South East Dance

What South East Dance does

South East Dance is an arts charity registered in England and Wales (Registered Charity No. 1064900; Company No. 3434501), founded in 1997 and headquartered at The Dance Space, a purpose-built three-studio venue in Brighton's Circus Street cultural quarter. The organization supports professional and emerging dance artists through a portfolio of programmes including the RAPPORT international residency exchange, Rough Cuts work-in-progress sharings, Artist Support Sessions, and targeted commissions such as Just For You (Black and Global Majority artists, 2024), SAMĀNATĀ (South Asian LGBTQIA+ artists, 2025), and the Brighton Fringe Bursary. It also serves community participants through youth platforms (AllWays Dance, Propel), inclusive practice workshops (Creative Tank with Stopgap Dance Company), public classes, the annual Our City Dances festival, and free co-working space for local creatives.

The underlying infrastructure is physical rather than digital: studios (Aldridge Community Space, Weston Research Space, Jamie Watton Creation Space), accessible changing facilities, therapy rooms, and a co-working area. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization uses a dedicated online ticketing system (tickets.southeastdance.org.uk), a website, newsletter, and social media for audience engagement, and standard back-office tooling with GDPR and Fundraising Regulator compliance.

The business model blends earned and contributed income. Earned revenue comes from ticket sales for performances and classes (typically £4–£25 per session), studio and meeting-room hire to external companies, and workshop fees (£250 for a three-day workshop, with concessions and bursaries). Contributed income comprises donations, Gift Aid, and grants from Arts Council England (primary public funder), The Leche Trust, The Garrick Charitable Trust, The 29th May 1961 Charity, and British Council (for international exchange). Pricing across public programmes is heavily subsidized, freemium, or pay-what-you-can, consistent with charitable access objectives rather than margin optimization.

Name

South East Dance

Legal name

South East Dance Limited

Website

https://southeastdance.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

South East Dance is a Brighton-based UK arts charity operating The Dance Space venue, supporting professional dance artists through residencies and commissions while running community classes, youth programmes, and inclusive dance workshops.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education & Dance Services

NAICS

Dance Companies (71112), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Theatre (Narrative/Experimental) (MPAGADAC), Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI), Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance) (EDAAAGAD)

Keywords

• Dance studio services
• Artist development programs
• Community dance classes
• Venue space hire
• Arts education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brighton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from booking tickets for performances, classes, and events at The Dance Space
2. Space Hire: Rental income from hiring studio spaces, meeting rooms, and therapy space to external parties
3. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals, corporate partners, and supporters; includes Gift Aid
4. Trust and Foundation Funding: Grant funding from organizations including The Leche Trust, The Garrick Charitable Trust, British Council, and Arts Council England

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

South East Dance is an arts charity operating The Dance Space, a multi-purpose dance venue in Brighton, UK. The organization delivers dance classes for adults and young people, professional training programmes, artist development initiatives (residencies, commissions, bursaries), curated performance programmes, and hires out studio spaces to choreographers, dancers, and event organizers.

Product overview

South East Dance is an arts charity operating The Dance Space as a multi-purpose dance venue in Brighton, UK. The organization offers a portfolio of dance programmes including professional training classes, youth dance platforms (AllWays Dance, Propel), community classes (capoeira, contemporary, Bollywood, general dance), artist development initiatives (RAPPORT international residencies, Just For You commission, SAMĀNATĀ seed commission, Brighton Fringe Bursary), work-in-progress sharings (Rough Cuts), and venue hire services. The offerings center around The Dance Space as the core venue, supported by educational programmes, commissioning opportunities, and community engagement initiatives. No unified software platform or SaaS product exists—these are in-person dance services and programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RAPPORT: International Artists' Residency programme facilitating exchange between UK and international dance artists through partnerships with organizations in Australia, Italy, and Canada.
• Rough Cuts

Products and services

• The Dance Space A multi-purpose dance venue in Brighton housing seven dance studios (three with full-length mirrors, barres, and sound systems), a 90-seat studio theatre, two community spaces, and a co-working space, serving dancers, choreographers, and community members.
• Professional Training Programme A nationally recognised dance training programme for young people aged 11-18 with prior dance experience who aspire to enter professional dance training, taught at The Dance Space in Brighton.
• Rough Cuts

