ABT Out of Woods, Due at OC Center

The American Ballet Theatre will dance at the Orange County Performing Arts Center after all. The company is expected in the rehearsal studio today. A three-year agreement was reached at midnight Friday after an intense 10-hour negotiating session. Dancers won a $2 increase per day, and will get individual hotel rooms on domestic tours but will double up for two foreign tours.

“I am delighted that we have been able to settle the negotiations without a disruption of any portion of the rehearsal or performance schedule,” company director Jane Hermann said in a prepared statement. The company will perform at OCPAC March 12-24.

The existence of ABT had been put into doubt when the company board threatened last Wednesday to disband the New York-based troupe if no labor agreement could be reached before today. The contract expired on Oct. 31. ABT reportedly is $5 million in debt. Negotiations had revolved around freezing wages and cutting per diems and single rooms for dancers.