In the rundown docks area of Deptford in SE London, a rainbow coloured building has just opened providing the largest purpose-built contemporary dance space in the world.
The Laban Centre was previously housed in a converted church and primary school in nearby New Cross, but with 350 students from 35 different countries, it had outgrown its old home.
Named after Rudolph Laban, often described as the father of modern dance, the new centre is the first building in the UK to be completely designed by award winning architects Herzog and de Meuron, of Tate Modern fame.
Felicity Finch has been down to see the building to meet the centre's director Marion North, who worked closely with Laban in the 1940's and has been one of the driving forces behind the new building.