albuquerque, May 10, 2014.

I can’t wait to see all the great NDI dancers. Hmmmm…I wonder who might be performing with them next?