Marpole may soon be losing another landmark.
Since 1999 Crystal Ballroom on 768 Southwest Marine Dr. has trained thousands of students of all ages from beginner to gold competitor level and hosted regular social dances. With its chic décor and 5,000 square feet of sprung maplewood floor, it described itself as the most elegant ballroom and best dance school studio in Vancouver.
Yet soon the music may fall silent. The facility posted a farewell notice on its website: “Crystal Ballroom announces with deep regret to our many loyal customers and faithful students, many of whom have also become lifelong friends, that after being in business for 15 years, 31st December 2014 will be the final day of dancing service to you all.”
The building is being sold, Zillion Wong, the ballroom school principal, told the Courier, although he would not name the new owners, nor the former ones, a group of shareholders who started the venture in 1999.
“I don’t believe the building will be torn down, but probably renovated into some sort of camera warehouse. It definitely won’t be used for new housing, so far as I know,” he said.
“We have a lease agreement with the new owners that we could stay here, but we are looking for a new venue in a couple of locations in Richmond. We will be definitely starting a new school with our same instructors. If we don’t find a new place by January, our students can stay here for another few months until we do.”
The closure will leave a serious gap in Vancouver’s ballroom dance community, said Glen Brennan, who was the ballroom’s managing director for 13 years before moving back to his Australian homeland a year ago. “It now leaves, to my knowledge, no other comparable alternative. A great loss to the Vancouver dance community that will likely never be replaced.
It is a very sad end to a wonderful era!”
Crystal Ballroom was popular in the Lower Mainland due to its central location and free parking. It offered dance programs for private and group lessons in International Ballroom and American Social Dances at all levels, besides hosting social dancing each night and tea dances on Sunday and Wednesday afternoons, and special parties with prizes.
Its innovative Star of the Nite event was for students partnered by their teachers to display their prepared show dances with the support friends and families. It was open to the public and the students’ performances were videotaped for them to keep. The ballroom’s sprung floors, which are supported by foam backing and rubber feet, absorb shocks, give them a softer feel and enhancing performances.
Crystal Ballroom will host three final events: a Santa Claus Dinner Dance on Dec. 6, a Christmas Dinner Dance on Dec. 20, and a New Year’s Eve Gala Dance on Dec. 31.
