While Amsterdam languished for years with a plan for a Dance House, Chassé Dance Studios will open its doors in December. The former Chassé church has been transformed into a multifunctional centre with eight professional dance studios, 45 hotel rooms, a gym in the ridge, and a grand café. Lenny Balkissoon, ex-dancer and actor (Zeg 'ns Aaa) financed, designed and organises the construction. Cultural entrepreneurship in turbulent times. It can be done.
Amsterdam City Council made €1.8 million available for the original plans for a Danshuis in the city. It had to accommodate companies, freelance choreographers and dancers. That stalled. The money was divided. A third part went to Dancemakers Amsterdam, a to ICKamsterdam and one to the network project BAU by choreographers Nicole Beutler and Andrea Božić, among others. But dance in one house did not come any closer with it.
So now it does.
The Chassé Dance Studios provide space for all kinds of initiatives. And that without any money from the municipality. Lenny Balkissoon single-handedly stomped out the renovation: he had a basement dug out, installed floors and is still rebuilding the rectory. No bar seems too high. Yet he is still looking for permanent tenants. During the day, the spaces are available for freelance choreographers, companies, etc. In the evenings, the spaces are used for dance classes by amateurs and professionals.
One of the tenants most likely to move in is the Henny Jurriëns Foundation. Let that one have just started in a church himself (Artemis) and initiator of the once-planned Dance House. Director of the foundation Gary Feingold is therefore happy to support freelance dancers and choreographers and sees wonderful opportunities for international dance internships, rehearsals and set assembly with the Chassé Dance Studios' multifunctionality and hotel facilities.
Thus, Amsterdam with the former building of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Assistance yet a dance house richer. From a big dance heart of entrepreneur Balkissoon, a small miracle is taking place.
Say B.
Update 9 January 2015:
Housing foundation Ymere is sentenced to pay €1.85 million in damages after the sale of the Chassé church to Balkissoon. The church's concrete floor was found to be rotten. The property had been bought in 2011 for 1.25 million euros and was found to have total damage of 2.5 million euros. Ymere is appealing the verdict under the slogan: 'You are buying the church in ashes.'
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