Milestone moment for new dance home

THE development of the largest dance space outside of London has reached a major milestone with a topping out ceremony.

Deputy Lord Mayor Patrick Davey performed the ceremony at the £12m new home for Northern Ballet Theatre and Pheonix Theatre taking shape in Leeds.

The development by Wates Construction is due for completion later this year and will include seven dance studios, a 200-seat theatre and health suite as well as office and restaurant space.

Dave Price, Wates Construction’s regional manager, said: “It is fantastic to be part of such a high-profile project that will reinforce Leeds’ status as a cultural powerhouse. We’re making great progress and this topping out ceremony indicates a big step forward in the construction of this impressive building, which is already making its mark upon the city’s landscape.”

During the ceremony Wates Construction presented the dance companies with a yew tree before Coun Davey was invited to bury a memory stick containing electronic memorabilia underneath one of the dance studio floors.

Coun Davey said: “It is fantastic that Leeds has made provisions for such a great dance space in the city. The project is a brilliant way of showing Leeds’ cultural mix and the topping out ceremony provides another great step forward towards the completion of the project.”

The building will form part of the city’s cultural-quarter with its neighbours the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Yorkshire Dance, BBC Leeds and the Leeds College of Music.