מרתה גראהאם סוף הלהקה

Martha Graham, whose dance studio suspended operations yesterday.


The announcement was made after a unanimous vote by the board of the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance, the umbrella organization for the company, its influential school and its junior troupe. The center, based in Manhattan, would have faced an accumulated deficit of $500,000 if it had continued operations this year.

"We don't have the funds to go forward today," said Francis Mason, the acting chairman of the center's board. "We continue to seek those funds. This will be a suspension. That's what we're hoping."

The company was founded in 1929 by Graham, a prime revolutionary in the arts of the 20th century and the American dancer and choreographer whose name became synonymous with modern dance. Her best-known dances include "Clytemnestra" and "Appalachian Spring," but her overall technique and philosophy were more influential on dance and American culture than any single work. She died in 1991 at 96.

The dance company, the school and the junior troupe will suspend operations today. "We have to be responsible," said Marvin Preston, executive director of the center.

The suspension will force the immediate cancellation of performances at the American Dance Festival in Durham, N.C., where it was scheduled to open the season on June 8, and at Kennedy Center in Washington, where it was to have opened a two-week festival, "The Legacy of Martha Graham and Paul Taylor," in September. The company was also scheduled to perform at the Joyce Theater in Chelsea, Manhattan, in November.

Charles Reinhart, co-director of the American Dance Festival and the dance programming at the Kennedy Center with Stephanie Reinhart, his wife, yesterday described the board's decision as "totally irresponsible."

"You cannot cancel performances you contract for just before they happen," Mr. Reinhart said. "I'm going to try everything possible to make the performances happen. We have no other choice."

Financial problems are not uncommon in the world of dance. The suspension of activity also has precedents, among them the temporary disbanding of Ballet Theater (now American Ballet Theater) in the 1940's and in 1965.

Since Graham's death, her dance company has been under the artistic direction of Ron Protas, her chosen successor. She left him the rights to her work, and her dances are now licensed by the Martha Graham Trust, which Mr. Protas directs. The trust will continue to operate.

Mr. Protas, a nondancer, is considered by some in and outside the company to be divisive. But the troupe received positive reviews for its performances under his tenure, and a recent restaging of Graham's "Diversion of Angels" for American Ballet Theater was also praised. Mr. Protas said that the Graham dances are continuing to be licensed and performed by companies, including the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago.

Last fall, Mr. Protas agreed to give up the position of artistic director of the company to Janet Eilber, a Graham lead dancer in the 1970's, effective in July. The move was made, he said, to institutionalize the company and to allow him to devote more time to the trust, although he would continue to work with the troupe as an artistic adviser.

In March, the board voted to remove Mr. Protas as artistic director after he began objecting to Ms. Eilber's appointment. The board was unable to raise money for Ms. Eilber's first-year salary. She proposed to direct the company from Los Angeles, where she lives with her family, with the help of Terese Capucilli and Christine Dakin, senior Graham dancers and associate artistic directors of the company.

Mr. Protas retains firm control over the company and school as director of the trust, which gives him the legal responsibility for overseeing the quality of both institutions. He objected to having a long-distance director and said that he felt the appointment had been a mistake.

Sources in the dance company have said that some government and private donors said they would withhold promised grants until Mr. Protas quit as the company's artistic director, in effect dictating artistic policy.

"It was clearly implied," Mr. Mason said of the reason for withholding the money. But he said that Mr. Protas was voted out because of his sudden change of mind about Ms. Eilber.

An effort to reinstate Mr. Protas, at a board meeting in late April, was defeated 9 to 5. Five proxy votes in his favor were not allowed.

"Martha entrusted me with her life and her legacy in her works," Mr. Protas said yesterday. "It is an honor I take seriously. I will al