North Carolina Dance Institute
Dedicated to building a strong foundation in the arts, North Carolina Dance Institute is a non-recital, non-competition institute focused on EDUCATION and EXPOSURE to classical ballet and contemporary dance forms for children and adults. NCDI offers distinctive dance programs that motivate students of all ages through fun and energetic classes.
Education and Exposure
Developing disciplined students, concentrating on dance fundamentals, emphasizing vocabulary, exploring choreography, and positively motivating young and adult students to excel are the core values of NCDI. Classes include classical ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, hip-hop, lyrical, Broadway and rhythm tap, children's preDance and creative movement, and more. NCDI focuses on individual student growth. Students have the opportunity to participate in master classes, North Carolina School of the Arts concerts, and summer visits to New York City. Students who show potential for professional careers in dance are carefully prepared for high school conservatory and college acceptance. Several former NCDI students have been accepted into the North Carolina School of the Arts (NCSA) School of Dance High School and College Programs, and NCSA Summer Sessions in Dance. NCDI students have also been accepted into Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Summer programs, Broadway Theatre Project in Florida, The Rock School and ABT/NYC Summer Programs.
Performance Opportunities
Performance opportunities are available to NCDI students who are committed to classical ballet and technical training. NCDI has performed on numerous occasions in the community, including Carolina Arts Festival Broadway Rocks, North Carolina Dance Festival, NBC-17 Fitness Festivals, Miss Raleigh Pageants, NC Educators Ball, NBC-17 Tree of Lights TV Special, Winterfest, NC Arts in Action, and others. Each summer, NCDI produces an original performance known as the Summer Showcase. Students build their dance skills during the year and audition for this exciting, original performance opportunity. The first Summer Showcase, "The Littlest Dancer", was performed outside at the Raleigh Little Theatre rose garden amphitheater in June 2002. The second, "The Cracked Nut", was an original adaptation of "The Nutcracker" choreographed to instrumental disco music. Guest Artist, Max Baud of the Carolina Ballet was the Nutcracker Prince and over 80 students collaborated to create a terrific show. See photos from the first and second Summer Showcases performed over the past 10 years.
Our Alumni
Many NCDI students have been accepted into the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) School of Dance high school and college programs, and UNCSA summer sessions in dance. NCDI students have also been accepted into Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Summer programs, Broadway Theatre Project in Florida, The Rock School, Bates Dance Festival, The NYC Rockettes Experience and ABT/NYC Summer Programs. Several former students are pursuing professional careers in dance, including Grady Bowman with "Billy Elliott" on Broadway and now in "Wonderland" on Broadway, Robert Hartwell ("Memphis" on Broadway), Lindsey Matheis (Northwest Professional Dance Project), Bree Branker performing in previews of upcoming Broadway's "Josephine", Sam Beary Burns touring with the NYC Radio City Rockettes, Fallon d'Eliseo performing on Celebrity Cruise Lines and Emily Nicolas, apprenticed with Hubbard Street 2 Dance Company, now dancing with Danish Dance Theatre in Scandinavia. We are very proud of our NCDI alumni who return home often to inspire our students.
North Carolina Dance Institute was founded by Kirstie Spadie (formerly Kirstie Tice) and Jay Spadie in June 2001 with the help of many friends, students, and their parents.
- Thank you.
