Communications between all parties involved in a new building development are key to the success of the project. Angharad Wynne explains how good communications have helped Diversions, the Dance Company of Wales to occupy the building of their dreams.
Diversions Dance House is an international state of the art dance facility within the Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) in Cardiff Bay. Opened in November 2004, Diversions, the Dance Company of Wales has now created, worked and performed in the tailor-made facilities for over a year. Their vision and the shared commitment of the architect and WMC client team to provide the very best facilities for dance have paid off in some rather unexpected ways.
Our vision was initially very simple, explains Roy Campbell Moore, Chief Executive of Diversions, We wanted studios to enable us to produce productions comfortably. As the project progressed we recognised the potential for Diversions and set our sights on a fully equipped production house for dance, on a par with those in Europe.
His vision was supported by Roger Spence, WMCs Project Director, who brought to the table a wealth of practical experience in managing dance companies, including Scottish Ballet, and of building and re-developing arts buildings, including Sadlers Wells: The team at Diversions were clear in their vision, that after years of struggling with make-shift rehearsal venues, their new home should be absolutely fit for purpose and provide them with all the space and technical facilities they needed to create dance and prepare a tour essentially to replicate the theatre environment so that lighting, sound, sight lines etc. could be ironed out before hitting the road. The clarity of that vision and their thorough research made my job relatively easy it was essentially about fulfilling the wish list within the allocated budget.
Open and clear lines of communication and a sense of shared commitment to excellence enabled the team to work successfully with the project architects, Rob Firman and Jonathan Adams of Capita Percy Thomas. This ensured that the Dance House both works well within the context of the WMC design as a whole, and also that the interior facilities, spaces and finishes are both suitable and flexible. The Dance House provides an office space for Diversions and for a visiting company, a bespoke dance theatre called The Blue Room, a flexible rehearsal /workshop space called Man Gwyn and a suite of changing rooms, back stage and technical facilities and a spacious, light green room which doubles as a stylish reception venue on performance nights.
The impact of their new home on Diversions cannot be underestimated. With the companys appetite to work with international choreographers growing, but with budgets remaining static, the Dance House has come into its own, luring choreographers to travel to Wales to create new work in a quality environment, regardless of limited budgets. It is, however, the companys confidence that has had the greatest boost from their new home as Roy explains, the Dance House has initiated a renaissance for Diversions. The quality of the companys work has had a major uplift directly due to our fantastic new facilities. n
Angharad Wynne is Arts Communications Consultant for Diversions, the Dance Company of Wales.
e: {angharad@ angharadwynne.com}
Diversions spring tour reaches The Place in London on 12 and 13 May, with a performance of Chase the Glowing Hours by Canadian choreographer Hélène Blackburn, and Struck by Lightning by Spanish choreographer Juan Carlos Garcia.