Another institution in NY was also suffering and being forced to relocate. Sandella's free class experienced "space" issues as well. In retrospect, it is not shocking at all that Djoniba's or Sandella's was caught up in the real estate mess going on all over the country. What is surprising however, is that once again the African dance community was caught flat footed and unprepared to do anything about the closing of one of the locations essential to us. Memories of those last days at Fareta's flooded back. Glenda, from the NYC African dance list made an impassioned plea to use these events as a cleansing and an opportunity to renew spirit and committment to the culture. We agree that the community needs to move beyond the superficiality of "going to class" and organize ourselves to acquire permanent space for our dance teachers, our dancers and drummers. At the Cultural Beat we are particularly sensitive to the issue of space because it plagues the development of dance opportunities here in the nation's capital. Yet, to make good progress on these issues will require a level of commitment that it is not clear our community is ready to make.

In order to organize at the level required to be a credible candidate for financing for large loans or grants of the type required for the purchase of a major building, there has to be an identifiable, organized nonprofit with a working board, there has to be organized book keeping which meets accounting standards and transparency in records. There needs to be a business plan and individuals who are committed to sustained fund raising. This is no small task. While our community is large and many people feel as if we are a real community, we do not function as a real community, but rather as a large group of individuals who all partake in some common events. The challenge for survival is whether we can evolve into a real, organic community that is willing to do the hard work to survive. And there is a model for how it can be done. Please see our November 2007 issue on Muntu Dance Company's success in opening their new space.

To begin seriously on this issue there has to be trust among the participants. Our teachers need to trust each other and then open up to the community. Those of us in the community who have the kind of skills necessary to take on such a project must come forward. We have argued in this column before that it is time to have a conference where no dance classes are offered at all, a conference where the focus is to chart a path forward so our community can survive. While the hunt for permanent space goes on,we need to try and support those who have permanent space, even if the space is small, Black River Dance comes to mind.And the NY community, which has an embarrassment of riches in terms of talented dance artists, needs to ask itself, how much of a sacrifice is it willing to make to preserve African dance and drum? Can folks travel to Brooklyn for class if space is more affordable? Is African dance worth an extra thirty minutes on the subway? The year ahead will be an interesting one. Our eyes are on the dancers and drummers in NY. Let us see what determined people can do!