The $5 million renovation of Dance Place, the performing arts nonprofit that has been based in Edgewood for 28 years, is "chugging along," according to communications director Carolyn Kamrath. "A lot of the foundation work [is] already completed, and we are moving into the interior."
The renovation includes improved seating, an improved dance floor and a new lobby for the building, a former warehouse at 3225 8th St. NE. It also will expand office space for the nonprofit's staff (currently at 12 full-timers, eight part-timers and a horde of interns and student workers), create a new dressing room and warmup space backstage, and add new restrooms.
One change from the original rendering (above) is that the mosaic on the northeast corner of the building will be replaced by an interactive light and sound sculpture by
Christopher Janney, an artist who's installed work all over the world. Details are scant at this time, but the installation will be called "Touch My Building," so it may be similar to
this one with the same name in Miami.
Construction should be complete by late May (a slight slide from the original goal of March), and a grand opening is planned for September.
Classes and performances are continuing across the city in temporary spaces, many nearby.