What HYPE Dance Studio does

HYPE Dance Studio is a private, single-location dance education business founded in 2003 in Chico, California, by Sarah Schneeweis — a former NBA Golden State Warriors dancer and current Manager of Performance Teams for the NBA Sacramento Kings. The studio serves children and pre-teens (ages 2 through early teens) across skill levels, offering tiered programs including Pre-Dance (ages 2-5), Beginning (ages 5-8), Beginning/Intermediate (ages 9+), and technique-specific classes in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, and Contemporary. It also operates the Fusion Dance Company competitive team with an advanced Fusion Pro tier, and an annual proprietary holiday production called "Believe" inspired by The Polar Express, now in its 11th year.

The business operates on a direct-to-consumer model with monthly recurring tuition structured by enrollment hours (ranging from $55/month for 30 minutes per week to a $300/month cap at 8+ hours per week). Ancillary revenue streams include private lessons ($45 per half-hour, $65 per hour), summer class cards ($90-$360 depending on age and class count), drop-in classes at $18, summer camps at $165 per camper, annual registration fees ($45 per student plus $15 per additional sibling), and a performance fee for the annual Believe production. A family discount of 25% applies when combining two dancers' rates beyond 8 hours. Enrollment is processed through The Studio Director online registration platform, with free trial classes as the primary acquisition funnel. Distribution is anchored at the 1033 Mangrove Avenue studio, supplemented by performances at Golden 1 Center (Sacramento Kings games) and the Center for the Arts at Pleasant Valley High School for major productions.

In 2025, ownership transitioned from founder Sarah Schneeweis to Ruby O'Neill, a longtime student-turned-instructor and newly named Creative Director of Fusion Dance Company. The studio has been recognized by Dance Spirit Magazine as one of the "Top 50 Studios in the U.S." and operates with no disclosed external funding, operating in a single Northern California market with 11-50 employees. The technology footprint is minimal — comprised primarily of third-party registration software and a Squarespace-hosted website — with no proprietary AI, platform, or data assets.

Name

HYPE Dance Studio

Legal name

HYPE Dance Studio

Website

https://hypedancestudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HYPE Dance Studio is a private, single-location dance education business in Chico, California, founded in 2003. It serves children ages 2 through pre-teen across pre-dance, beginner, intermediate, and competitive tiers in ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, and contemporary, monetizing primarily through monthly tuition, private lessons, and summer camps.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dance Education Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Dance Companies (71112), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI), Dance Competitions & Showcases (Non-Esports) (MPAGADAH), Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI)

Keywords

• Dance instruction
• Children dance classes
• Competitive dance team
• Summer dance camps
• Dance studio tuition

Headquarters

HQ city

Chico

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Dance Classes (Monthly Tuition): The primary revenue stream is monthly tuition for dance classes, calculated based on total enrollment hours per week. Tuition ranges from $55/month for 30 min/week to $300/month for 8+ hours/week.
2. Class Cards (Summer Session): During summer sessions, the studio offers class cards with bundled class packages ranging from 6 to unlimited classes, priced at $90-$360 depending on class duration and package size.
3. Drop-In Classes: Students can pay $18 per class for individual drop-in sessions, providing flexibility for casual learners.
4. Private Lessons: Half-hour private lessons at $45 and one-hour sessions at $65, providing premium personalized instruction.
5. Annual Registration Fees: $45 annual registration fee per student plus $15 per additional sibling for Fall/Spring semesters.
6. Summer Camps: Summer camp programs priced at $165 per camper, including structured activities and performances.
7. Believe Production Performance Fee: Cast members pay a performance fee for participation in the annual Believe holiday production.
8. Family Discounts: Family members can combine two dancers' rates up to 8 hours maximum with a 25% discount thereafter, encouraging multi-student households.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HYPE Dance Studio provides in-person dance instruction for children and youth ages 2 through 18+ across multiple styles including ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, and contemporary. Offerings span weekly semester classes, summer camps, private lessons, and the Fusion Dance Company competitive team, with students performing in annual productions such as the holiday show "Believe."

Product overview

HYPE Dance Studio is a dance instruction center offering a unified portfolio of classes and programs. The core offerings include age-targeted dance programs (Pre-Dance for ages 2-5, Beginning for ages 5-8, and Beginning/Intermediate for ages 9+) alongside technique-specific classes in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, and Contemporary. The studio operates Summer Camps (K-Pop Demon Hunters, Hip Hop), provides Private Lessons, Free Trial Classes, and hosts seasonal semester programs (Spring and Summer). Two sub-brands extend the offering: Fusion Dance Company (competitive team with Fusion Pro tier) and the annual holiday production 'Believe' inspired by The Polar Express. Performance opportunities include Sacramento Kings halftime shows, Holiday Review, and HYPErbole Spring Recital. Tuition is structured monthly for Fall/Spring semesters with Class Cards and Drop-In options for Summer sessions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fusion Dance Company: The competitive dance company program at HYPE Dance Studio offering professional dance training for aspiring young dancers, with teams competing regionally and nationally.

