Brighton & Hove’s new home for dance moves significant step closer

Spring has sprung with a new spiral staircase for Brighton & Hove’s new home for dance.
South East Dance staff Federico Bedoya, Rose Kigwana and Lucy Lindley; with Steering Group member and dance artist Anne Colvin outside the city’s new home for dance The Dance Space. Photo: Darren Cool.South East Dance staff Federico Bedoya, Rose Kigwana and Lucy Lindley; with Steering Group member and dance artist Anne Colvin outside the city’s new home for dance The Dance Space. Photo: Darren Cool.
South East Dance staff Federico Bedoya, Rose Kigwana and Lucy Lindley; with Steering Group member and dance artist Anne Colvin outside the city’s new home for dance The Dance Space. Photo: Darren Cool.

South East Dance staff and a member of their community steering group gathered at The Dance Space to strike a pose on the building’s most iconic feature – its newly completed external spiral staircase.

The Dance Space is Brighton & Hove’s new home for dance opening in spring 2022, a place that its creators –arts charity South East Dance – hope will become the beating heart of all things dance in the city.

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Spokeswoman Chloe Barker said: “Over a decade in the making and supported with investment from Brighton & Hove City Council, Arts Council England and a host of private donors, The Dance Space can be found at the newly transformed Circus Street area, near Valley Gardens and next door to the University of Brighton’s Grand Parade site.

“With its striking tarnished copper steel casing designed by architects shedkm, the spiral staircase is one of the building’s most iconic features and its installation marks an exciting step closer to the building’s public launch in Spring 2022.

“Featuring state-of-the-art studios, a 123-seat performance space, and a floor of meeting rooms and office space to hire, The Dance Space will bring together professional dance artists and people of all ages and abilities to create, enjoy and experience dance.”

Anne Colvin, one of the South East Dance community steering group, which has been central to helping design the kinds of activities that will happen in the space, says: “It’s so exciting to see the building taking shape.”

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Rose Kigwana, senior producer at South East Dance, said: “When it opens next year, The Dance Space will be the first new arts & cultural building to open in the city for a very long time. We really can’t wait to welcome everyone inside and for the space to start helping to drive Brighton & Hove’s creative and cultural recovery.

“We’re putting the finishing touches to our launch programme of dance events, classes and performances and we think there’s going to be something for everyone – from Bharatanatyam and breakdance to ballet.

“And with the keys expected to be handed over in July, ready for us to get in and start fitting the building out, it’s all becoming very real and very very exciting!”

Chloe added: “Central to the Circus Street transformation, which includes 142 new homes, 450 student bedrooms and 32,000 square feet of office space, is a public square with small, independent restaurants and shops, larger than Jubilee Square. Opening onto it, The Dance Space is expected to engage 70,000 people per year with its online and in venue programme. The whole quarter is designed sustainably and over 100 trees will be planted there.

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“South East Dance is an arts charity working with dance professionals and people across the region to make the South East a thriving home for dance.

“We support dance artists that specialise in all forms, from breakdancing to ballroom, with funding, tailored advice and networking opportunities throughout their careers. As passionate believers in the health and wellbeing benefits of dance, we also work hard to bring movement to as many people as possible too – particularly those who might not have had the opportunity or the confidence to give it a go before.”

www.southeastdance.org.uk

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