The Stage

Plans revealed for new £12m Leeds dance centre

Published Wednesday 27 February 2008 at 17:35 by Lalayn Baluch

Northern Ballet Theatre and Phoenix Dance Theatre have unveiled designs for a new £12 million dance centre in Leeds.

The plans created by the Strategic Design Alliance, a partnership between international consultancy firm Jacobs and Leeds City Council’s in-house architects, were revealed at a campaign event to raise the remaining funds required for the proposed building.

Leeds Metropolitan University announced that it will invest in the new centre of excellence for dance - a move that will help plug a £1.5 million deficit. Other donors include the city council, Yorkshire Forward and Arts Council England.

Located in the city centre, the six-storey dance centre will be purpose built to meet the demands of the two award-winning dance companies. It will be the only dance centre in the UK to accommodate a contemporary dance organisation alongside a classical ballet company.

NBT chief executive Mark Skipper commented: “All around Leeds it is clear to see the physical investment in the cultural life of the city, for example at the Grand Theatre and the Leeds Museum. The new dance centre, and more importantly, what will take place inside it, will establish Leeds as a powerhouse for dance in the UK, adding to its already impressive arts portfolio. It will be a source of pride for the wider community, and everyone in Yorkshire and beyond who values our work.”