Dance Base, Scotland's National Centre for Dance celebrates 10 years in their Grassmarket studios this September. The building, a £6.9 million bespoke four studio facility was officially opened by Dance Base's Royal Patron Prince Charles on 21 September 2001. To celebrate Dance Base is hosting a "massive dance party" with free drop-in classes for everyone on Thursday 22 September.
Dance Base has held classes, workshops, and performances in Edinburgh since 1994. Before it moved to its current venue at 14-16 Grassmarket, the organisation was based in a single studio in George Street's Assembly Rooms (itself currently under renovation).
Dance Base was created on a dog-legged site using a combination of existing buildings, new build and the natural landscape. The venue was developed with £4,914,823 from Scottish Arts Council National Lottery funding - one of the first arts buildings to be awarded lottery cash - and with grants from the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust.
Dance Base is now home to 115+ classes each week, professional dance residencies and a number of outreach programmes working with disadvantaged people of all ages. The centre has more than 2000 people dancing in the four studios each week.
"It really doesn’t feel like a whole decade," said Artistic Director Morag Deyes.
To mark its 10th anniversary and the start of the autumn term of classes and courses Dance Base is offering free drop-in classes all day on Thursday 22 September.
Classes include Barefoot Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Irish Dancing and anyone can turn up and join in. Anyone wanting to join a course during the autumn term and learn a new style or improve their fitness still has a few days, enrolments close on 23 September.
"Come along, celebrate 10 years of fun and experience our special atmosphere for yourself," says Deyes.
Free class schedule - all on Thursday 22 September:
- 10.30 – 11.30 Barefoot Ballet
- 16.00 – 17.00 Street & Hip Hop for dancers aged 7-16 with additional support needs
- 18.00 – 19.00 Hip Hop Intermediate; Power Yoga; Jazz Advanced/Professional
- 19.00 – 20.00 Latin American
- 19.00 – 20.30 Iconic Ballet
- 19.30 – 20.30 Turn Up & Hip Hop Beginners
- 20.30 – 21.30 Aumba!; Contemporary Beginners Drop-in; Irish Dancing
Free classes can be claimed from 30 mins before the class begins, subject to availability.