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Dancers Take to the Steps of City Hall in Support of Downtown Dance Studio

By DNAinfo Staff on July 13, 2010 6:58pm  | Updated on July 14, 2010 5:51am

By Yepoka Yeebo

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer


CITY HALL — Hundreds of dancers took to the steps of City Hall Tuesday and jumped, sashayed and pirouetted in the rain for the right to stay in their downtown studio space.

Dance New Amsterdam, a beloved 26-year-old dance studio at 280 Broadway, owes $750,000 in back rent to its landlord and is in danger of being evicted.

The dance company announced at the rally that Fram Realty, which leases the city-owned space to them, had agreed in a meeting earlier Tuesday to postpone eviction proceedings until Aug. 26.

"Fram indicated during the meeting that it appreciates the difficulties facing DNA [Dance New Amsterdam] and will propose revised lease terms," a statement from the dance studio said, adding that the city was involved in the negotiations.

The dancers — some barefoot — who rallied in support of Dance New Amsterdam were led by choreographer Oliver Steele.

"We do this from the bottom of our hearts," said Steele, 39, who started studying at the dance studio in 1993. "This is what drives us, the rain can't stop us."

Teri Steele, 41, a teacher at the studio who is married to Oliver, said Dance New Amsterdam had nurtured an entire generation, and that closing it down "would suck," adding that it would mean destroying "all that we have worked for for almost 20 years."

Supporters chanted "DNA, here to stay," and waved signs reading "We Heart DNA" and "Gotta Dance."

Some Dance New Amsterdam students said they were shocked to learn that the studio pays $68,945 a month in rent — almost half of which goes to the city in property taxes.

"I was horrified to find out that this safe space had been turned into an issue of money," said Joss Black, 23.

Jasmine Yasgur, 22, said losing Dance New Amsterdam would be like losing a home.

"So many of us spend more time there than in out own homes," Yasgur said. "We have friends here, we have a family."