Performance spaces for year 9–13 dance
It is difficult for dancers to stage quality performances for audiences in teaching spaces, largely because dancers almost always need a large stage area. This is probably more of an issue for dance than it is for drama and music, where small audiences can be fitted into large teaching spaces for some performances.
Similarly, visiting dance groups will need a good quality performance space capable of accommodating the school's dance students as an audience. (Some schools with this sort of performance facility have been able to hire it out as a rehearsal space for dance and drama companies.)
A school theatre or auditorium will probably be suitable as dance performance space so long as it has the features listed below and is available during school hours to be used by dance classes. However, it should not be used as a regular teaching space – dance classes need a dance classroom, not the stage in the theatre.
It is best if the dance classroom and the dance performance space are close together.
Senior performance space
A performance space suitable for senior dance students will have these features (in addition to the normal theatre facilities):
- large performance area or stage (preferably 10 x 8 metres)
- with a sprung floor
- with wing space (or where wing space can be created with curtains or screens and still leave a large dance area)
- that is lower than eye level for the audience
- adjacent warm-up room (possibly the dance or drama studio)
- showers in changing rooms.