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Home > Blogs > Arts and Entertainment > Archives > 2009 > July > 01 > Entry
DCDC moving out of downtown
The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company has announced plans to move its studios and offices from the Metropolitan Arts Center in downtown Dayton to Central State University’s branch campus building at 840 Germantown St.
Executive director Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders said the agreement between the two predominantly black institutions marks a new collaboration with CSU, but does not preclude long-standing discussions about a connection between the 40-year-old dance company and the University of Dayton.
“We can and will form relationships with other universities, colleges and suitable institutions in the future,” she said.
It solidifies DCDC’s withdrawal from downtown. Several weeks ago, the troupe announced that it will not be performing at the Victoria Theatre in the coming season. Its home concerts have been moved to the performing arts center at Centerville High School.
The decision grew out of a new strategic plan and business model that calls for DCDC and a university or college to benefit mutually by exchanging resources and services. It was widely expected outside the company that UD might be that institution, based on previous announcements.
CSU president John W. Garland said CSU is “thrilled to house a nationally recognized dance company of DCDC’s caliber” on its Dayton campus. “This will help us realize our longstanding goal of expanding opportunities for students in the fine and performing arts.”
DCDC artistic director Debbie Blunden-Diggs said the step takes the company and its dance school back “full circle to their origins” in West Dayton at the nearby Linden Center in the Wright-Dunbar district.
DCDC’s departure will leave offices and three dance studios vacant on the second floor of the Metropolitan Arts Center, which is adjacent to the Victoria Theatre and is owned by the Arts Center Foundation. Other tenants on that floor include Culture Works and Cityfolk.
It continues a downsizing trend by Dayton’s three professional dance companies. Earlier this year, the Dayton Ballet moved its administrative offices from a wing on the second floor of the Victoria Theatre building into the small dance studio on the third floor of the same building. Rhythm in Shoes has announced that the 2009-10 season will be its last.
Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment | Categories: Arts News, Dance
Comments
By Henry
July 1, 2009 3:41 PM | Link to this
Why can’t the headline be “DCDC partnering with CSU, moving to new studios” instead of “DCDC Moving Out of Downtown”By GladImGone
July 1, 2009 3:49 PM | Link to this
During the programs, maybe the head of Central State security could pull out his service revolver and shoot into the ceiling - oh, wait, that’s already been done. Never mind.By Mark
July 1, 2009 4:03 PM | Link to this
@Henry-I agree, especially since the Germantown campus is a part of greater downtown Dayton.By J
July 1, 2009 4:13 PM | Link to this
Just so they keep performing. They are outstanding. I look forward to seeing the shows at the performing arts center of Centerville High School.By Celtic1
July 1, 2009 4:19 PM | Link to this
In my opinion, the main reason they are leaving “Downtown” is the fact no one comes to their shows! Therfore, they are losing money. It all comes down to the allmighty $$. They can move into subsidized office space on Germantown which is in West Dayton (Not the Greater Downtown area. They have already downsized their shows from the beautiful Victoria Theatre (1200 seats) to Centerville High School with 300 seats(apprx). I seriously doubt they can even sell out a high school auditorium. Maybe they should look at having their shows in the lobby of a local Mcdonalds (there is even one Downtown). At least some one will be there to see the show. I wish you luck dcdcBy Sandy
July 1, 2009 4:45 PM | Link to this
This news just breaks my heart. What a shame, folks need to give downtown Dayton a chance.By gone
July 1, 2009 5:03 PM | Link to this
I would like to see any local corporate and individual sponsorship move out of DCDC. A dance company that moves out of downtown and the historic Victoria is clearly misguided and gutless.It disgusts me to see the abandonment of downtown. Take a flaming Piroutte out of town now for all I care.By doc
July 1, 2009 5:29 PM | Link to this
The thought that DCDC cannot get anyone to their shows is not based in fact. At the last two winter concerts (FEB 08 & 09) all of the Victoria’s 1122 seats were full. Centerville High School’s Performing Arts Center seats 1200 not 300 like Celtic 1 stated. It is true that money and the country’s economic woes has something to do with it. Any business mind knows that in tough economic times you have to do all you can to reduce overhead and still produce the best product possible. Both of these moves will help reduce overhead so that the world class dance that DCDC produces continues for another forty years. A return to downtown in the future may be possible if tough choices are made in order to survive today. DCDC is not NCR and DCDC will continue to make Dayton it’s home as they continue to work to partner with the Universtiy of Dayton as well.By Stacy Law
July 1, 2009 5:47 PM | Link to this
Sandy, do you have a pulse? Are you kidding: “Folks need to give downtown a chance”?!? What do you think downtown has been given all these years? 5/3 Field exists becuase we gave downtown a chance; same with Riverscape. Until people like you vote out the incumbents and get real civic leaders, downtown is dead.By Newsdude
July 1, 2009 6:15 PM | Link to this
I have been to many cities downtowns over the past year, and when I was in Austin, Denver, Portland, and Seattle, they all had a vibrant downtown with folks dining, walking, shopping. Why can’t downtown Dayton be like a Denver or Seattle?By Mayor McHat
July 1, 2009 6:51 PM | Link to this
Wait…is this the same Ro Nita Hawes Saunders that turned WROU into a huge suckfest? Who let her into power ANYwhere else??By Rosieflyer
July 1, 2009 11:19 PM | Link to this
All you “downtown is dead” folks should come down to the City Folk Festival this weekend. It’s fun, free, draws a good crowd and it is downtown. You might actually have fun too!By Sandy
July 2, 2009 12:51 AM | Link to this
Thank you Rosieflyer; downtown Dayton is alive, vibrant, and open for business. To the other poster, Dayton is cleaner and more vibrant then Seattle, Portland, and Denver; just smaller and more caring with better folks living here.By Eve
July 2, 2009 3:15 AM | Link to this
Sandy, as much as I agree with your overall sentiment, if you use the term “vibrant” to describe downtown Dayton one more time I’m going to puke. Surely the Downtown Dayton Partnership can afford to buy you a thesaurus.By traveler
July 2, 2009 9:31 AM | Link to this
like the rest of you i visit other cities. I see about the same stuff, and wonder why not Dayton? Until we clean house at the top (the mayor right on down dayton she doesn’t have her daddy’s inisght&powerBy taxpayer
July 6, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this
While traveling between Denver and Dayton I wouldn’t even try to compare these downtowns, or governments “vibrant” is not even near to a proper discription!Dayton brings about vocab appropriate for a dead body; decay, grief, anger, great memories, past achievements…