The Dance Centre secures long-term site, with $6 million land purchase at Davie and Granville
With its lease coming up in 2029 on land owned by Scotiabank, the future of the dance hub had been uncertain
The Dance Centre’s Davie Street entrance. Photo by Ivan Hunter
THE DANCE CENTRE announced today that it has successfully purchased the land beneath its home in downtown Vancouver, from leaseholder Scotiabank.
With its lease coming up in 2029 on land owned by Scotiabank, the future of The Dance Centre, which hosts 2,000 rehearsals and 120 performances per year, had been uncertain. The $6 million purchase now means the centre will remain a busy creative hub long into the future.
The purchase was made possible through fundraising by The Dance Centre and the Dance Foundation, with major support from the Government of Canada’s Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, the Province of British Columbia, and the City of Vancouver, through its Making Space for Arts and Culture plan and grant program, alongside contributions from foundations and individual donors.
“Securing this land ensures that artists will always have a purpose-built home to create and innovate,” said Dance Centre executive director Mirna Zagar in the announcement today. “It is an extraordinary day for our community, and we look forward to strengthening the dance sector and enriching the community’s cultural life for decades to come.”
As a result of the deal, the building—a 32,000-square-foot facility designed by architect Arthur Erickson and opened in 2001—becomes known simply as The Dance Centre (versus the former Scotiabank Dance Centre).
“This purchase bolsters the revitalization of the Granville Entertainment District and affirms the essential role of arts and culture in building vibrant neighbourhoods,” said Linda Blankstein, chair of the Dance Foundation.
Securing the site for the long term allows the foundation to move forward with raising funds for upgrades that would include improving energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, updating production technology, and enhancing public spaces.
Marc Miller at the press conference today.
“By investing in The Dance Centre, we are securing the future of this vital cultural hub in Vancouver—ensuring artists, audiences and communities can continue to come together through the power of movement and creativity,” said Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, at the announcement.
The facility, unique to the country, has had a role in nurturing this city’s strong dance scene. It has played host to groups and artists including Company 605, Vanessa Goodman/Action at a Distance, Joe Ink, Alvin Erasga Tolentino/Co.ERASGA, and Jeanette Kotowich, and plays host to such events as Matriarchs Uprising and PuSh International Performing Arts Festival. The Dance Centre encompasses artist residencies and research labs, national and international exchanges, and community events, as well as the biennial Dance in Vancouver festival, which draws presenters from around the globe. Each season, the facility welcomes more than 87,000 visits. It includes six studios, a studio theatre/production space, a boardroom, a lounge, offices, a rooftop patio, and other amenities.
Said well-known choreographer Wen Wei Wang in the announcement today: “The purchase of this land shows a real commitment to supporting artists and recognizing the value of dance and the arts in our society.” 
Wen Wei Dance in The Dance Centre’s Bruce R Birmingham Studio. Photo by Chris Randle
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