Interlochen Center for the Arts breaks ground on Dance Center
The expansion and renovation will include four studios, a fitness room, physical therapy space, costume storage, and more.
The architect's rendering of one of the Dance Building's new studios.
Interlochen Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the groundbreaking for its 22,000 square-foot expansion and renovation of the Dance Center, set to take place on Friday, Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. on the Interlochen campus.
“The dance program at Interlochen has been inspiring young artists for decades,” said Trey Devey, President of Interlochen Center for the Arts. “This renovation and expansion with state-of-the-art facilities represents our commitment to a world-class program for future generations of young dancers."
The 22,000 square-foot expansion and renovation will include four studios that meet contemporary industry standards. There will be a central lobby, viewing areas for families and guests, enhanced technology to support teaching and virtual master classes, renovated faculty offices, expanded fitting and dressing rooms, costume storage, and a fitness room with physical therapy space.
The renovation and expansion was sparked by Interlochen alumna, Trustee, and Campaign Cabinet co-chair Nancy Hoagland.
“Over the course of my long relationship with Interlochen, it has been my great pleasure to interact with many dance division directors, faculty and students. I’ve attended Camp and Academy Dance performances, photographed Interlochen dancers, supported a variety of guest artists and teachers who have visited campus, and I have been excited by the growth and expansion of the dance program here at Interlochen over the years. I am incredibly inspired by the discipline and courage it takes to study dance,” said Hoagland. “Our efforts on behalf of these dedicated young people also demanded discipline and courage. Together, we recognized the need for a facility that matched the possibilities in these students, and we have pooled our resources to create a new home worthy of the discipline and courage of these dancers.”
Those joining with Hoagland in contributions to the renovation and expansion include the Marvin and Betty Danto Foundation, the Mallory Foundation, Glynn and Charlene Williams, Bill and Linda Nelson, The Chormann Family Foundation, Susan Kettering and the Kettering Family Foundation, Elaine and Nick Mischler, and Phyllis Foster.
“Thanks to our donors, the Dance Center will be a light-filled educational and artistic space that rivals or exceeds the rehearsal rooms at our peer institutions. We will be able to teach, train, choreograph, study, and create meaningful art in rooms that are beautiful and safe, adaptable and accessible, helping Interlochen become a true destination for dance training,” explained Joseph Morrissey, Director of Dance at Interlochen Center for the Arts. “We thank our donors for joining us in this mission, and for championing our art form through scholarship gifts, performance opportunities, set and costume support, and now, this remarkable new facility. We are forever grateful.”
