Dance New Amsterdam Must Find a New Home, Putting Season in Question

After years of false stops and starts and problems that recently landed it in bankruptcy court, Dance New Amsterdam has put its 2013-14 season on hold and is scheduled to move out of its home at 280 Broadway by Oct. 15, organization officials announced Monday.

Last Thursday, the organization, devoted to dance education and performance, reached an agreement with its landlord, Fram Realty, to remain in the Lower Manhattan space for the next month. Classes and rentals will run through Oct. 13.

The agreement was approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York last Friday, said Amber Henrie, a spokeswoman for Dance New Amsterdam. Its problems have included trouble getting foundation support, the loss of a major rental partnership, unpaid rent and cash flow issues.

“It’s just been a battle since 2006 to get rid of debt,” Ms. Henrie said Monday.

The season was scheduled to kick off with a party on Sept. 17, and the first scheduled performance was set for Oct. 25-26 with A.O. Movement Collective.  Earlier this year, the organization had an annual budget between $2.2 million and $2.5 million that it whittled it down with salary cuts and other budget trims before going to bankruptcy court, said Catherine A. Peila, the executive and artistic director.

“My job is to have hope and to try everything possible to figure out the best solution,” Ms. Peila said Monday. “Everything together, for the landlord, is approximately $500,000. We need money. We also need partners. There are so many pieces. We need enough use of the space to bring in at least $65,000 a month - that’s the skeleton bottom line.”

The company continues to look at space for classes as well as other venues for the season, she said. “There’s still time for a viable plan. We’re working on multiple paths.”

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May. Ms. Peila said at the time that she hoped the filing would buy time to continue its daily operations and to implement a five-year recovery plan with its partners, city officials and its landlord.

Dance New Amsterdam was founded in 1984 and has a mission of teaching dance, commissioning choreographers and presenting performers. It serves more than 30,000 students and performers and over 700 dance companies.