I have taken classes at the Dance Complex - I love the variey. I have rented space there for my own rehearsals- wonderful studios, easy rental process. I've seen performances there- they have a great intimate performance space with high ceilings; attended workshops- they attract a lot of famously creative and professional teachers, and I've gone there to rehearse with the Ken Pierce Baroque Dance Company- dance directors love to rent there because its central to the dance community and easily accessible by car, subway, etc. and there a lot of studios to choose from.
Living in the suburbs of Boston, my students and I continue to feel the positive effect that the Dance Complex brings to Eastern Massachusetts. As an organization, it supports start up entities, like the Children's Dance Festival and emerging teachers and choreographers making a reliable home-base environment from which many artists have been launched. The Dance Complex houses many entrenched programs (classes, companies and performances) for the community to reconnect and leave inspired. Furthermore, the Dance Complex has served as a role model for other cooperatives to grow, here and around the country.
As a dancer of nearly 30 years (beginning with "the Joy of Movement") at the Dance Complex, I can sincerely state that it provides the most accessible space in the entire Boston/Cambridge conglomerate. Parking is easy, shear number of studios, and wide variety of dance genres are appealing aspects that keep my attendance high, year after year. I also think it is marvelous that the DC has grown to include world dance, such as Senegalese, Haitian, Flamenco, and Kathak.
As someone who was a teacher and student of the Joy of Movement Center for nearly 5 years, I was thrilled when arrangements were made for The Dance Complex to take over that location and keep the art of dance alive in Cambridge. Not an easy task for many reasons. The Dance Complex continues, all these years later, to offer a quality dance education, maintain an historic building (not cheap) and bring culture and opportunities to the area. Top quality, reasonably priced, The Dance Complex is a viable presence in the community and attracts students from all over. With continued funding and support, they could improve their theater, keep the building in prime condition worthy of its designation as an historic building and be a home for artists from all over the country. It is a special place!
