A new multi-million pound dance studio with an auditorium, pilates studio, and a community cafe in Ashford will officially open in December.

The Jasmin Vardimon Company will take up the new purpose-built space in Javelin Way on the Henwood Industrial Estate where it hopes to continue producing shows and expanding its education programmes.

It is the last of Ashford Borough Council's 'Big 8' projects – a series of major schemes including Elwick Place that the council hopes will transform and regenerate the town.

While the building will open for classes from mid September, an official launch has been planned for December 7.

It has taken just over 18 months to get the building where it is today but Ms Vardimon says the project has been several years in the making.

She added: "For a long time we have been looking for a home for the company, a place that we can not just create, but also nurture the young generation of artists which is a big part of what we do.

"The production of my work always involves big sets and also needs a place for us to be able to develop that scenery.

"We did research and 87% of our graduates are working in the industry and we wanted to build on that, and also create a longer pathway for younger ages to develop to working in the industry.

"To create my own work, we could carry on in one studio, but we wanted to be able to engage more with the community of dancers in Kent.

"It is still hard to believe that we have it.

"It has great acoustics, the height and size you need for any venue."

The creative company has been running since 1998 but moved to Ashford 10 years ago having previously been split between Brighton and London.

It took residence at the Stour Centre in Station Approach but quickly realised demand meant the company would eventually need a bigger space.

The new facility, funded by Kent County Council, Ashford Borough Council and the Arts Council England, is also the first of its kind in Kent making Ms Vardimon the only female choreographer in the UK to have her own specially designed studio outside London.

While the majority of the building works are complete, the rooms are yet to be kitted out with new equipment and furniture which will arrive soon.

Ian Ross, executive director said: "We have three spaces. There is the auditorium which is significant in its size, it's not a theatre, but it is an opportunity for people to present their work.

"The space itself can accommodate any company so it’s not just for us, it will be nice for other people to come here and enjoy it too.

"The second space is our training space which is slightly smaller but still has the same height and light facilities.

"There is a cafe which we hope will help with community engagement.

"On the top floor we have a third space which is much more of a community space, it’s like a pilates studio but can be used for much more.

"Then we have a board room and a creative industries office."

When the new site is fully up and running, the company hopes to expand further by offering more classes.

Ms Vardimon added: "The idea is to open classes for young people and children, even toddlers, but I really want to have a youth group

"There is no Continuous Advance Training (CAT) scheme in Kent. The closest to here is London.

"For many years young dancers have to travel to London at the weekends to do youth training.

"We hope to offer that for the community of Kent."

The first show to be produced at the new facility was Alice, a re-imagining of Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

It will premiere at The BOing Festival at The Gulbenkian Theatre in Canterbury on August 27 before touring the UK.