In a new kind of call-out for the dance school, Stompin is seeking a new place to call its “forever home”. 

In October last year, producer Alison Wilkes and artistic director Caitlin Comerford heard the news that their lease wasn’t being renewed. 

“We’re looking for somewhere that is permanent, somewhere where we can be for at least another 16 years,” Miss Wilkes said.  

They want a space that functions as an office and is big and safe enough to be a rehearsal venue. 

“We’re a not-for-profit organisation so paying a commercial rate is pretty hard to grapple with,” she said.

“Also we need to find the right space where it is safe for dancers’ bodies, we can’t have concrete floors and we need it to be a certain size.

“I have no doubt that there are spaces out there. There are a lot of abandoned or half used spaces in Launceston. But we’re still looking for one.” 

Miss Wilkes said searching for a new base was taking valuable rehearsal time away from its upcoming Ten Days on the Island performance Fully Grown, which will be held at The Conservatory in March. 

“Not having a space to do our projects is a barrier to their successful execution. It’s totally possible, but it’s really different without a space.” 

Not having a permanent base was having a “significant” impact and causing a lot of instability, because Stompin had always been a “safe place” for its stompers Miss Wilkes said. 

“We are a third space, somewhere that isn’t home, isn’t school, that (the children) can drop into at all times and a place where they won’t be judged,” she said.

Mrs Comerford said not having a permanent space limited when she could be creative. 

“We’ve always been really big in terms of the community. Our focus is youth,” Mrs Comerford said. 

“Being able to continue to offer that safe space to them is more important than anything to us.”

Miss Wilkes said it was a challenging time, but Stompin had received lots of support from the community.

After “well and truly planting the roots” at the previous studio, the pair share fond memories of the site.

Miss Wilkes said she loved being surrounding by dancing friends, while the sun shone through the windows.

 While Mrs Comerford had only been in the studio for a short few months, she quickly realised the spaces potential during the Primary Stompin performance. 

“They were just these little people, producing professional quality work in our little space.”

For information or to offer a space to Stompin, email Alison Wilkes at alison@stompin.net