Vicente Wolf Makes Over the Joyce Theater's Dance Rehearsal Space

As any performing artist can attest, rehearsal spaces are not known for their intimacy or comfort, let alone design. While large empty rooms are ideal for grands jetés, they are less conducive to socializing or relaxing. Dance Art New York (DANY) Studios at Chelsea’s Joyce Theater set out to refresh the common areas of the two-floor, 20,000-square-foot facility into a welcoming—and stylish—environment for the many dancers who consider it their home base.

AD100 designer Vicente Wolf , a longtime supporter of the arts, was called upon to perform the makeover. The highly sought-after designer (one of his projects was AD ’s January 2013 cover story ) generously gave his time and talent for the pro bono commission. With donations from companies including Crate & Barrel and PPG Pittsburg Paints—plus a little help from Architectural Digest —DANY was given a fresh, new look befitting the revitalized center.

The first-floor walls were painted with the names of the dance companies that rehearse and appear at the Joyce, such as Pilobolus and the Houston Ballet, giving the formerly blank surroundings a graphic pop and serving as a reminder to students of what they are striving to achieve. Seating areas offer comfortable spots to relax or collaborate. “I am grateful to Vicente Wolf for helping the Joyce create a community for the many dancers who now gather in this beautiful and serene space,” says Linda Shelton, executive director of the Joyce. For Wolf, however, it’s all about the artists: “[The space] has brought comfort and joy to so many hardworking dancers.”