Since dance had such a small audience, many performing arts facilities were planned and built with little consideration for its needs, because dance companies were not perceived as major potential users of those spaces. Further, information on the requirements of dance - and how to fulfill them - could not be found in most design guides or technical tracts on the performing arts. [This book] has been written to redress this lack of information. What builders need, and what has so often been lacking when theatres are constructed, are persons able to define the art of dance and its needs for architects, and designers able to translate those requirements into buildings that work for performers and patrons.

Toward this end, the authors have conducted dozens of interviews with dancers, choreographers, company managers, theatre consultants, lighting designers, acousticians, musicians, critics, architects, planners, and performing arts facility directors. From these interviews have come guidelines for matters as broad as deciding whether to renovate an old theatre or build a new one, and as specific as the location of electrical outlets for sound systems. [This book is for] dancers, choreographers and company managers who hope to build their own space for dance, or who will help guide their cities or towns in the construction of theatres suitable for dance, it offers a manual of design and building processes. For other prospective builders of dance spaces - local governments, community groups or individual sponsors, and their planners and architects - it offers an introduction to the world of dance, with suggestions on how the demands of dance can best be realized in bricks and mortar. (p. 7).

CONTENTS
Chapter 1. Dancers and dance places.
Chapter 2. Planning and building.
Chapter 3. On stage.
Chapter 4. Spaces for the public.
Chapter 5. Backstage spaces for performers.
Chapter 6. Support spaces for crew and staff.
Chapter 7. Technical equipment.
Chapter 8. Case studies: Proscenium theatres.
Chapter 9. Case studies: Alternate spaces.

Appendix:
     A. Critical facts on proscenium theatres.
     B. Barrier-free access to dance.
     C. A planning workbook.
Glossary.
Bibliography.
Index.

Since dance had such a small audience, many performing arts facilities were planned and built with little consideration for its needs, because dance companies were not perceived as major potential users of those spaces. Further, information on the requirements of dance - and how to fulfill them - could not be found in most design guides or technical tracts on the performing arts. [This book] has been written to redress this lack of information. What builders need, and what has so often been lacking when theatres are constructed, are persons able to define the art of dance and its needs for architects, and designers able to translate those requirements into buildings that work for performers and patrons.