Rambert starts to build

Building work has begun on a new home for Rambert, England’s national company for contemporary dance, on London’s South Bank. Nine years in development so far, the project is due for completion in 2013, with Rambert having raised nearly £12m of its fundraising target from private sources and launching a public campaign in 2012 to raise the remaining £700,000. The land for the new building is provided by the social enterprise Coin Street Community Builders in return for a commitment to leading a community dance programme in the local area and for the peppercorn rent of one pair of ballet shoes per year. Rambert currently works with 14,000 children and young people and 6,000 adults each year: its purpose-built home will serve to double levels of public engagement.