Products and services

• Pre-Dance Program (Ages 2-5) Introduction to dance for children ages 2-5 focused on building coordination, creativity, confidence, and classroom readiness in a nurturing environment.
• Beginning Dance Program (Ages 5-8) Foundational dance program for ages 5-8 designed to build technique, confidence, creativity, and class discipline.
• Beginning/Intermediate Dance Program (Ages 9+) Multi-style dance program for ages 9+ covering foundational and intermediate technique, confidence, creativity, and self-expression.
• Technique Classes (Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Contemporary) Style-specific weekly dance classes covering ballet fundamentals, jazz technique, hip hop styles (breaking, popping, locking, groove, jazz funk), tap rhythm and musicality, and contemporary interpretation.
• Free Trial Classes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NBA Sacramento KingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSarah Schneeweis serves as Manager of Performance Teams for the NBA Sacramento Kings. HYPE dancers perform at Sacramento Kings games, including halftime performances. The studio has traveled internationally with the Kings, leading performances at the first-ever NBA India Games.
• NBA Golden State WarriorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSarah Schneeweis is a former NBA Golden State Warriors dancer, establishing early professional credentials that support the studio's reputation.
• Varsity and Varsity ProcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSarah Schneeweis is a faculty member for Varsity and Varsity Pro, major dance education organizations. She is also a lead choreographer for UDA (Universal Dance Association).
• USASF Dance WorldsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSarah Schneeweis is a long-time judge for USASF Dance Worlds, the national championship for dance teams.
• UDA College NationalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSarah Schneeweis serves as a judge for UDA College Nationals, the national collegiate dance competition.
• Inspire School of Arts & SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHYPE instructors serve as guest choreographers for Inspire School's choreography and dance program. Ruby O'Neill is a graduate and continues as guest choreographer.
• California Regional Theater CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRuby O'Neill choreographs numerous productions for California Regional Theater Company, expanding dance opportunities beyond the studio.
• Center for the Arts, Pleasant Valley High SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Center for the Arts at Pleasant Valley High School serves as the venue for major HYPE productions including Believe, Holiday Review, and HYPErbole recitals.
• Golden 1 CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGolden 1 Center in Sacramento hosts Fusion Dance Company dancers for halftime performances during Sacramento Kings games.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Steps on Broadway: Long-established New York dance studio offering drop-in and registered classes across many styles for all ages. Directly comparable in pricing-tiered class card / drop-in structure and multi-style curriculum, but at much larger scale.
• Peridance Capezio Center: New York dance school offering open-class drop-ins, registered programs, and a Capezio retail partnership. Comparable in offering drop-in classes and class-card pricing structures alongside multi-style instruction.
• Broadway Dance Center: Iconic New York dance studio offering multi-style recreational and professional training across ages. Comparable in offering age-tiered classes across ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, and contemporary, but with a much larger faculty and national brand footprint.
• Millennium Dance Complex: Established Los Angeles-based dance studio known for multi-style and hip hop instruction with high-profile instructor talent. Comparable multi-genre curriculum and competition-track ethos, but operates at significantly greater scale and brand reach.

Direct peers

• Debbie Allen Dance Academy: Los Angeles dance school providing age-tiered multi-style instruction including ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, and contemporary, with strong performance opportunities. Comparable in mission (youth dance education with performance emphasis) though it benefits from a celebrity founder brand.
• Edge Performing Arts Center: Los Angeles dance studio focused on commercial-style training in jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and technique. Comparable in serving serious recreational and pre-professional dancers with competition/performance pathways, and competes for the same commercial dance talent pool.
• The Lab Studios: Dance training studio with a competition program and youth-focused recreational classes. Comparable in operating both recreational and competitive tracks with performance opportunities for aspiring dancers.
• Evoke Dance Movement: Regional dance studio from which HYPE has recruited instructors. Operates a similar multi-style recreational and competitive dance model in Northern California, serving the same family demographic and competing for the same Chico-area dance students.

Regional players

• Chico Community Ballet: Local ballet organization in Chico that has produced dancers who later joined HYPE's competitive team. Competes for ballet students and performance venue attention within the same Chico market.
• Pave School of the Arts: Northern California dance and arts training program that has trained dancers who subsequently joined HYPE. Comparable in age-tiered multi-style instruction and competition-track development, though Pave operates a broader arts curriculum.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hypedancestudio
• Facebookfacebook.com/hypedancestudiochico
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hype-dance-studio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 HYPE Dance Studio