Just as tennis players need courts and swimmers need pools, dancers need space. But space is hard to come by around campus, and at the IMA, dancers face problems using public studios.

For several years, various dance groups have been asked to stop using public studio space at the IMA. Administrators are concerned that individuals, under the impression that groups have the space reserved, would be discouraged from using public space.

Two weeks ago, Seung Kuk Kim, a freshman break-dancer, wrote a letter asking IMA administrators to allow dancers to continue practicing at the IMA. In response to his letter, IMA director John Pariseau met with Kim Friday and worked out a plan that allowed small groups of no more than seven dancers to use the studio space. He cited miscommunication between IMA workers and dancers.

“He’s going to try and let us dance, but if it gets too big then he’s going to call us back to talk about [the] matter,” Kim said. “They never tried this before.”

Kim said the agreement allows dancers to use the space as “drop-in” individuals but still prohibits formal groups to practice in studio space. Small speakers can be used for music, but boom boxes and stereos that would disturb neighboring rooms are prohibited.

Pariseau refused to comment about IMA rules or regulations for dancers using public studio space. He said he would be willing to talk after Friday’s meeting with Kim but was unavailable for interview.

Break dancers are not the only ones affected by the confusion about using IMA studios. African traditional dancers, Indian dancers, salsa dancers and others have also encountered problems using studios at the IMA and have been asked to leave.

Last spring, a petition was started by an Indian dance group after it was asked to stop using IMA space to rehearse for a large performance. However, the petition never made its way to the hands of administrators. Instead, the groups got creative about other places to rehearse.

“We ended up having to rent out another studio near Broadway and pay money even though all of us pay for the IMA,” said Anisha Garg, a senior on the bhangra team Gaji de Punjabi, who has been asked to stop rehearsing with her team at the IMA.

As a result of the recent crackdown on dancing groups, Chris Lam, a senior who had been using the IMA studios since his freshman year, now travels to Jefferson Community Center on Beacon Hill to practice break dancing. His round trip commute takes three hours.

“We just want practice space. How hard is that to ask?” Lam said. “There isn’t really any other place on campus to dance.”

Problems with using space at the IMA have had a number of student groups going to Meany Hall, the performing arts building.

Risa Morgan-Lewellyn, Washington dance program administrator, said she has been approached by a number of student groups but has very limited capacity and times for student groups to use the space.

“There are more and more student groups interested in dance and there’s less and less space for them to work and you have to pay for it elsewhere,” said Morgan-Lewellyn. “There’s a space shortage ... and this needs to be on a space list for the school.”

Reach reporter Emily Lee at news@dailyuw.com.