DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — The Dayton Ballet, one of the country's three oldest at 81, is fighting for economic survival.

Dermot Burke, in his 20th year as director, said administrative pay has been cut 10 percent, dancer contracts have been reduced by three weeks and, following the season's final scheduled performance on March 22, "the entire staff will go on indefinite furlough."

The "painful steps" became necessary when December 2008 performances for "The Nutcracker" fell $70,000 short of the $350,000 in budgeted receipts. Ticket sales for other programs have also missed projections. Season subscriptions, which stood at 3,000 just over 10 years ago, are down to about 850 now.

Board president Susan Kettering, who said Burke voluntarily cut his own pay by 50 percent before any other measures were taken, added that the stock market plunge "has been another factor. We lost 30 percent of our rainy day fund. Contributions have slowed as well."

The company reported Burke's salary at $146,000 in 2006-07. The rainy-day fund, which has been tapped for three consecutive annual deficits, is down to about $300,000. The troupe's annual budget is $1.9 million.

Kettering said the company's trustees and leaders are meeting with Dayton's other arts groups to explore ways to combine nonartistic functions.

"Nothing is off the table at this point," said Burke, who said the company will have a season next year. "What it will look like is uncertain at this point. But if we hadn't taken these steps, we would be gone."

The Dayton Ballet will present one of its past hits, "The Who's Tommy," Thursday through Sunday, March 12-15, at the Victoria Theatre. Call (937) 228-3630 for ticket information.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2377 or tmorris@DaytonDailyNews.com