Little Tenderloin Dance Company Makes Most of Big City Grant

CounterPulse, a San Francisco dance presenter, announced Friday that it received a $100,000-grant from the city for renovations to the façade of its new Tenderloin District home.

“It became clear that (the facade renovation) was critical to our entry to the neighborhood,” said CounterPulse Artistic Director Julie Phelps during a tour of the company’s theater and offices on Turk Street.

San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Arts Commission, and the Grants for the Arts/Hotel Tax Fund all contributed to the grant. “They all worked together, which is very rare,” Phelps said.

The state-of-the-art facility is the result of a pilot partnership between CounterPulse and the Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST) to help arts organizations survive San Francisco’s real estate boom.

“We are thrilled to support CounterPulse in seeing the building renovation through to the end,” said Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny in a statement.

The money will pay for renovating and fully-furnishing the interior of CounterPulse’s new venue, which is a former porn theater. Among the ongoing renovations is the restoration of the theater’s historic facade, including replacement of its neon signage.

CounterPulse sort-of opened last fall, with a few performances in the still raw space. Phelps beamed with pride Friday as she showed two reporters around the almost-finished interior, with its 115-seat theater, new lobby, and unisex bathrooms. “I had to special order the signs,” Phelps said.

A hard opening for CounterPulse’s new space is scheduled for June 23.