"Over the past five years dance has started to buildinfrastructure on an large scale," says Jack Lemmon, executivedirector at the Joffrey. "Ours will be one of the biggest." Overthe past three years, Lemmon says big dance facilities have beenconstructed for the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, the BostonBallet and the Miami City Ballet.

While city officials are kicking in $4 million as part of MayorDaley's rejuvenation plan for the Downtown theatre district, thenew Joffrey project will not be a performance facility. "This willbe our new headquarters," says Lemmon. The planned headquartersbuilding is sorely needed as dancers are currently practicing isfacilities that are unsuitable. "Some of studios have pillars inthem, which you can imagine isn't very practical," says Lemmon.

The new facility will have five dance studios, the largest ofwhich will replicate the size of the company's performance stage.The rest of the facility will be dedicated to wardrobe, dressing,production and administration functions.