2026 represents a landmark year for Dance Base, Scotland’s National Centre for Dance, as the organisation celebrates 25 years in its purpose-built home in the heart of Edinburgh’s Grassmarket.
Established in 1993 as a charity to foster dance in all its forms, Dance Base spent its first decade operating within venues across Edinburgh and the Lothians, including the Assembly Rooms, before securing a permanent home to open as Scotland’s National Centre for Dance in 2001. Over the past quarter century, the award-winning and accessible space, designed by Malcolm Fraser, has been a home for many within Scotland’s thriving dance community.
In Autumn 2026 Dance Base will host a series of special events, inviting Scotland’s dance community and new audiences alike join them within the space to celebrate this important milestone in the organisation’s history.
Full details of these events will be announced in Spring 2026.
A Home for Dance for All
Operating year-round, Dance Base offers a dynamic programme of specially curated public performances, alongside classes and workshops. These are taught by a network of extraordinary teachers (many of whom are dance artists in their own right) who support dancers at every level and stage of their development.
With a focus on championing Scotland-based artists such as Tess Letham and Sadiq Ali, and broadening our understanding of who can and should dance, with projects like PRIME, (Dance Base’s in-house company for dancers over 60) Dance Base continues to help dance flourish and change lives in Scotland and beyond.
2026 also marks the 10th anniversary of Dance Base’s in-house Lothian Youth Dance Company (LYDC) (pictured above).
Working with a new cohort of up to 20 talented young dancers aged 14-21 from across the city each year, the programme offers intensive and unique experiences for the young people to expand their contemporary dance technique and performance skills, with opportunities to work with acclaimed choreographers and to perform to international audiences during the Dance Base Festival.
In addition to weekly Dance for Parkinson’s classes that have been running for 15 years, Dance Base also plays a leading role in the delivery of the Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland Network. A joint initiative managed in collaboration with Scottish Ballet and delivered in partnership with Parkinson’s UK, this pioneering programme offers inclusive, supportive movement classes designed for people living with Parkinson’s, as well as their families and carers.
Alongside this community focus, since launching its first Festival programme in 2002, Dance Base has also established itself as the home for dance at the Fringe, curating an annual programme which showcases local talent alongside artists and companies from across the globe. Delivered through a unique partnership with Assembly Festival for the past three years, Dance Base Festival returns in August 2026.
Dance Base CEO Jeanie Scott said: “From providing an essential launchpad for Scottish dance artist careers, to hosting and nurturing our most bespoke and caring programmes like Dance for Parkinson’s – this extraordinary building has become a true home for dance in Scotland.
Dance Base Artistic Director Tony Mills said: “Looking towards the next 25 years, we will build upon what makes Dance Base so special: our commitment to foster nurturing and inclusive spaces to dance, and be a source of joy, inspiration, growth and excitement whether you are a professional, a passionate amateur, or someone who needs extra support to take to the floor.”