A Canadian success story--one year old. (News).

When Scotiabank Dance Centre (recently renamed The Dance Centre) opened in September 2001 in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, the seven-story, shared-use facility for professional and amateur dance artists was expected to result in a higher profile for dance. Indeed, with 26,000 visitors in the first year, including many curious passersby new to dance, Mirna Zagar must now consider how to best serve a growing public interest. Zagar, the executive director of the Dance Centre, the organization that spearheaded the campaign to build the facility and that now manages it, says: "We're no longer just a small member-service organization. We've come a long way and are ready to evaluate the changes."

There is still grumbling from the dance community about the financial resources needed to run such a large building--Zagar works on an annual budget of $355,187 (CDN)--and renting one of the six studios remains beyond the budget of many dance artists. Evening and weekend bookings carry a surcharge to cover reception and security, and the complicated rate scale depends on use, type of organization, and other factors. Yet, according to Deborah Kerr, venue rental manager, bookings have shown a "steady increase," largely due to world dance forms, such as flamenco and Persian, and health and fitness activities, including Pilates and yoga.

The Dance Centre has instigated such programs as the DanceLab to assist with research for interdisciplinary projects, artist residencies, and noontime shows that offer Dance Centre important opportunities for involvement. Independent modern dance artist Helen Walkley snagged a residency. "It amazed me," she said afterward, "to walk in the door and know that someone had booked a sound system for me to work with that day."

The sense of community, which it was hoped the building would foster, is growing. D-Anne Kuby Trepanier, administrator for the Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists (BC Chapter), rents a desk at The Dance Centre and organizes a professional-level modern class in one of the studios. "It feels like I'm at the hub of what's going on, with people always dropping in. I see everybody who comes to morning class and can keep an eye on things."

Kevin Myers, the executive director of Ballet British Columbia, the primary long-term tenant, enjoys monthly meetings with Judith Marcuse's company, DanceArts Vancouver, the Vancouver Ballet Society, and other tenants. Myers admits it can be challenging booking the shared studio space months in advance, especially during periods of creation. Yet, he continues, "it's a stimulating and presentable environment" to host fundraising events and studio series. "It helps us state a case for dance."

Fund-raising for the endowment fund and studio equipment continues. Good news last summer was the Canada Council for the Arts' $250,000 (CDN) supplementary grant, which will be distributed over a three-year period, and which is helping to develop a mix of programs. Says Zagar: "It's a huge vote of confidence toward our efforts to date."