National Dance Institute Names Ahtoy Juliana Artist-in-Residence

The New York City-based organization appoints the scholar and dancer to lead programs for its 2026-2027 season.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in People

Bold vector editorial illustration of a pair of leather dance shoes on a hardwood floor, representing Latin dance pedagogy. — The National Dance Institute has appointed scholar and dancer Ahtoy Juliana as its 2026-2027 Artist-in-Residence to lead salsa choreography and instruction. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The National Dance Institute has selected Ahtoy Juliana as the 2026-2027 Helen Stambler Neuberger Artist-in-Residence. During the one-year term, Juliana will develop original work and instruct the NDI Celebration Team in salsa history.

Why it matters

The appointment recognizes Juliana for her artistic excellence and unique background combining professional performance with academic research. Her tenure aims to integrate specialized Latin dance expertise into the institute's educational framework.

The National Dance Institute serves an annual population of 6,500 students across its various programs. Ahtoy Juliana, who co-founded the BAILA Society in 2006, brings her academic background as an epidemiologist to the residency.

The players

Ahtoy Juliana

She is a dancer and epidemiologist who co-founded the BAILA Society and holds a PhD from Columbia University.

National Dance Institute

This New York City-based organization provides dance education to thousands of students and maintains headquarters in Harlem.

The details

Juliana will lead Latin dance workshops for NDI Teaching Artists to expand their pedagogical repertoire. She will also choreograph original salsa performances specifically for the NDI Celebration Team based in Harlem.

Ahtoy Juliana co-founded the BAILA Society in 2006.
Juliana joined the cast of Do the Hustle in 2022.
The residency term spans the 2026-2027 academic year.

Market Landscape

The residency program fits into the National Dance Institute's Helen Stambler Neuberger Artist-in-Residence tradition of bridging professional artistry with student education. This move positions the institute to capture a specialized niche in Latin dance training, distancing its offerings from broader community dance centers.

Students participating in the NDI Celebration Team will receive direct instruction in salsa history and choreography from a subject matter expert. For local followers of the arts, this residency ensures that new original work will be produced and showcased throughout the 2026-2027 term.

The takeaway

This residency highlights the value of cross-disciplinary expertise in arts education by pairing a scholar with a major cultural institution. Aspiring artists can look to Juliana's career as a model for integrating academic research with performance-based professional development.