BTI Dance Institute Closings Its Doors; Federal Budget Cuts Cited

BTI Dance Institute located just north of Dupont Circle is closing its doors on December 9. The dance studio, founded by Artistic Director Alvaro Maldonado, opened on 14th Street NW in July 2010 and later relocated to its 1643 Connecticut Avenue NW space last February.

Federal government budget cuts appear to have played a huge role in the nonprofit’s demise. From a BTI email news release on Tuesday:

“This year Congress cut $38 billion out of the U.S. government’s current-year budget. Among the many programs they slashed were the National Capital Arts Program and other arts programs funding… As you know BTI is a nonprofit that depends on grants and donations, although we do a great job on generating income to support our selves we still do not earn enough to cover our operating costs.”

Below are two e-mails from BTI Dance Institute received on December 6.

Going Out of Business Notice

As of December 9, 2011, BTI Dance Institute will be going out of business.

As dancers our main objective is to reach the maximum expression of excellence and truth with passion, enthusiasm and discipline no matter how impossible the task seems. These are the principals that we at BTI strive for every day. Establishing a new non-profit arts training facility in downtown D.C. with a social entrepreneur vision in the present economy was not [an] easy task. Fortunately it was our passion, enthusiasm and discipline that saw us through the past year. BTI is nearing its second anniversary of providing quality dance training. We are ever grateful to loyal community partners like you who kept the spirit of our shared vision alive!

Since its opening BTI has employed more than 35 qualified Dance Instructors from the D.C. metropolitan area and New York as well as provided scholarships to 28 students.

This year Congress cut $38 billion out of the U.S. government’s current-year budget. Among the many programs they slashed were the National Capital Arts Program and other arts programs funding… As you know BTI is a nonprofit that depends on grants and donations, although we do a great job on generating income to support our selves we still do not earn enough to cover our operating costs.

This opens a sizable gap in our budget that would be tough to close any year; and represents an extraordinary challenge that unfortunately at this moment we cannot overcome.

As founder and director of BTI Dance Institute and BTI Dance Company, and on behalf of BTI’s faculty and staff, I would like to thank you for making BTI an instant success.

If you have any questions or comments regarding our business closure, please feel free to contact us by via email: [email protected]

Sincerely,

Alvaro Maldonado
Founding Director

Notice Regarding Pre-paid Classes

As you may know, as of December 9, 2011, BTI Dance Institute will be going out of business.

The last day of class will be on December 9, 2011. We will reimburse your credit card for pre-paid classes within the following 30 business days. If you purchased a group buying voucher such as LivingSocial and you have not used the classes, you must contact LivingSocial or the respective company you bought the voucher from since you made the purchase through them.

Again as founder and director of BTI Dance Institute and BTI Dance Company, and on behalf of BTI’s faculty and staff, I would like to thank you for making BTI an instant success.

If you have any questions or comments regarding our business closure, please feel free to contact us by via email: [email protected]

Sincerely,

Alvaro Maldonado
Founding Director