Harlequin floors at the Dance Hub Birmingham

Dance Hub Birmingham a new centre of excellence for dance in the community and resident companies – the Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Royal Ballet and DanceXchange has officially opened.

The project was created with support and investment from Arts Council England and Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, which developed the city centre hub rooftop as an extension above Birmingham Royal Ballet’s rehearsal studios.  Providing 675m2 of additional space, the centre includes a rehearsal studio, changing facilities, new offices and meeting rooms.

The development on Thorp Street now has improved access from the public entrance and routes through to the rehearsal and production facilities.  Dance organisation and advocates One Dance UK have also recently moved offices into the Hub as new tenants.

Tiah Parsan, Dance Hub © Dani Bower Photography

Construction experts Fabrite worked with architects Austin Smith Lord on the project creating the biggest UK dance collective outside London.

Brand new dance studio facilities encompassing 244m2 were installed in to the revitalised space by Harlequin’s highly skilled technical team.

Harlequin Activity sprung flooring with a Harlequin engineered oak top surface was expertly installed and completed with a roll out Harlequin Cascade vinyl centre performance area.

Dance Hub Birmingham launch. Excerpt from Jamaal Burkmar’s Extended Play. Photo by Simon Hadley

Dance Hub Birmingham is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company managed by Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Royal Ballet and DanceXchange.  The Dance Hub Steering Committee includes One Dance UK, ACE dance and music, Birmingham City University, Midlands Arts Centre, Sampad South Asian Arts & Heritage, Birmingham Dance Network and independent artists.

Photograph by Simon Hadley