New Dance Group Chooses to Give Up Its Home and

Re-Focus Its Operations

The New Dance Group Board of Directors announced on January 15, 2009 that it will suspend New Dance Group’s operations in order to regroup and gain the resources needed to save this historically significant organization.  The last day of classes will be February 15, 2009 and the organization will relinquish its space at 305 West 38th Street by the end of that month. The next steps for New Dance Group will be to concentrate its scarce resources on the fulfillment of its mission and raising funds to possibly reestablish a school in the future.

Starting March 1, 2009 New Dance Group will operate as a board-run organization without a physical home. The board members expect to identify new and creative ways to fulfill the mission established by the founders.

Since its inception in 1932, during the midst of the Great Depression, New Dance Group has been a safe-haven for artists, providing training and space for expression of unconventional and difficult topics and ideas through movement. Founded by seven exceptional women who chose to follow their passion and use modern dance to make social and political statements, New Dance Group has provided an environment where artists and the general public could nurture their talent and creativity for 76 years.

“This difficult decision was well thought out and all alternative options were thoroughly examined by the New Dance Group Board of Directors and the administrative staff.  We made every effort to maintain our operations in the West 38th Street facility, but continuing to reside here would amount to financial suicide which could cause New Dance Group as an organization to cease to exist. Reluctantly, after open debate and much contention,  a decision to close our doors by February 15, 2009 was reached.  We hope that you will all join us for classes and other activities in our final weeks.” Anna Zak, Executive Director of New Dance Group.