Dance Place 3.75

Dance Place is an arts organization in the Edgewood neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C.. The nearest metro station is Brookland/CUA on the Red Line.HistoryDC Wheel Productions, Inc. / Dance Place was founded by Carla Perlo and Steve Bloom in 1978 as an educational and performing arts company, which toured the public schools in the Greater DC Metropolitan area.In 1980, DC Wheel Productions, Inc. established a studio and theater under the name Dance Place in Adams Morgan and has been doing business under that name ever since. From 1980-1985 the organization developed and operated a cultural community center called Dance Place in a rented facility located at 2424 18th Street NW, DC in the Adams Morgan neighborhood.In 1986, the organization was forced out of its Adams Morgan location due to gentrification and quadrupled rents. In order to secure the organization's future, DC Wheel purchased and renovated its permanent home located at 3225 8th Street, NE in the Edgewood neighborhood. With ownership of its own building, DC Wheel increased development of artistic and educational programs drawing many citizens and new business into its Edgewood neighborhood.In 2002, DC Wheel expanded its campus to include three rented facilities located adjacent to its main space in the Edgewood Studios to serve as an additional office space, a teaching studio and a creative education center (CEC).In 2014, the building underwent major renovations and expansion as part of the organization’s Moving Forward capital campaign. The final stage of the Arts Campus was completed in 2016, the 8th St Arts Park, which converted the asphalt alley between the main building and the adjacent Brookland Artspace Lofts into vibrant public space. The campus now includes three training and rehearsal studios, a 144-seat theater, two offices, a children’s center, the 8th St Arts Park and housing for artists and interns.