velocity: opening march 27

Sometimes you don’t fully appreciate what you have until you’re faced with the threat of losing it.

This was certainly the case with Velocity Dance Center. Housed in the historic Odd Fellows Building in Capitol Hill since its inception in 1996, Velocity’s mission is to promote contemporary dance by providing subsidized rehearsal space, offering dance classes, producing innovative work, and supporting dancers and choreographers. In November of 2007, Velocity’s future hung in the balance: Paul Verba and David Angel sold the Odd Fellows Building for $8 million to developer Ted Schroth, who had previously managed the refurbishment of Trace Lofts on 12th Ave and East Madison. For that very premium price, it was speculated that Schroth intended to follow the model for the Trace Lofts by renovating the building into high-end condominiums. But then the housing bubble burst and the economy tanked dramatically after the purchase, and it’s possible that a conversion was no longer tenable. Shortly after the sale, Schroth notified Velocity Dance and the building’s other tenants, many of whom were other nonprofit arts organizations and individual artists, that their rents were to increase upwards of 300% to match current market rates. The affordable rents and large open spaces at Odd Fellows Hall that had previously created an environment hospitable to cultivating artists was lost, and now Velocity—along with Freehold Theatre, Century Ballroom, and many individual artists—were faced with the reality of being homeless. It was like witnessing all the negative aspects of gentrification occurring in the microcosm of that one building.

Kara O’Toole, Velocity’s executive director, thought that she could bargain with Ted Schroth to be able to stay in the building, but negotiations failed when Schroth refused to budge from the 300% increase. Velocity was faced with the imminent crisis of being a dance center without a center.

Velocity’s board of directors began to meet weekly with O’Toole and the staff to discuss the exigencies of planning for something that was so unexpected. Staff and programming had to be cut, and Velocity forfeited some of its space in order to reduce costs for the unforeseeable future; this in turn significantly reduced Velocity’s earned income, which meant that the organization had a diminished operating budget with which to conduct a search for a new home and ultimately move. Velocity’s constituents were frightened and angry at Odd Fellow’s sale and some thought that Velocity and/or the City should fight for the return of the building to the community of its tenants. Ann Donovan, a former board member of Velocity Dance, established the “Save Odd Fellows Hall” group to protect the building as an art space; they had the incredible goal of raising enough funds to ultimately buy back the building. But the original sale of the building was legal, and Schroth had no intention of selling the building.

This series of events was a wake-up call to the city that our communities were losing and pushing out the very cultural assets that attracted people to move into the neighborhoods in the first place. Velocity Dance and Freehold theatre became the poster children of what could happen if market conditions alone were allowed to prevail and shape our community. Town Hall and City Hall meetings solicited passionate outcries to preserve the artistic and cultural character of our neighborhoods by making affordable spaces for artist housing as well as for performance and rehearsal. Councilmember Nick Licata, who chairs the City’s arts committee, spearheaded the drive for the City to create a cultural overlay district, with Capitol Hill as the pilot neighborhood. Licata assembled the Cultural Overlay District Advisory Committee (CODAC)—made up of developers, artists, arts administrators, politicians, and arts advocates—to make recommendations to City Council for how to manage the changing arts climate and landscape amidst the economic pressures faced by artists and arts organizations. These recommendations are currently being deliberated by the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs.

The old CHAC / soon to be new Velocity (photo courtesy of Velocity)

Meanwhile, Velocity engaged in a tireless search for a new home in order to preserve the organization’s mission. An Allen Foundation grant earmarked for capacity-building was allowed to be redirected towards Velocity’s capital campaign. 4Culture came through with emergency funds to be used for future moving and renovation expenses. Velocity board members were extremely responsive and generous by purchasing CDs at a local bank as collateral for a line of credit for the organization. Several locations were explored with the possibility of housing Velocity, including Washington Hall on 14th and Fir, which was the former location for On The Boards. Ultimately, Velocity’s new home was sitting under its proverbial nose. The former location for the Capitol Hill Arts Center on 12th was just a few blocks away, and it fulfilled Velocity’s desire to stay within the city center, and within access of its existing community of dancers, choreographers, and supporters. The building’s owner, Elizabeth Linke, is very sympathetic to arts organizations and Velocity has signed a 10-year lease with an option for an additional five years.

