SOCORRO, N.M. – The melodic music of Motown will be featured in this fall’s National Dance Institute of New Mexico (NDI-NM) educational dance program, showcasing the dance skills of fourth-graders from the Socorro School District. The students’ three performances will be held at New Mexico Tech’s Macey Center on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, at 10 a.m., and 1 and 7 p.m. for peers, family, friends and the public.

Tickets for “Reach Out! The Sweet Sounds of Motown” are $8 for adults and can be purchased online at nmt.edu/pas or at the door. Children may attend the performances free of charge but must have a ticket. For the school-time performance, adults will be seated after the children attending the performance with their school have been seated.

Since 1999, NDI-NM has taken up residency in Socorro, providing daily dance practice for elementary school students. A residency is held in Magdalena in the spring. According to NMT Performing Arts Series (PAS) Director Ronna Kalish, the residency began with Catherine Oppenheimer, the first NDI executive director, who came to New Mexico after working with the late Jacques D’Amboise, founder of the National Dance Institute and originally the principal dancer of the New York City Ballet.

The fourth graders dance every day for two weeks with their class in school, an NDI dance instructor and a professional musician. In the third week they move into the theater and incorporate costumes, a live band, lights, stage blocking and props, Kalish said. About 20 children are elected to be in an advanced team, Super Wonderful Advanced Team (SWAT) and rehearse an extra two hours a day. SWAT students get asked back every year and eventually become the Celebration Team.

“They’re not necessarily the best dancers, although they might be,” Kalish said. “Sometimes it is their enthusiasm, that they listen, or something the teacher sees about the student.”

Lauren O’Brien, NDI-NM residency artistic director who is teaching in Socorro for the third year, said her favorite aspect of the residency is meeting new dancers and connecting with the ones who return on the SWAT and Celebration Teams.

“It's exciting to watch the dancers grow through the program and eventually become role models for the newest ones joining,” she said. “They become a team through their hard work and discipline and it's something we want them to carry over into all aspects of their lives.”

Principal Laurie Ocampo of Parkview Elementary School in Socorro said participating in NDI-NM is a confidence builder for students.

“It is not only great for our students physically, but it helps them build discipline and it also helps them develop teamsmanship,” she said. “So many students do not get this type of opportunity in their lifetime -- to be on stage and to perform. We are so blessed to be able to offer this incredible opportunity to our students, along with wonderful role models that they have the opportunity to learn from in the fantastic program.”

O’Brien said this year's show features a story of the artists who worked tirelessly to create the hit-making machine of Motown Records. Participants will dance to some of the most iconic songs from the 1960s and ‘70s, like “Do You Love Me,” “ABC,” and “Sugar Pie Honey Bunch/Can't Help Myself.”

“It's going to be such a high energy show that everyone will be dancing along too,” she said. “The dancers in Socorro have always brought their energy and eagerness to learn. Performing on a stage is a huge event for many of these children, and I'm so glad my team and I can share this experience with them all.”

Dana Chavez, NMT PAS coordinator, said audiences will enjoy the catchy songs, which will be performed at Macey Center again early next year during the “Masters of Soul” concert Feb. 15, 2024.

“I’m really excited for the kiddos to learn about Motown and the music, perform their dances on stage, and have the chance to see those very same songs performed live at February’s youth performance,” she said.

The NDI-Socorro residency is a collaboration between the NDI statewide program, Socorro Consolidated Schools, and the New Mexico Tech Performing Arts Series. This year NDI New Mexico is serving over 8,000 students across 31 communities. More information about the organization is on its website: https://ndi-nm.org/ Sponsors of the NDI-NM performances in Socorro include: Positive Outcomes, Walmart, New Mexico Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.