A dance company in Portage la Prairie is working towards opening its doors to a new studio space.

XCOMPANY is renovating a unit at 310 Saskatchewan Ave. in downtown Portage and will move its wide-ranging dance instruction programming from the previous location at the Portage and District Arts Centre, co-owner Bretton Selent says. Construction will begin shortly and the new studio is due to open in September 2017.

"We're relocating and opening up our own studio just to better serve Portage and the outlying communities," Selent explains. "One of the reasons why that building popped out to us, we have the ability to grow. There's 7000 square feet in that building. We'll be starting with about 3000 square feet and we can always expand to offer more."

“Our goal is to not turn anyone away for dance classes,” continues Selent. “For us, if you want to take dance, there will be a class for you or your kids. If we have to open new classes or bring new teachers out we will do that.”

The dance company teaches many styles including hip-hop, break dance, jazz, tap, ballet and contemporary. Selent plans to add Latin dance and ballroom dance programs, while also expanding the studio's reach to a wider age range when it re-opens at the new location.

“Normally we've kind of geared (our programs) towards teens,” says Selent. “Now we're going from ages as young as three, to all adults. We really see a big market for adults when it comes to dance and fitness classes.”

Selent looks to establish the new downtown location as a community space used not only for dance, but a wide range of fitness offerings.

“We want it to be a multi-use community building,” adds Selent. “If there are fitness instructors out there who want to get into it and make a living off it, it's really hard to get started. We will be offering the space when we're not using, especially during the day, to other entrepreneurs or teachers who may want to run yoga classes or other types of fitness instruction.”

“The whole goal is to create more opportunities for kids and adults in Portage.”