DTW opens new doors. (News).

Dance Theater Workshop, on West 19th Street in New York's Chelsea district, has expanded up, down, and sideways. The new facility, built on the grounds of the old building, has almost doubled the size of its theater to 192 seats and added new studios, offices, a terrace, and a state-of-the-art Artist Resource and Media (ARM) Lab. DTW kicks off its inaugural performance season with Ronald K. Brown/Evidence on October 2.

Established in 1965 as a cooperative by artists and for artists, DTW was originally housed in a tiny loft on 20th Street owned by Jeff Duncan, a dancer/choreographer who had worked with Anna Sokolow. In the old space, one could dance, get changed, shower, and boil water for tea all within a five-yard radius.

David White, a student at DTW in the early years, became executive director in 1975. He expanded services to artists to include promotional and financial assistance and made health insurance available to members. Recognized as a prime mover (see "Presenting the Presenters: Killacky and White," Dance Magazine, May 2000, page 56), White led DTW to prominence as a scout for new talent and a nexus of international activity. In addition to its prestigious performance series, DTW has a wide range of programs, including the Suitcase Fund, an international exchange program for artists and teachers; "Public Imaginations," an innovative community outreach program; and the New York Dance and Performance Awards (called the "Bessies"). It also administrates the New York State DanceForce, a coalition of performance groups, arts organizations, presenters, educators, and choreographers. Currently, DTW has approximately 900 members and a mailing list of 17,000 and produces about 185 performances a year.

After almost two years of being scrunched into cluttered offices across the street, the staff of twenty-five moved into their revamped facilities that span four stories. The new Bessie Schonberg Theater, now beneath ground level, has a radiant-heated floor to keep a more consistent temperature. And the ARM Lab is outfitted with a Final Cut Pro G4 video-editing system and a skilled technical staff. Dancemakers wanting to experiment may consult with artists who have technological know-how, for example the choreographer and videomaker Cathy Weis, who presents her own high-tech premiere at DTW in November. "There's no formula for what will be needed in the coming years," she says. "DTW wants to help artists in their work, not just plop down the technology." A participant in the planning team for ARM, Weis is pleased that it will enable choreographers to implement their ideas. "The only way you can learn any of this stuff," she says, "is to do it yourself."

For information, call 212/691-6500 or visit www.dtw.org.