PUSH Dance Company

What PUSH Dance Company does

PUSH Dance Company is a San Francisco-based nonprofit contemporary dance organization founded in 2005 by Artistic Director Raissa Simpson. The company produces contemporary dance performances, residencies, festivals, and community programs centered on BIPOC and Global Majority artists, integrating emerging technology (motion capture, AI-programmed drones, 3D imaging, extended reality) with choreography that examines algorithmic fairness, digital redlining, and racial justice. Its core products include the annual PUSHfest Dance Festival (the 8th edition running in October 2025 with 13+ choreographers across four programs), PUSHLab performance workshop, the HART and BASE artist residencies, and studio classes at The Sanctuary. The Sanctuary, a permanent home at 447 Minna Street in SoMa that opened to the public in October 2023, functions as the operational hub and includes a CAST Black Box Theater with 49 seats.

PUSH generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit model: ticket sales ($20-$100 across PUSHfest tiers), drop-in class tuition ($60-$75/class), PUSHLab tuition ($220 with scholarships), studio rentals, merchandise, individual donations (leadership tier at $1,000+), and foundation grants from Fleishhacker, Phyllis C. Wattis, Kenneth Rainin, and the California Arts Council, plus city funding via the Dream Keeper Initiative and SF Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative. The BΛSE Network, a free worldwide membership for Global Majority Artists, builds community and feeds the talent pipeline. The company has presented at over 50 venues nationwide including Joyce SoHo, Aspen Fringe Festival, and Ailey Theater New York, and 65% of its staff and artists have gone on to support larger organizations, establishing PUSH as a recognized talent development pipeline in the Bay Area dance ecosystem.

Name

PUSH Dance Company

Legal name

PUSH Dance Company

Website

https://pushdance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PUSH Dance Company is a San Francisco-based nonprofit contemporary dance organization founded in 2005, serving BIPOC and Global Majority artists through performances, residencies, festivals, and classes at its permanent venue, The Sanctuary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Services

NAICS

Dance Companies (711120), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ), Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts (MPAGABAI), Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Dance Floor, Staging & Platform Rentals (HSACAFAD)

Keywords

• Contemporary dance performances
• Dance education classes
• Artist residency programs
• Dance festival production
• Community dance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Class and Workshop Tuition: Drop-in studio classes (GYROKINESIS, Mat Pilates, Modern Natya, Restorative Yoga, Vinyasa, Zumba) and specialty workshops are sold at per-session rates ($60–$75/class for teaching artists). PUSHLab performance workshop charges $220 tuition upon acceptance (scholarships available). PUSHLab scholarship audition costs $15. Revenue is recurring per class/season.
2. Performance and Festival Ticket Sales: Tickets sold for PUSHfest (Programs A–D), Spring Showcase, The Motley Experiment, and other performances. Pricing ranges from $20 (student/senior/educator) to $55 (Fast Pass) to $100 (Festival Pass). General admission advance tickets $30–$35. The Motley Experiment offered audience-choice pricing at $10, $25, or $50.
3. Grants and Foundation Funding: PUSH receives grant awards from public and private foundations. Documented grants include: Fleishhacker Foundation (2022), Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation (2022 — New Works award), Kenneth Rainin Foundation (P4C funding), Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative ($75,000 for ADA-accessible dance floor), California Arts Council Innovations Grant (racial equity workshops with Dancing Around Race), and SF Grants for the Arts. Total operating expenses allow 85% of income to go to programming.
4. Individual Donations and Membership: PUSH accepts tax-deductible donations at any amount. Small donors receive recognition in newsletters, website, and social media. Leadership donations at $1,000+ include naming recognition on lobby wall and newsletters. The organization maximizes impact with 85% of income directed to programming.
5. Sanctuary Studio Rental: The Sanctuary (447 Minna St) is available for studio rentals and event bookings. Community programs including BΛSE Residency and Sanctuary Residency offer space to external choreographers and artists. This represents a recurring facilities-revenue stream.
6. Teaching Artist and Company Artist Compensation: PUSH employs teaching artists at $60–$75/class (3-month temporary part-time with potential annual hiring). Company artists receive competitive hourly studio and technical rehearsal pay plus payment per performance. Company auditions are open (video submission) for paid positions that may lead to ongoing work.
7. Merchandise Sales: The Sanctuary Shop sells merchandise (apparel and goods) through the PUSH website. This represents a small ancillary e-commerce revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

PUSH Dance Company is a non-profit contemporary dance organization that produces and presents original dance performances, delivers dance education through in-person and online classes and intensives, runs paid artist apprenticeships, and operates artist residencies and an annual dance festival (PUSHfest). Its programs center BIPOC and Global Majority artists and integrate technology such as motion capture, AI-programmed drones, and extended reality into choreography that addresses social justice themes. The Sanctuary at 447 Minna Street in San Francisco serves as its permanent home, studio space, and community hub.