While the new space is 1,000 square feet smaller than Velocity’s previous headquarters, it is more efficient and has the advantage of giving the organization street-level visibility. Architect Colin Walker of the design firm NBBJ lent his design services pro-bono to the organization to bring the space up to code, to design the office, lobby, storage and changing rooms, and to convert the existing areas into three studios, one of which will be convertible to a 100-seat theater; ad. The studios all have amazingly high ceilings with beautiful light afforded by generous skylights and large windows that open onto picturesque Cal Anderson Park. It’s a promising new start for the 14-year-old organization, and to celebrate, Velocity is hosting a parade, ribbon-cutting ceremony, and party on March 27th, with free classes and studio rentals throughout the first week.

5:45 Victory Parade up Pine Street with chairs and balloons, led by a marching band and joined by Mayor Mike McGinn, a moped gang and tons of dancers, neighbors and friends
6:30 Ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor McGinn, followed by improv performance by KT Niehoff and others in Velocity’s new Founder’s Theater 

6:45 Welcome, featuring performance by KT Niehoff and remarks by Michael Killoren, Pat Graney and Michael Seiwerath
7:00 Three Ring Circus Party with Airpocalypse, Merce Cunningham Duo, MadRad DJs and dance acts including Jill Marissa of the aerialist group Tick Tock Dance and Cherdonna and Lou

Seattle, WA — February 17, 2010 — Velocity Dance Center will celebrate its move from the Odd Fellows Building to a stunning new home at 1621 12th Avenue on Capitol Hill with a parade, ribbon cutting and circus-themed party on March 27, 2010. The parade, featuring surprise guests, kicks off a full week of free events and classes March 27–April 4, 2010.

Since 1996, Velocity Dance Center has been a hub for Seattleʼs contemporary dance

community. When the sale of the Odd Fellows Building and a subsequent 300 percent rent increase forced the organization out of its original facility in 2008, Velocity responded with a spirited quest for a new home that would serve the community for years to come. To date, the Velocity Forever Campaign has raised $420,000—more than 50 percent of its goal—and

the fabulous new space is ready to be unveiled.

Velocityʼs Grand Opening Celebration is a milestone for the Seattle contemporary dance community, signaling the start of a vibrant and sustainable future for one of the communityʼs most essential dance resources. Reflecting the organizationʼs 14-year commitment, Velocity will mark this momentous occasion by offering classes, programs, and studio time—for free—as a way to thank our supporters and welcome dance lovers to our spectacular new facility.

The Velocity family—teachers, students, artists, supporters and audience—gathers at the Odd Fellows Building to form a theatrical and highly visible migration from the organizationʼs old facility to our new home at 1621 12th Avenue.

Media, donors and community luminaries are invited to help christen Velocityʼs new home in a ribbon cutting ceremony at 1621 12th Avenue.

The community gathers for a free, circus-infused soiree produced by The Adventure School. Music, food and fun are punctuated by performances and testimonials from Velocityʼs family of artists and supporters.

Velocity offers its full line-up of ongoing classes free for one full week. Featuring Velocityʼs favorite teachers of modern, ballet, yoga, hip-hop, West African, breakdancing and more.

Saturday April 3 and Sunday April 4

MASTER CLASSES 2:30-6:30pm – Teachers TBA

All Week

FREE STUDIO SPACE FOR ARTISTS

Velocityʼs beautiful new studios are offered at no cost to artists on a first-come, first-served basis (10 hours maximum per artist).

“Velocity is at the very heart of dance in Seattle.”

– PETER BOAL, Artistic Director, Pacific Northwest Ballet

I cannot overstate the importance of Velocity in the dance ecology in the Pacific North West and the nation.”

-JANE FORDE, Manager, National Dance Project

“At this stage in the game there is no dance community without Velocity.”

-WADE MADSEN, Velocity teacher, Cornish Dance Faculty, Choreographer

The Velocity Forever campaign has received support from 4Culture, The Paul G. Allen

Family Foundation and others, including generous individual gifts.”