The Dancehouse

Above a row of shops on Oxford Road sits a performance space deserving of more attention than it seems to get. It was once The Regal Twins, a two-screen art deco cinema, but had originally been designed as meeting halls. At some point, it became a five-screen cinema before falling into disrepair and abandonment.

In 1990, Northern Ballet School took the place on as their new home, securing funding to restore the space to its former art deco glory and providing themselves with a home. The largest cinema became the Dancehouse Theatre, while the other spaces became rehearsal and performance rooms.

Given the venue's name and its illustrious sister company, you'd expect the programme to be all about dance, but it's a lot more varied. There's regular comedy, drama and music, as well as a great programme of evening classes, covering belly dancing, tap, street, jazz and contemporary styles. Classes cover a range of abilities and ages.