Product overview

PUSH Dance Company operates as a single unified organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of dance education, performance, and community programs. The core offerings include PUSHfest Dance Festival (the annual flagship event), PUSHLab Performance Workshop (educational component with apprenticeships), and The Sanctuary (their home venue and cultural center). Supporting programs include various dance classes (Studio, Online, Summer Intensive, Kids Camp), residencies (Sanctuary, HART, BΛSE), and the BΛSE Network (global artist membership). The company integrates contemporary dance with technology and social justice themes, creating an interconnected ecosystem of training, performance, and community building centered on BIPOC and global majority artists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PUSHfest Dance Festival Annual flagship dance festival showcasing emerging and mid-career choreographers across four programs over two days, with mixed-genre works, audience-choice awards, and honoraria for featured choreographers. Designed for dancers, choreographers, audiences, and the Bay Area arts community.
• PUSHLab Performance Workshop Immersive six-week performance workshop for dancers 18+ at all skill levels (minimum three years dance experience), featuring choreography by award-winning artists, paid apprenticeship opportunities, and performance showcase at PUSHfest. Bridges training and professional company membership with scholarships available.
• Spring Showcase Annual showcase featuring Sanctuary Residency artists presenting works-in-progress and new creations, held at The Sanctuary venue in San Francisco. Targets Bay Area dance audiences and visiting choreographers.
• Studio Dance Classes In-person dance classes at The Sanctuary in San Francisco spanning GYROKINESIS, Mat Pilates, Modern Natya, Restorative Yoga, Vinyasa, Zumba, and contemporary technique for all levels. Open to adults seeking dance and wellness instruction.
• Online Dance Classes Virtual dance instruction and workshops accessible remotely, complementing in-studio offerings at The Sanctuary. Designed for remote learners and dancers unable to attend in-person.
• Summer Intensive Premier annual summer performance intensive limited to 25 dancers, training contemporary technique with guest artists and culminating in an industry showcase. Targets serious dancers seeking intensive summer training.
• Kids Dance Camp Youth dance programming for children offering foundational movement education in a fun, supportive environment. Targeted at kids and families seeking introductory dance instruction.
• BΛSE Network Worldwide free membership network for Global Majority Artists (BIPOC Artists Sanctuary & Enrichment) providing resources including grant alerts, wellness articles, performance calendars, work-study programs, and job opportunities. Open to BIPOC artists globally.
• BΛSE Residency Eight-week paid residency engaging 5 early-career BIPOC and QTBIPOC teaching artists in artistic and pedagogical activities, including studio space, technical director support, marketing, video documentation, and $2,000 stipends per resident. Culminates in a community-facing showcase.
• HART Residency (Hip Hop Artist Resident Training) Four-month residency providing training and performance opportunities to 8 Black resident artists (ages 18+) with aspirations in Hip Hop theater, combining dance, music, and visual art through a racial and social justice lens. Co-produced with Zaccho Dance Theatre.
• Sanctuary Residency

