Dear Editor:
I understand from reading the Oct. 5 issue of the St. Paul Journal that Town of St. Paul council is going to set aside some money to donate to the Ukrainian Dance Club to help with the club’s new studio costs.
In the past, the Silhouette Dance School has made requests to the town for financial assistance, such as help with studio costs or discounted rent of town facilities, and a request for the free use of an advertising sign, which I believe would ordinarily cost $50. These requests were refused.
We haven't made any requests in several years as after having been repeatedly turned down, it seemed futile to continue to ask. We have also had to move our studio many times and have reconstructed/constructed/renovated numerous times. We currently have two studios, both requiring expensive dance flooring. If town council is going to give financial assistance to one dance club, don't you think it is only fair to help all of them? Silhouette, Les Bles D'Or and the Ukrainian Dance Club all contribute to the community and they should be treated equally, regardless of whether or not town council members' kids are in them.
I do applaud the council for finally taking this first step to recognize the dance community as being as worthy of their assistance as the other clubs that for many years the town has supported either financially or by helping to set up and maintaining permanent venues for their activities (i.e. ice rinks, playing fields, etc).
Dianne Belanger
President
Silhouette Dance School Society
