Building demolition could mean end of CC Dance Program

Inside “The Dance Program” in Cathedral City, dancers from ages three to 86 twirl and whirl.

“It means a lot to me,” says Melissa Almazan, 11. “It’s like my second home.”

But peer behind the pirouettes and prima ballerinas and the building itself is dilapidated and in disrepair.

Kimera Lewis has run the Parks and Recreation program out of Cathedral City’s former Community and Senior Center for the last dozen years.

Christopher Parman, Communications and Events Manager for Cathedral City says “since 2005, they’ve known this was just a temporary situation.”

“So I do and have had knowledge that there was going to be a time when they were going to tear the building down,” says Lewis, “but when I didn’t know.”

Until last week, when Lewis says she learned demolition would be this spring.

The Community Center sits across from City Hall on Highway 111 and ‘A’ Street, and a large mixed use commercial and retail project is already in the works for adjacent land. The developer has expressed interest in expanding when the Community Center goes down.

“I did ask if they had any plans to relocate us,” says Lewis, “and they said no.”

Councilman Shelly Kaplan says the city takes a $20,000 yearly loss on the Dance Program, and bringing the building up to current code would cost about $1.5 million, so the decision to demolish “is seen as a financial one” for the city, says Kaplan.

“Because we are ‘Parks and Rec’ many more families can afford our program,” explains Lewis. “Because we are helped with the rent (by the city), and they help us with the maintenance of the building and abilities.”

“It keeps them off the streets,” says parent Crystina Justice, who has four daughters enrolled at The Dance Program. “It keeps them active and keeps them directed in their lives. It gives them something to work for.”

“This program provides great service to the community. It offers classes in dance, but not only dance, but develops the kids life skills,” adds Ron Brown, who teaches modern dance.

Lewis has even taken to Facebook, asking community members to speak before City Council this week and support their efforts to relocate.

“I would just like their support in continuing the program,” says Lewis, who plans to retire when the program is moved.

Brown is hopeful the city will at least give The Dance Program a respite until August, when the typical dance season concludes.

Councilman Greg Pettis says the city is committed to “expanding artists’ presence in the Valley, so certainly dance would fall into this as well.”

More than 130 families are currently enrolled.

The Town Hall is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. You can read more about the city’s plans for the space here.