Decidedly Jazz Danceworks celebrated the official ground breaking today April 30 for a new cultural facility in the Beltline. Located adjacent to the Kahanoff Centre at Centre Street and 12th Avenue S.E. the facility is scheduled to open in the late fall of 2015.
“With the launch of the new Kahanoff building we are entering a new era. With DJD as our first partner this building will continue the vision of the Kahanoff Centre by providing a dynamic and vibrant office space for local non-profit organizations at below-market rental rate” stated Alan Moon chair of the Kahanoff Centre in a media release.
Kathi Sundstrom executive director of Decidedly Jazz Danceworks said the new facility has been planned for many years and so far 89 per cebt of the $25 million goal has been reached. The Dance Centre will double DJD’s studio and creation space; increase the company’s education outreach and professional training programs; and enable greater access for citizens to participate in recreational classes at the School of Decidedly Jazz.
According to Janet Liebe of Dialog architect for the project the building will include four levels of studios opening onto 12th Avenue including DJD’s own 200-seat performance theatre. The theatre itself will feature a fully glazed back wall that brings in the city skyline as a backdrop to its performances and allows for the projection of light and colour that when combined with the penthouse level adds a multi-level multimedia display visible from street-level in Victoria Park.
