PIA BOUMAN

First built as a mattress factory, 6 Noble went on to become home to the long-standing Parkdale institution, The Pia Bouman School of Ballet and Creative Movement. A registered charity in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood, with a bursary fund to ensure all children have the opportunity to dance and perform, the space has been a haven for artists to use as both a rehearsal and creative space, and along the way, host to a lot of great parties.

There were leaks from the roof, with water dropping on students’ heads while they dance and at some openings, you could see clear through to  the sky as the building had never been insulated. A weed even sprouted within one of the school’s dance studios growing two-feet high, to the delight of the students who lovingly cultivated it. Despite much needed improvements, and after five decades in the area, Pia Bouman was more than just a dance school, it was a cultural hub that enriched Parkdale on many, many fronts. 

Pia Bouman was home to many all-night gatherings for legendary rave promoters AlieninFlux, Promise, and Box of Kittens, who often utilized the multi-room layout until the school was  finally forced to relocate to 225 Sterling Road. In collaboration with Richard Brooks and his Captive Audience promotional team we produced a number of shows in its latter years, including a New Years Eve party, a spicy instalment featuring a familiar star studded cast, and a final tribute party before the studio’s close.