BOURNEMOUTH-based Pavilion Dance - one of only a few purpose-built dance houses in the UK, celebrates its fifth birthday with an Anniversary Open Doors Day on Saturday September 5.

The venue is the physical home of Pavilion Dance South West, a dance development organisation working across the whole of the South West region. The £3.29 million redevelopment project, made possible through investment from Bournemouth Borough Council and the vision of founding director Kate Castle, took the long disused part of the Bournemouth Pavilion and turned it into a dance centre with rejuvenated, but original, art deco features.

The 200-seat venue presents a vibrant programme of live dance performances across the year, complemented by a carefully curated arthouse film programme and up to 40 weekly dance classes for all ages and abilities in its two spacious studios. The studios are also being used for various workshops, youth projects and dance & health events, as well as by dance artists creating and developing new work.

“We are very lucky to have this fantastic venue. By a rough count, we have delivered more than 8,000 dance classes, showed nearly 500 live performances, and supported more than 60 artists and companies to create work here since it opened in 2010,” said Helga Brandt, Head of Marketing & Development.

“Pavilion Dance is a fantastic resource for dance in Bournemouth, in the region and nationally, and we are very grateful to have been given this beautiful building to work in.”

Open day visitors will be invited to take part in a number of free dance taster classes and a free drawing workshop and exhibition by local artist Maggie Farmer. The day will also feature the launch of Pavilion Dance’s autumn season, introduced by Artistic Director Deryck Newland.

Admission FREE, 11am to 4pm

11am Mini African class (Under 5s) / Ballet Basic class

12pm Youth Street Dance class / Latin Fusion class

1pm Autumn Season Launch

2pm Capoeira class / Parkinson’s Dance class

“The Moving Figure” drawing workshop with Maggie Farmer (please book in advance)

3pm 1940s Social Dance class

For more information and to book the dance drawing workshop, please visit www.pdsw.org.uk/celebrate or call 01202 203630.