Welcome to The Dance Barns
Each week children ages 3 to 18 and adults come to The Dance Barns in Santa Fe to enrich their lives with high-quality dance and performance training with a focus on excellence. This dynamic facility has become a nurturing and engaging second home to our after-school students and their families – a place to come together to experience the arts with classes in creative movement, ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, hip hop and more.
Our programs give children the opportunity to participate in professionally produced onstage performances and are open to all children in the community with classes currently offered on a sliding scale. Whether looking for an introduction to creative movement, or advanced classes for those with their eyes set on a career in dance, we have a perfect class for you.
Meet The Dance Barns Artistic Director – Rodney Rivera
Rodney began his ballet training in San Juan, Puerto Rico and continued at Pro Danza Ballet of Cuba, under the direction of Laura Alonso. He represented Puerto Rico in the Fifth International Ballet Competition at Jackson, Mississippi, as the first Puerto Rican male dancer to participate in this event. Leading roles in world premieres of ballets were created for Rodney by Fernando Bujones, Vladimir Issaev, Zachary Solov, Michael Uthoff, and others. Rodney has also taught for many years, with some of his students going on to dance with American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, National Ballet of Cuba, Dance Theater of Harlem, Martha Graham Dance Company, and other companies. As a choreographer, his work has been presented at festivals such as the Miami International Ballet Festival, Festival de Ballet de la Habana Cuba, Latitudes Dance Fest NYC, and the World Ballet Competition, among others. Beginning in 2013, Rodney has served annually as Resident Choreographer, Guest Teacher, and part of the jury of the renowned World Ball. He has also been a resident choreographer at Island Moving Company and has choreographed for films and opera productions. Rodney has been with NDI New Mexico since 2019.
Our Philosophy and Values
NDI New Mexico provides rigorous performing arts programming that builds technical skills and personal character and is accessible to all children. We provide a well-rounded experience in the Performing Arts.
NDI New Mexico provides programming that contributes to children’s success in life through healthy attitudes, rigor, discipline and creativity. Students’ experience is consistent with NDI New Mexico’s methodology of joyous learning while the teaching re-enforces the NDI New Mexico Core Four: work hard, do your best, never give up and be healthy.
Core Four
Work
Hard
Do
Your
Best
Never
Give
Up
Be
Healthy
To Students
We are happy that you are a student at NDI New Mexico and want you to experience success in your classes. In order to focus on your work, we would like you to commit to embodying the values of our school – excellence, respect, community, and safety. We will communicate openly and directly with you and your family. Please be assured that if you share information with us that concerns your safety, we will take quick and appropriate steps to respond.
To Parents/Guardians & Families
We are happy that your child is taking part in NDI New Mexico programs. You play an important role in their success! We will communicate openly and directly with you about your student’s experience, progress, and behavior. We encourage two-way communication and hope that an open dialogue will create a safe, respectful, and excellent environment where your child will thrive.
As parents or guardians, you can also join in the process! You can be a volunteer, participate in a class, and cheer your students on from home!. We hope you will take advantage of the many opportunities offered in our organization.
Each of us – students, teachers, and parents – is responsible for helping to create an environment which is safe, respectful, and excellent. We take our responsibility seriously and ask that you do too. Thank you for your commitment and for being a part of NDI New Mexico.