Stepping on Toes

Shame on Debbie Allen for succeeding in snuffing out an emerging dance scene at Conjunctive Points Dance Center under the auspices of creating an opportunity for children to study dance (“At Dance Center, Change of Tenants Steps on Some Toes,” by Elaine Dutka, Jan. 6).

If she wasn’t so self-focused, she would have noticed that for the past four years, this studio has been growing in leaps and bounds to become a centralized community of dance where seasoned professionals were studying, teaching, choreographing and performing. For this New York dancer, it was the first time I saw classes in Los Angeles where all forms of dance were finally being presented to all age groups and levels in a professional, methodical manner.

Equal disdain goes to owners Frederick and Laurie Samitaur Smith for realizing their dream of assisting the floundering dance scene in Los Angeles, only to abandon it to a commercial direction just as the true dance community was gathering steam.

HOLLY IRWIN BASSUK

Ojai

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It is disheartening to hear what is going on at the Conjunctive Points Dance Center. Having been involved with Conjunctive Points for the past four years, as both professional dancer and teacher, I can attest to the fact that the Smiths’ assertions concerning the resident companies are pure fabrication. Those companies put Conjunctive Points on the national dance map.

What seems more likely is that the Smiths have delusions of grandeur. They figure if they can hitch their wagon to a semi-celebrity like Debbie Allen, as well as hundreds of parents willing to pay $500 to see little Janey dance in the year-end recital, maybe they can make a dollar or two.

With this in mind, their contention that their decision was motivated by “artistic vision” is very disingenuous.

MICHAEL MIZERANY

North Hollywood