In 2005 the NSW Ministry for the Arts commissioned Ausdance NSW to research and report on status of the provision of dance rehearsal and development space in Sydney City and Parramatta. This project was undertaken with the objective of identifying if and how the needs and issues effecting the growth and status of independent and contemporary dance in NSW are impacted directly upon by the levels [or lack] of appropriately appointed space for the rehearsal and development of new work.

The project made a clear assessment that there is no dedicated dance development or rehearsal space venue in NSW for the independent sector in Sydney or Western Sydney. The project noted the one dedicated dance facility, The Drill, an old naval store located at Rushcutters Bay, is exclusively for use by established choreographers involved in the Critical Path program who are researching new choreographic ideas. 

The project identified that the lack of appropriately appointed space for the rehearsal and development of contemporary dance in Sydney and Western Sydney was creating a crises for sustaining the art form in NSW and that in comparison to other states, contemporary dance was not sustainable in NSW with the current levels of dance space provision. 

Download the full Dance Space Report 2005 here