In October of 2014, Vancouver City Council unanimously approved a General Manager of Community Services, in consultations with the General Manager of Real Estate and Facilities Management, recommendation that Kokoro Dance Theatre Society be the primary tenant of 7,168 sq. of community amenity space at 111 West Hastings Street and 351 Abbott Street (“Woodwards”) to be shared with Vancouver International Dance Festival Society, Vancouver Moving Theatre Society, and Raven Spirit Dance Society. of office space shared by the four organizations on the 2nd floor of the Woodward’s building, a 1,051 sq. dance studio on the main floor, and a 3,802 sq. production studio in the basement of the building. Kokoro Dance shares 1,422 sq. of office space with the VIDF. The studios are now managed by Kokoro Dance. Kokoro Dance holds a 5-year lease on the premises that is renewable for at least the next 15 years. The studios, now named KW Studios, have undergone $900,000 worth of renovations and improvements to convert them to dynamic and creative spaces for dance, theatre, music, rehearsal, creation, production, and recording purposes. KW Studios has a specific mandate to provide spaces primarily to not-for-profits arts groups at affordable rates.
