Edinburgh's beloved dance school have announced they are being forced to cut down classes amid rising bills.
Dance Base bosses have 'regrettably' shared that classes will be reduced and a number of staff will have to be let go due to a whopping 350 per cent rise in energy bills and 10 per cent inflation rate. This comes as 'disappointing' funding cuts were made to Creative Scotland.
They admit that this means that members who have been there for years will sadly no longer be there. The programme will be cut temporally from April, only using two out of the four studios available in a bid to find a sustainable long term plan for the hub's future.
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Scotland's dance hub is a popular and beloved school in Edinburgh's Grassmarket, where 30,000 dance artists, teachers and participants have come together for dance activities and performances in the last 12 months alone.
With the reduced level of classes and members, Dance Base say they will be able to continue to service serve independent dance artists and keep at least half of its current residency opportunities. They will also be able to still partner with teachers to offer dances classes but they will be half its current size.
The organisation will still work with the elder company PRIME, young company LYDC and provide inclusive classes for disabled and non-disabled dancers together. There will also be an expansion of Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland.
The Fringe programme has not been confirmed with Dance Base explaining they will 'seek' to run a limited programme by working with a partner.
Jim Hollington, Chief Executive of Dance Base, said: “We are incredibly proud of the important role Dance Base has played over 30 years supporting dance and dance artists at our purpose-built centre that is the pride of Scotland.
"However, we are not able to cover a 350 per cent rise in energy bills and the 10 per cent increases in most other costs through simply increasing prices and cutting costs, and nor do we believe it is right to raise our prices at this tough time for everyone when so many need access to activities which support their health and wellbeing.
“Following such strong support through the Covid pandemic, we have actively engaged with our funders and the Scottish Government over the last six months to find a solution. It is deeply disappointing that in fact funding cuts were announced to Creative Scotland’s budget as our situation worsened.
“However we firmly believe that there is a bright future for the work of Dance Base. By bringing together all those who care and recognise Dance Base’s role in Scotland’s cultural landscape we can find a new and sustainable model that ensures Scotland still has a national centre for dance long into the future.
“To create space to develop that model over the coming months, we will regrettably need to reduce our activity and staffing levels from April to ensure that we remain financially strong.
"This will mean the loss of valuable members of the team who have committed many years to dance and Dance Base, which is deeply saddening. We will retain a core of activity supporting dance artists and those who love to dance during this time, and look forward to expanding and developing new activity to support dance and dance artists in Scotland in the future.”
Tony Mills, Artistic Director of Dance Base, said: “Dance Base has pretty much been a constant throughout my career in one way or another. Yet despite my familiarity with the organisation as an artist, I never realised just how much it does in professional and public contexts and how far it reaches locally, nationally and across borders until I started working here.
“I really believe that this building has the power to lift people up. There’s a sense of possibility when you walk into Dance Base. It is what makes this place so special and exciting. It’s a place where we get to celebrate dance and those who engage with it.
“The level of impact Dance Base has had on people's lives in the last 30 years, both artists and the public, is immeasurable. However, it is clear that Dance Base cannot continue to operate in the same way as it has done. This will be a tough process for all of us. But we have a vision for Dance Base and we will involve artists, public and partners in the development of this.
“Culture is inherent in everything we do. I believe that Dance Base can and should develop a more sustainable way of working, act to be truly responsive to the rapidly changing society we are living in and be as inclusive as possible.
"This is the journey we are on and we have some work to do. But I hope that recognition of our impact and value, and that of culture more widely, comes from those who can make a real difference to our future and society’s wellbeing. Dance Base is about joy. And as far as I’m concerned that is something worth protecting for now and the years to come.”
Choreographer and founder of Curious Seed , Christine Devaney, who is on the Board of Trustees of Dance Base, added: “Dance Base has been a vital support to me over my career and now as a trustee, I and all of the Board are very proud of our team at Dance Base and all it has achieved, especially over the last three years.
"It’s been an incredibly tough time for so many cultural organisations and it continues to be, but the Board and the Executive strongly believe in the positive impact of dance and regularly see the benefits it brings so many.
“We are committed to supporting the future of dance in Scotland. We recognise that the challenges we are facing cannot be solved by the organisation alone and over the coming months we will work with the dance community, funders and friends to find Dance Base’s role in a future in which dance can evolve and thrive in.”
Paul Burns, Head of Dance & Interim Deputy Director of Arts & Engagement at Creative Scotland commented: "Dance Base is a vital organisation within Edinburgh and Scotland's dance sector, supporting a wide range of activity - from professional artists making new work for audiences across Scotland, to people exploring dance as a source of joy, health and wellbeing.
“We are in discussion with the team and board at Dance Base and will continue to work with them to establish the best way of maintaining their valuable contribution to the cultural life of the city and nation."
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