Dancehouse, Manchester

The Dancehouse Theatre is one of the largest theatre and rehearsal spaces in North West England devoted to dance. A series of interconnected buildings above a parade of shops on Oxford Road, Dancehouse was originally intended as an office complex, designed by Pendleton & Dickson during Manchester's early 20th century commercial boom. Eventually converted into a complex of art deco cinemas, the buildings closed in the 1980s before being bought by the current owners in 1990. The largest cinema was fully restored and renamed The Dancehouse Theatre.

The theatre mainly shows cult and independent films, including a recent season of European horror films. The theatre and surrounding complex also hold dance classes each evening. These include ballet, tap dancing and modern dance trends like Zumba. Tickets for all events are available at the Dancehouse box office.

The remainder of the art deco complex is now the Northern Ballet School - a series of study areas and five dance studios. Both the theatre and the ballet school contain preserved architectural features from the building's art deco roots, having been restored prior to opening in 1994. The Northern Ballet School offers full time dance and ballet training, and has produced several students that have made a name for themselves in the contemporary dance world.