Toronto’s Dovercourt House, a hub for dance in the city for over twenty years, is being forced to close. Dovercourt House has been the full-time home of princess productions, CORPUS and Kaeja d’Dance for 21 years. These resident companies occupied Dovercourt’s ballrooms during daytime hours developing works that have toured the world. In the evenings and weekends the space turned into a centre of social dance, classes and events. Tens of thousands of Torontonians have come through its doors to practice Swing, Latin and Urban as well as yoga, capoeira and expressive arts therapy. Dovercourt House’s three beautiful spaces have been popular with professional dance companies and as a social hub welcoming diverse community groups and artists who have depended on its warm atmosphere and properly sprung floors.
Dovercourt House has been closed for most of the past year due to Covid and the former leaseholder secured assistance through Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance, a program in which the landlord agreed to accept reduced rent. The landlord has recently secured a new leaseholder who does not plan to continue the building’s current usage.
“We have poured energy, care and love into this wonderful building. These studios have allowed us and other members of the dance community, to build relevant and successful local and touring works, while deepening our art forms. Losing the Dovercourt House is an absolute major blow, not just for the three companies that have made it their permanent home, but to the arts community at large. ” David Danzon, Artistic Director, CORPUS
“The Dovercourt House was a creative home that provided stability for the inspirations of the resident companies. For two decades the crossover of professional practices and activity in the building facilitated a sense of belonging and consistency. Affordable, large, open reliable space in the city is a scarcity. Dance companies are being chased out. Having to move out of the Dovercourt House is tragic and the Toronto performing arts community will indeed feel a huge loss.” Karen Kaeja, Co-Artistic Director, Kaeja d’Dance
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