LET'S DANCE: Whitireia performing arts students enjoy their new space.

WHITIREIA performing arts students are bursting out of their current home and dancing across the road in Vivian St.

With an increase of 30 students this year, the school needs a new home and it has been found nearby.

One level of the building is already being used for some lessons and a refit of two other floors will be complete by the start of next year’s programmes.

Whitireia Performing Arts Centre administrator Laura Hewetson says the programmes have outgrown the current space, which has been a home for performance training for more than 20 years.

It was originally Toi Whakaari, the New Zealand Drama school, which moved out in 1997 and was replaced by the Wellington Performing Arts Centre, which was taken over by Whitireia in 2008.

“We are in a very tight space. We have grown in numbers this year by about 30 plus students, so space can be a real issue,” Laura says.

This won’t be a problem in the new building, which will hold nine studios plus theatre space. The current building has six studios, including the theatre space.

The theatre space will be kept purely for theatre and no classes will be held in it.

The theatre space will be used to house the major body of shows the Whitireia students produce and will be also open for public performances.

The top floor dance studio will have a seating block and blackout curtains installed next year so it could also be used as an additional performance space.

Staff and students who have been using the dance studios since May are impressed with their new venue.

Anne Gare, commercial dance course coordinator describes the space as fantastic for dance.

”It is most appreciated from both the students and myself. The feedback from my tutors working there is great – large, light and just a general really good feel.”

Whitireia is looking into the possibility of renaming the space and there are plans for a celebration when the renovation and shift is complete next year.