NATCHEZ &045; Lee Partridge, who owns Natchez Ballet Academy with Theresa Burns, has a reason to dance for joy.

This week, city officials were notified that they were approved by the state Department of Archives and History for a $100,000 grant to complete the reroofing of the Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center.

&uot;We’re overjoyed,&uot; said Partridge, whose ballet school is located on the first floor of the old school building. &uot;No more wading through water to get to our room.&uot;

In November, the portions above the building’s auditorium and air conditioning units &045; and the old gym area that houses Natchez Gymnastics &045; were reroofed using almost $91,000.

That money came from a $75,000 grant the Natchez Opera Festival &045; which is located in the building &045; received from the Mississippi Arts Commission and $50,000 in city funds.

The city is hoping it can receive an extension of that project in order to use the funds that were left over.

With that that money, the current grant and $25,000 in city funds, &uot;there should be enough to finish up the roof and repair the brick and mortar damage to the exterior,&uot; said James Johnston, the city’s community development director.

The exterior has been damaged by moisture in addition to a lightning strike.

The building, built in 1927 and used as a high school and then junior high from 1928 until the late 1980s, according to information submitted by Johnston with the grant application. The building now houses the Opera Festival, Natchez Ballet, Natchez Gymnastics and a few small businesses.

In recent years, those who graduated from Natchez High when it was located in the building, as well as other community groups, worked to restore many rooms at the facility. &uot;There have been a lot of blood, sweat tears put into that building,&uot; Partridge said.

She should know &045; her husband, Ross, has vacuumed gallons of water from the building’s floors after heavy rains. Otherwise, the water could have gotten high enough to reach into the dressing room where her school’s &uot;Nutcracker&uot; costumes are kept.

But more than that, Partridge said she is glad to see the city helping restore a historic facility. &uot;It really is a wonderful old building,&uot; she said.