Low Nederlands Sales Tie Arts Center Dance Record

Paid attendance during the Nederlands Dans Theater’s engagement at the Orange County Performing Arts Center from July 27 to Aug. 3 was 38%, tying the dance record low set by the Moiseyev Folk Dance Company at the center in November, according to a center spokesman.

Total box office receipts were $368,043. When the Nederlands troupe danced at the center in 1994, paid attendance was 56%, and box-office receipts were $426,000.

Falling attendance at dance programs has been a continuing problem at the center and has been cited as a possible factor in the recent abrupt departure of Tom Tomlinson, who had been the center’s president and chief operating officer. Tomlinson and center officials have refused to discuss the specifics behind his leaving.

Judith O’Dea Morr, interim chief operating officer and director of programming, said Thursday that “interest in dance is generally cyclical, and there are times when it is very heavily supported and times when high attendance is difficult to attain.”

“I am disappointed in the attendance for Nederlands, but they really were well received critically, so we’re very pleased with that, and the audience that attended was most enthusiastic. The center will remain committed to presenting dance. That’s very important in a balanced program, and I’m talking a range of dance, with contemporary and classical. And I’m very hopeful that through building new audiences, we can increase attendance.”