Jazzy new home marks new era for Calgary dance company

Calgary dance company Decidedly Jazz Danceworks is showing off its new home as it gets ready to open its doors on Friday.

DJD is a registered charity and professional dance company, now in its 31st year.

Kaleb Tekeste has been a dancer at DJD for the last eight seasons and says it's an important new cultural facility for the city.

"The new facility is outstanding and there are so many amazing studios in this space. It's really inspiring and gives us a new sense of home. The old space was a lot smaller with only three studios compared to seven now," he said.

"A place like this is really important to the arts. You can look in and see what's going on in here from the street and see people creating art and dancing, which people might not have seen before."

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The funding for the new building at 111 12th Ave. S.E.has come from all levels of government as well as private sponsors.

Kimberly Cooper is the artistic director with DJDand says the new space has been a long time coming.

"We've been trying to build this space for 10 yearsand we're finally here. It's pretty surreal," said Cooper.

"This is a pivotal turning point in our history."

The grand opening of its new performance, New Universe, takes place Friday night.

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