Since 1989, Trenton Education Dance Institution (TEDI) has provided dance instruction in Trenton elementary schools, encouraging confidence, resiliency, cognitive and physical skills, and team building efforts. CHSofNJ is proud to support TEDI and the life-changing outcomes they produce.

Join us for our 35th Anniversary End of the Year celebration, “Let’s Groove!”

Thursday, May 16th, 2024 | 6:00 pm | Trenton Central High School

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If you would like to support TEDI, please click on the red donate button at the top or bottom of this page. TEDI appreciates all of our partners, donors, students and alumni.

In 1989, the Trenton Board of Education and The Times of Trenton joined to support a National Dance Institute (NDI) Residency Program in Trenton public schools. The first NDI Trenton Residencies consisted of several weeks of intense “in” and “after” school programs culminating in professional quality performances. Today TEDI offers yearlong, school-based curriculum integrated programs. As of 2011, TEDI and The Children’s Home Society are partnering to keep this resilient youth development program alive and solidify a secure future for TEDI Programs.

Jacques d’Amboise, legendary New York City Ballet dancer, founded National Dance Institute in 1976 in the belief that arts have a unique power to engage children and motivate them towards excellence. NDI has become one of the nation’s most prestigious arts-in-education organizations. The goal of the program is not to train professional dancers but to teach young people that through hard work, rigor, discipline and joy, children can overcome personal challenges and discover their greatest potential.

NDI programs use professional artists and a distinctive combination of dance, performance and curriculum-related educational materials to teach young people the life skills of self-discipline, teamwork, concentration, cooperation, confidence and pride in personal achievement. Reaching across social, ethnic and economic boundaries, it includes children facing physical and emotional challenges.

TEDI offers a tailored curriculum which challenges students’ cognitive and physical capabilities while igniting self-esteem and executive function skills. The programs include:

  • Weekly, in-school classes for 5th graders in two Trenton public elementary schools;
  • “First Team” classes for TEDI kindergarten students;
  • After-school SWAT Team (Scholarship for the Willing, Achieving & Talented) program for selected TEDI 5th graders;
  • Celebration Team Scholarship Program for 6th – 10th grade TEDI alumni;
  • TEDI Alumni Association for program graduates.

Each May, the TEDI program presents its Event of the Year with live performances for school, family and community audiences. If you have a condition or disability that requires special accessibility arrangements in order to attend a performance, please contact us in advance at 609-695-6274.

The Trenton Education Dance Institute (TEDI) is dedicated to providing all TEDI patrons and students, including those who need accessible services, with a welcoming and accessible environment in which to enjoy the arts. Contact Sarah Stecker (sstecker@chsofnj.org) or Kayla James (kjames@chsofnj.orgat least two weeks in advance of an event to request assistance for accessibility needs related to disabilities. Please fill out the form below to ensure we can meet all of your needs.

TEDI Accessibility Assistance Form

Event Accessibility Assistance Form

We are here to help! Our goal is to ensure everyone can have access without barriers. Please complete the following form at least two weeks in advance of an event. Sarah Stecker, our ADA Coordinator, will contact you for follow up.

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TEDI is an Associate of the National Dance Institute.

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