Brand new home for Northern Ballet

Norther Ballet's new home in the heart of Leeds

Northern Ballet has a proud history with many groundbreaking productions under its belt.

The company was founded in 1969 as the Northern Dance Theatre.

Now the company's moved into a home that befits such a history.

The new £12m dance centre on St Cecilia Street is in the heart of Leeds' cultural quarter - a stone's throw from the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds College of Music and the BBC.

BBC Leeds talked to Pippa Moore, principal dancer at the Northern Ballet about what the spectacular new home means to the company.

"I've been with the company for a fair few years now, and the promise of a new home had been around for most of them. I must admit to a bit of scepticism as to whether it would come to fruition, but now we're all really excited at the prospect of using such great facilities."

"Our old base was in a secondary school in the suburbs, and while we're grateful for all they've done for us, it'll be like a whole new world once we get used to the new centre."

Northern Ballet Theatre in action - pic Bill Cooper

The new dance centre - which Northern Ballet will share with contemporary dance company, Phoenix Dance - has seven studios, administration offices, educational facilities and a 200-seat theatre and Pippa hopes that the British public's current keenness for dance will benefit both companies.

"Dance is popular again! It's all over the television schedules at the moment so this comes at an opportune moment and hopefully we can entice people in to see a production or join a class."

"For me, the studio theatre is the main benefit. It's just the right size and will provide a unique, intimate atmosphere and will be an alternative to the major theatre productions that we do."

"It's a place we can be proud of, the choreographic workshops and the opportunity to collaborate with other dance groups are other benefits but I guess the main one is that we'll be visible to the general public - right in the heart of the city."

"Being so close to one of our major performance venues (the West Yorkshire Playhouse) is great - no longer will we have to traipse in from the edge of town, battered by the wind and rain. It really feels like progress."