Turning the Wheel Productions

What Turning the Wheel Productions does

Turning the Wheel Productions is a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts and education organization founded in 1989 in Boulder, Colorado by dancer and educator Alana Shaw. The organization delivers embodied arts programming—movement, dance, theater, improvisation, and somatic practices—to underserved youth, educators, adults, and corporate clients through in-school and after-school residencies, community ROMPS events, multi-day retreats, and touring performances. Its core intellectual property is the Body Now methodology and tools such as Wonder Questions, codified over 35+ years and published in two of Shaw's books.

The product portfolio spans Youth Outreach (K-12 and underserved populations), Body Now workshops and facilitator certification, annual summer retreats at locations such as Whidbey Island, customized corporate workshops, week-long community caravans, the touring 'Stardust and Water' performance, and virtual Monday Morning YES sessions. Distribution is entirely human-facilitated and regional, with city branches and coordinators in Boulder, Los Angeles, Wilmington, Cedar Rapids, Missoula, Port Angeles, and Orcas Island. There is no digital product, app, or API surface.

Revenue is diversified across small individual donations (suggested $10/month), foundation grants (Andy Warhol, Helen Frankenthaler, Gerstacker, NEA, SCFD, Community Foundation of Boulder, Orcas Community Foundation, Thanksgiving Fund, Hatchfund), sliding-scale workshop fees ($45-$60), retreat and corporate engagement fees, ticket sales ($12-$15), and book sales. The organization has reached over 100,000 people across 1,000+ schools and organizations in its history, but its reliance on small grants and founder-led operations makes it sensitive to federal arts funding volatility, as demonstrated by the 2025 NEA suspension and subsequent emergency bridge funding.

Name

Turning the Wheel Productions

Legal name

Turning the Wheel Productions Inc.

Website

https://turningthewheel.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Turning the Wheel Productions is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 1989 that delivers embodied arts education—movement, dance, theater, and somatic practices—to underserved youth, educators, adults, and corporate clients across roughly 12 U.S. cities through residencies, workshops, retreats, and performances.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI), Performing Arts & Music Lessons (Dance, Drumming, Instrument Lessons, Theater) (THAJAKAC)

Keywords

• Arts education programs
• Community movement workshops
• Youth outreach programs
• Somatic coaching methodology
• Community dance performance

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Primary revenue source including individual donations ($10/month suggested), foundation grants (Andy Warhol Foundation, Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, Gerstacker Foundation, NEA), and corporate/foundation sponsorships.
2. Program Fees: Fees for workshops, retreats, and Body Now certification programs. Sliding scale pricing available to maintain accessibility.
3. Performance Revenue: Ticket sales for major performances like Stardust and Water ($12-$15 per ticket).
4. Product Sales: Sale of books authored by Alana Shaw including 'The Body Now - Birthing The Yes Collective' and 'Dancing Our Way Home'.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Turning the Wheel Productions delivers in-person and virtual arts education programs rooted in a 35+ year somatic-movement methodology developed by founder Alana Shaw. Its primary offerings include Youth Outreach residencies in schools and after-school programs, Body Now movement workshops and certification, week-long Caravan residencies that culminate in community performances, annual Summer Retreats, corporate team-building workshops, and theatrical productions such as Stardust and Water. Programs serve youth (especially underserved populations), educators, mental health professionals, corporate teams, and general community members across 12 U.S. cities.

Product overview

Turning the Wheel Productions is a national nonprofit arts and education organization founded in 1989 that offers a diverse portfolio of programs focused on creative expression, movement arts, and community building. The core offerings include Youth Outreach school programs, the Body Now movement-based workshop and certification program, annual Summer Retreats, Corporate Workshops for team building, and facilitated Caravans (residency programs). The organization also produces theatrical performances like 'Stardust and Water,' hosts community ROMP! movement events, and provides Facilitator Certification training. Publications include founder Alana Shaw's book 'The Body Now - Birthing The Yes Collective.' Programs are delivered across multiple U.S. cities including Boulder, Los Angeles, Wilmington, Cedar Rapids, and Missoula, reaching thousands of youth and adults annually through in-person programming, virtual sessions, and performances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Outreach
• Body Now
• Body Now Certification
• Summer Retreat
• Corporate Workshops
• Conscious Body Coaching
• Stardust and Water
• Caravans
• ROMP!
• The Body Now - Birthing The Yes Collective
• Dancing Our Way Home

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ people served in 27 years across 12 cities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and major.

• ALOC MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado-based video production and photography company that collaborated on premiere of Stardust and Water performance. Focus on art, lifestyle, and culture content.
• LA's BESTmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership bringing arts education to Los Angeles youth through LA's BEST after-school program serving ages 5-18.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• National Dance Institute: National nonprofit founded in 1976 that brings dance education into schools and community settings, with a strong focus on underserved youth — directly comparable to TTW's Youth Outreach and Caravans.
• Young Audiences Arts for Learning: National nonprofit network delivering in-school arts residencies across disciplines to K-12 students, including dance and theater. Comparable model: school-based delivery, donor-funded, mission-aligned with underserved youth.
• Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts: Provides arts-based teaching residencies for early childhood and K-12 classrooms through artist-in-residence programs, similar in delivery and beneficiary profile to TTW's school partnerships.
• Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival: National dance center offering performances, education programs, and community engagement; comparable as a dance-focused nonprofit combining performance, training, and outreach.
• Marquis Studios: Nonprofit providing in-school and after-school arts residencies (including dance and theater) to schools and community organizations. Comparable delivery model and audience.
• Creative Action: Nonprofit using theater and arts to engage youth and communities in social-emotional learning, similar in mission, methodology (arts-based SEL), and school-based delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Center Education: Major performing arts institution with a broad portfolio of education and community programs; overlaps with TTW's arts education mission at greater scale and brand recognition.

Emerging players

• Dancers Over 40 / STREB / Action Troupe: Elizabeth Streb's action dance company with community programming; comparable as a movement-based nonprofit blending performance, education, and outreach.

Others

• National Performance Network: National network that supports performing artists and presenters, including community-engaged work — adjacent infrastructure relevant to TTW's community performance model.
• Pentacle (Dance Support Organization): Nonprofit providing management and production support to dance companies; relevant ecosystem peer as TTW's performance arm grows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/turningthewheel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNp72sf1_MQfx3r-xsAx1SA
• Facebookfacebook.com/TurningTheWheel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1846334/admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/turningthewheelnational

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Turning the Wheel Productions