James and Martha Duffy Performance Space

Size: 60' X 60' (3,600 sq. ft.)

The James and Martha Duffy Performance Space is one of the largest column-free studios in Brooklyn. It is fully equipped with a triple-basket weave sprung sub floor, covered with a marley-type PVC dance floor, portable ballet barres, a Steinway grand piano, and a sound/video playback system. It is bright with natural light, plus central heat and air-conditioning.

The James and Martha Duffy Performance Space encompasses the 5th floor of the Mark Morris Dance Center and includes a small lobby (12’x40′ or 480 sq. ft.) and bathrooms adjacent to the space.

The space converts into a 140-seat theater perfect for performances and can be set up for private events. 

This video shows the conversion of the James and Martha Duffy Performance Space from a studio to a 166-seat proscenium theater.

Ideal for:

  • Performances
  • Rehearsals
  • Conferences + Meetings
  • Events
  • Photo + Film Shoots

With support from the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, we recently replaced the floors in three of the Dance Center’s original studios—the James and Martha Duffy Performance Space and the Robert W. Cole and Independence Community Foundation Studios. The new flooring (Harlequin Cascade™) was chosen because it is well-suited to a range of dance styles, including percussive forms like tap. The floors are seamless and have a high-quality matte finish which provides just the right amount of grip.

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