Quantifiable outcome

• RAPPORT program has facilitated international exchanges since 2022
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Stopgap Dance CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Leading inclusive dance company delivering Creative Tank - a dynamic three-day workshop for Disabled and non-disabled professional artists. Partnership provides bursaries including Distance Access Bursary and Dave Toole Bursary.
• Jaivant Patel CompanysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Wolverhampton-based dance company partnering with Bradford Arts Centre and South East Dance on SAMĀNATĀ: South Asian Queer Performance Seed Commission. Offers £2800 commission, R&D space, and 2 days mentoring for South Asian LGBTQIA+ identifying artists.
• Bradford Arts CentresupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Bradford-based arts venue partnering with Jaivant Patel Company and South East Dance on SAMĀNATĀ seed commission for South Asian LGBTQIA+ artists.
• Just Us Dance TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Hip Hop development charity co-creator of the 'Just For You' commission. Designed to support mid-career Black and Global Majority artists by addressing barriers they face when making and sharing work. Commission includes seed funding, studio space, and development advice.
• Dance Makers CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Australia's only collective-led dance company. Key RAPPORT international partner for artist residencies. UK artists travel to Sydney for 3-week residencies at their studios in Parramatta. Thomas Page (2025) and Jennifer Irons (2023) were among artists exchanged. Also hosts Australian artists at The Dance Space.
• ARTEFICI: Residenze CreativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Gorizia, Italy-based residency program. UK artist Liam Francis completed a 2-week residency at ARTEFICI as part of RAPPORT. Partnership enables Italian artists to reciprocate residencies at The Dance Space.
• Festival Quartiers DansessupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Montreal, Canada-based dance festival. Part of the RAPPORT international network connecting UK and international dance artists through exchange residencies.
• Project FemalecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrighton-based partner company offering inclusive dance classes for young people who identify as female or non-binary. Multiple youth dance classes held at The Dance Space including Minis, Youth, Contemporary, and Commercial/Street Dance.
• Circus StreetsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Our City Dances annual festival - a relaxed, family-friendly afternoon outside The Dance Space featuring free workshops, performances, and community activities.
• Communitas DancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Our City Dances annual festival with South East Dance and Circus Street.
• Flexer & SandilandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner company delivering intergenerational dance classes including Wednesday Improvisation (age 50+) and Friday Intergenerational Dance sessions at The Dance Space.
• Parable DancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning inclusive dance company delivering inclusive dance sessions at Our City Dances and hosting youth dance programs. Multiple classes held at The Dance Space.
• Brighton FringesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnnual arts festival. South East Dance offers Brighton Fringe Bursary covering entry fee, artist advisory session, and marketing support for performing artists.
• Q Dance CompanyminorOthersNigerian dance company led by Qudus Onikeku. Artist Angela Okolo toured with them at Brighton Dome. South East Dance hosted Angela for RAPPORT residency after her connection through Q Dance.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DanceEast: Ipswich-based dance organisation running The Jerwood DanceHouse, a purpose-built studio/performance venue with artist residency and community programmes. Closest geographic and operational analogue to The Dance Space model.
• Dance City: Newcastle-based dance development organisation that combines professional training, artist development, and community participation programming in a dedicated venue. Highly comparable operating model: regional dance hub mixing classes, residencies, and artist support.
• The Place: London-based dance institution combining professional training (London Contemporary Dance School), artist development, and a public performance programme. Comparable dual focus on training and presenting, though operating at significantly larger scale.
• Dance Umbrella: London-based international dance festival producing and commissioning contemporary dance work, with artist development and international exchange. Compares on curation, commissioning (like SAMĀNATĀ / Just For You), and international artist programming.
• Independent Dance: London-based dance artist development organisation offering residencies, research, and training for professional dance artists. Directly comparable on the artist development and continuing professional education functions.
• Yorkshire Dance: Leeds-based dance development charity supporting artists, presenting work, and engaging communities. Runs comparable programmes in artist development, participation, and venue hire, and operates as an Arts Council England NPO - a direct structural parallel.

Emerging players

• Stopgap Dance Company: Leading inclusive dance company and partner delivering Creative Tank workshops at The Dance Space. Overlaps in inclusive dance programming, professional development, and research into disabled and non-disabled dance practice.

Broad incumbents

• Northern Ballet: Leeds-based, UK-wide touring ballet and contemporary dance company with learning, participation, and artist development programmes. Comparable on participation/learning reach and on operating as a major dance institution outside London.
• Rambert: One of the UK's leading contemporary dance companies producing and touring work nationally and internationally. Overlaps on contemporary dance performance and artist development but as a producing touring company rather than a venue operator.
• Sadler's Wells: London's flagship dance house, presenting and producing contemporary dance at scale with extensive international artist programming. Comparable as a dance-presenting institution, but operates at much larger scale and geographic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/southeastdance

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 South East Dance