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of total operating income goes directly to community programming
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• David Herrera Performance CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2023PUSH and David Herrera Performance Company co-curate Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest, a two-weekend festival of site-specific work showcasing the Bay Area dance scene. David Herrera (Artistic Director) and PUSH Artistic Director Raissa Simpson and Associate Artistic Director Ashley Gayle design the annual festival programming. The two companies have designed the sixth annual YBG ChoreoFest with performances by an array of distinguished local dance companies.
• RAWdanceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2023RAWdance originally programmed the first five years of Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest before co-curating with David Herrera Performance Company and PUSH Dance Company from 2023 onward.
• Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020CAST is PUSH's landlord and key operational partner for The Sanctuary. CAST engaged PUSH as a potential tenant at 447 Minna in January 2021. CAST operates the Black Box Theater (seats 49) on the 1st floor where PUSHfest performances are held. CAST co-presented Bay Area Dance Week events with PUSH at The Parks at 5M. CAST provided the Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative funding ($75,000) for PUSH's ADA-accessible dance floor.
• Gelfand Partners ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGelfand Partners Architects designed The Sanctuary space at 447 Minna, working with PUSH on architecture, renderings, and contract work for the 3rd-floor buildout that opened in 2023.
• Bayview Opera HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPUSH and Bayview Opera House co-presented the world premiere of The Motley Experiment in February 2021. Bayview Opera House, the oldest operating theater in San Francisco (est. 1888), is a cultural hub in the African American Arts and Cultural District. The Bayview Opera House's BAG (Building Arts Generation) funds the HART residency.
• Zaccho Dance TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPUSH and Zaccho Dance Theatre co-produce the HART (Hip Hop Artist Resident Training) residency, a 4-month program for 8 Black resident artists combining Hip Hop dance, music, and visual art. Zaccho's HART program host workshops led by resident artists. Zaccho and PUSH co-hosted 'Grounded Flow' contemporary floor work masterclass (May 2025). Erik K Raymond Lee serves as Director of Zaccho Dance Ensemble and Director of PUSH & Zaccho's HART program.
• Dancing Around RaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPUSH partnered with Dancing Around Race (DAR) to host three racial equity workshops for arts organizations, artists, nonprofits, and government agencies as part of a California Arts Council Innovations Grant. DAR co-interrogated with Yayoi Kambara (who received an Isadora Duncan Award as co-interrogator of Dancing Around Race).
• Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPUSH Dance Company and Raissa Simpson participated in 'Building Universes' at MoAD in collaboration with SFMOMA, featuring live dance performances in the galleries responding to exhibitions including Suzanne Jackson: What Is Love and UNBOUND: Art, Blackness & the Universe.
• SFMOMAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFMOMA co-presented 'Building Universes' with MoAD and PUSH Dance Company, with Raissa Simpson and other artists performing at both institutions in a cross-museum event exploring Black futurity and artistic practice.
• Bay Area Dance Week / 100+ Bay Area Dance GroupsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPUSH participates in Bay Area Dance Week (BADW), a city-wide festival drawing 100+ dance groups and 20,000+ participants. BADW began in 1998 as a local response to National Dance Week and is one of the largest dance festivals in the country.
• 3rd Street Youth Center & ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPUSH developed Point Shipyard Project with input from Bayview Hunters Point youth and residents in partnership with the 3rd Street Youth Center & Clinic. The 3rd Street Youth Center also provided music for the original premiere.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AXIS Dance Company: Oakland-based dance company integrating disabled and non-disabled artists. Comparable Bay Area footprint, equity-centered mission, and touring model to PUSH.
• Counterpulse: SF nonprofit performance and community space supporting experimental dance and BIPOC artists. Similar operating scale, equity-centered mission, and venue-as-sanctuary positioning to PUSH's Sanctuary.
• RAWdance: Bay Area contemporary dance company that co-curated YBG ChoreoFest with PUSH from 2023. Operates at comparable scale with overlapping presenter relationships.
• Zaccho Dance Theatre: San Francisco-based contemporary dance company co-producing PUSH's HART residency. Shares a similar BIPOC-centered mission, site-specific work, and Bayview Hunters Point community partnerships.
• Margaret Jenkins Dance Company: Long-running San Francisco contemporary dance company with similar longevity (founded 1973), national touring reach, and 50+ year artistic-directorship continuity analogous to PUSH's Raissa Simpson stewardship.
• Alonzo King LINES Ballet: San Francisco-based contemporary ballet company with its own performance venue (LINES Center) and national touring footprint. Comparable in scale, mission focus, and Bay Area venue ownership to PUSH.
• Joe Goode Performance Group: San Francisco-based dance company working at the intersection of movement, theater, and social issues. Comparable thematic focus on social-justice content and Bay Area institutional positioning to PUSH.
• Robert Moses' Kin: San Francisco contemporary dance company where PUSH founder Raissa Simpson was a former performer. Directly comparable in artistic style, Bay Area operations, and choreographic ambition.
• ODC Theater: San Francisco dance institution that has hosted PUSH performances (CODELINING, 10th Anniversary PUSHfest). Operates a comparable dance-presenting theater and school with overlapping Bay Area audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: Larger SF presenting institution that anchors the SoMa arts district where PUSH's Sanctuary is housed. Overlapping audience for contemporary dance and co-presentation venue for Bay Area dance programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pushsf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pushdance
• Instagraminstagram.com/pushdance
• Xx.com/pushdance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 PUSH Dance Company