The title page of Time Out New York’s online Dance section as of 4/18/15.

Yesterday morning, the news broke that after May 1, 2015, Time Out New York  will no longer publish a standalone Dance section in its weekly magazine. Instead, dance coverage will be greatly reduced and integrated into a new Theater and Dance section.

This change coincides with the resignation of TONY’s Dance Editor Gia Kourlas; a replacement for Ms. Kourlas, if there is to be one, has not yet been named.

This news strikes a large blow to the visibility of the dance community – in addition to the individual readership of TONY, the magazine is delivered to office buildings, doctors’ waiting rooms, coffee shops and hair salons around the city. People trusts its “Critic’s Picks” when deciding how best to spend their money on entertainment. During her tenure, Ms. Kourlas has done an excellent job of featuring dancers from all corners of the field in the magazine, making sure their art receives the same coverage as a new restaurant opening or a sample sale. Now, many fear that dance events will be simply lost in the sea of listings.

If you don’t want to see dance fade away in one of New York City’s most popular publications, you can take action. Dance publicist and arts advocate John Wyszniewski, who brought this to my attention, suggests the following:

Write a letter to the magazine telling them how essential dance is to New York City cultural life, and how important — and trusted — TONY’s coverage of dance has been. If you’re a producer, ask the magazine why you should continue to advertise in a publication that doesn’t respect dance on par with other art forms. If you’re an artist, explain how crucial these features were in building an audience and support for your work.  

Send letters ASAP to the following individuals: Editor-in-Chief Terri White <terri.white@timeout.com>, Deputy Editor Carla Sosenko <carla.sosenko@timeout.com>, and Managing Editor Ethan LaCroix <ethan.lacroix@timeout.com> with a CC to letters@timeoutny.com.