DTH one year later: "cautiously optimistic".

During its year-long hiatus, Dance Theatre of Harlem has taken steps to restore its bleak financial status to normal. The appointment last year of Laveen Naidu, the former director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem School, as executive director was a positive move. Through his ability to work with artistic director Arthur Mitchell and simultaneously guide the company toward a new future, Naidu combines his passion for DTH with a solid grounding in arts administration.

Aided by pro bono advisor Michael Kaiser, the Kennedy Center president and turnaround specialist, Naidu is taking one step at a time. "We've come far in a short amount of time," said Naidu. DTH ended the fiscal year in the black and paid off 90 percent of its vendor debts. The budget will close this year at around $4 million. Over three-quarters of the money came through both large donations and one-dollar bills stuffed into envelopes from company supporters.

Nonetheless, Naidu does not have an exact date for the company's return. "It will be as soon in our new fiscal year as possible," he said. The first restructuring priority was the restoration of the board of directors, which had dwindled to three members. But in March, Washington philanthropist Catherine B. Reynolds became chairman of the board. The Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation also pledged $1 million to the company, which Reynolds declared "one of America's real treasures," for which "failure is not an option." The company's fundraising goal is $4 million for the reestablishment of the performing troupe. DTH now has 10 board members.

Naidu explained that after the hiatus, careful planning will be essential because "the company cannot go through this again. It needs time to be a company again, and that includes doing new works," he said. "Our hallmark is the work we produce. We want to make sure that when they hit the stage, they are the DTH everyone expects them to be." Naidu is aiming for 36 dancers with 30-week contracts.

A South African of Indian descent, Naidu began his dance education at 7 studying bharata natyam, an ancient classical Indian dance form. He was lured into ballet class at 14 and never looked back. He trained at the University of Cape Town's ballet school and danced with the Cape Arts Performing Board Ballet Company.

As a man of color performing in apartheid-dominated South Africa, Naidu became a pioneer. "It was new territory for me as well as for my parents, but they were amazingly supportive," said Naidu. Augustus van Heerden, a South African ballet master with DTH, invited him to the Harlem school. In 1991, Naidu joined DTH as a dancer and was appointed director of the school in 2000.

One potential problem: During DTH's layoff, many of the lead dancers have found work elsewhere. Caroline Rocher has been dancing with the Bavarian State Ballet and Akua Parker has joined Cincinnati Ballet. This summer, Alicia Graf moved from Complexions to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. But others like Donald Williams and Andrea Long (Naidu's wife) say they are eager to return.

Meanwhile, educational programs are fully functional, despite a temporary school closing last October. A six-week summer intensive, titled "Masters and Mentors" was taught by a faculty that included, in addition to Mitchell, Allegra Kent, Jacques d'Amboise, Mary Hinkson, Eva Evdokimova, Elena Carter, Virginia Johnson, and Lorraine Graves.

"I would be lying to you if I said some days it's not daunting," said Naidu of his new responsibilities. "The institution has to be stable and well-funded so it's not overextended. But I am cautiously optimistic. Stay tuned."