21-Year-Old Portland Dance Company Closing for Good

A wake will be held July 13 for one of the city's oldest studios.

It's been a rough year for Conduit Dance Company. The 21-year-old Portland company is closing its doors and terminating all classes by the end of July.

In a Wednesday press release, the company cited "lack of affordable space in Portland for nonprofits" as the main reason for closing.

"Finding space in Portland is really complicated right now," says company spokesperson Jen Hackworth. "We are running out of energetic and financial resources."

Related: Breweries are taking space from Portland dance companies.

Conduit was kicked out of its home in the Pythian building last March by an international fitness company that took over the space. After months of homelessness, Conduit moved into the Ford Building on Southeast Division.

The company is a non-profit, partially funded by arts grants and private donors, but its classes weren't filling and the Ford Building can't host performances, so Conduit's funding ran dry.

Related: International Fitness Studio Kicks Conduit Out.

"It was not possible to build programs quickly enough to generate the income required to meet rent…Additionally, it was concluded that the space, while beautiful, is not viable as a performance venue," says the press release.

July 22 will be Conduit's last day. On July 13, the company is planning a "wake" where the public and community can say goodbye. (Conduit Dance, 2505 SE 11th Ave. #120, 7 pm Wednesday, July 13).

"We are trying to go out doing what we've always done," says Hackworth, "rather than whimper out."

Jen Hackworth - Photo by Christopher Peddecord Jen Hackworth – Photo by Christopher Peddecord

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