Dance agency invests in upgrade to historic anatomy rooms behind Marischal College

A north-east dance agency is investing in a historic city building which was previously used to study anatomy.

The Anatomy Rooms, at the rear of Aberdeen’s Marischal College, was for many years home to Aberdeen University’s anatomy department.

Built in the 1890s, what was formerly the Dissection Room will now house Citymoves Dance Agency after the group teamed up with the Creative Spaces Fund to inject £40,000 to devise a more flexible and fit-for-purpose dance and performance space.

The investment is being funded on an equal basis by the Creative Space Fund and Citymoves themselves.

Once it is complete, the area will include a new flexible sprung dance floor, new ballet barres, dance mirrors, raised seating platform, equipment and changing room facilities.

All daytime dance classes moved to the upgraded space yesterday, with evening classes remaining at the group’s Belmont Street studio, until additional lighting and signage can be installed at the Anatomy Rooms.

The upgrades will be fully complete in time for the 2019 Dancelive Festival, which is organised and hosted by Citymoves and which takes place from October 17 to 20.

The four-day festival of dance will hold events at a variety of city venues, including The Lemon Tree and HMT, as well as the Anatomy Rooms and the Belmont Studio.

Citymoves chief executive, Carol Benzie, said: “We are delighted the local authority’s Creative Spaces Fund has supported our ambition to enhance the beautiful space in the Dissection Room at the Anatomy Rooms, for the benefit of dancers and performers from Aberdeen and beyond who wish to choreograph, dance and perform in our city.

“The investment will be put to best use during Dancelive, but will also benefit all of our existing community dance classes which are open to all.”

The Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Barney Crockett, added: “We at Aberdeen City Council are delighted to support the upgrading of the Anatomy Rooms so that Citymoves can enable even more people to enjoy their range of classes and workshops.