Dance Theater Erfurt

What Dance Theater Erfurt does

Dance Theater Erfurt (legally Tanztheater Erfurt e.V.) is a non-profit dance theater association and dance school founded on February 1, 2007 in Erfurt, Germany, operating as both a professional production company and a community-facing dance school. The organization runs three core product lines: (1) a Tanzschule offering recurring subscription and unit-priced courses in ballet, contemporary, modern jazz, breakdance, hip hop, flamenco, Pilates, and creative children's dance for approximately 350 members; (2) a professional Company producing contemporary dance theater works, often co-produced with Theater Erfurt and Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar, including the award-winning 'Ein Schritt von Dir'; and (3) a Junior Company developing youth performers through productions such as Pinocchio and Romeo und Julia. Distribution combines in-person course delivery at two studios (Lachsgasse 3 and Dalbergsweg), ticketed performances at Theater Erfurt and Studio.Box, weekend studio rental, an annual Internationales Tanztheater Festival Erfurt (10th edition in 2026), Summer School intensives, and the contact.energy choreographer competition.

The business model blends four revenue streams: recurring membership and course fees (subscription plus unit-priced tiers ranging from EUR 12 to EUR 79 per month per student), transaction-based performance ticket sales, multi-source public cultural funding (TANZPAKT Stadt-Land-Bund 2025-2030, Stadtverwaltung Erfurt, Kulturstiftung Thüringen, Thüringer Ministerium für Bildung und Kultur, Kulturstiftung des Bundes, Sparkassenstiftungen, Aktion Mensch), and weekend studio rental fees. Marketing and distribution are primarily community-led and event-driven, executed through the organization's website, Facebook/Instagram/YouTube presence, email newsletter, and co-marketing with regional cultural partners. Geographic scope is regional (Thuringia), with selective international collaborations (Ulrike Quade Company Amsterdam; ECHODRAMA Athens).

Operationally, leadership is anchored by Founder and Artistic Director Ester Ambrosino and Choreographer/Büroleitung Lucia Giarratana, supported by a board (Daniela Backhaus, Michael Krause, Andreas Handschuh) and project-management staff (Nikola Schramm, Lena Schröter). The organization is relocating in 2027 to KulturQuartier Schauspielhaus, where it will operate three new rehearsal rooms and access the Large Hall, establishing the Bewegungsraum.Erfurt – Zentrum für Zeitgenössischen Tanz as a permanent center for contemporary dance in Thuringia.

Name

Dance Theater Erfurt

Legal name

Tanztheater Erfurt e.V.

Website

https://tanztheater-erfurt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Non-profit dance theater and dance school in Erfurt, Germany, founded 2007, operating a professional Company, Junior Company, and ~350-member Tanzschule producing contemporary dance theater productions, an annual international festival, and community dance education for children, youth, and adults in Thuringia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dance Education and Performing Arts

NAICS

Dance Companies (711120), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance Performances (THAJAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Dance education services
• Contemporary dance productions
• Dance school programs
• Performing arts company
• Dance theater festival

Headquarters

HQ city

Erfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Dance School Membership and Course Fees: Monthly membership fees and course fees from approximately 350 members taking dance courses across various disciplines including ballet, contemporary, modern jazz, breakdance, flamenco, and Pilates. Course fees range from 25-42 EUR per course depending on duration (60 or 90 minutes) and membership status.
2. Performance and Event Tickets: Ticket sales from professional dance productions performed at Theater Erfurt, Studio.Box, and other venues. Productions include Company performances and Junior Company showcases.
3. Public Cultural Funding and Grants: Receives ongoing support from TANZPAKT Stadt-Land-Bund (2027-2029), as well as funding from Stadtverwaltung Erfurt, Kulturstiftung Thüringen, Thüringer Ministerium für Bildung und Kultur, and other public cultural foundations.
4. Studio Rental: Rents out dance studios (Lachsgasse and Dalbergsweg locations) on weekends and weekday mornings for workshops and training. Studios equipped with dance floors, ballet bars, mirrors, and sound systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tanztheater Erfurt e.V. operates a community dance school and professional dance theater company in Erfurt, Germany. It delivers dance education for all ages (children from 3, youth, adults) across disciplines including ballet, contemporary, modern jazz, breakdance, flamenco, hip hop, and Pilates; produces contemporary dance theater performances with live music; runs a Junior Company for youth performers; and organizes an annual Internationales Tanztheater Festival.

Product overview

Dance Theater Erfurt is a dance theater company and dance school offering a comprehensive portfolio centered around contemporary dance. The core offerings include a dance school with diverse courses (Ballett, Contemporary, Modern Dance, Breakdance, HipHop, Flamenco, Pilates, and children's dance), a professional Company producing dance theater productions, and a Junior Company for youth performers. The organization operates an annual International Dance Theater Festival (10th edition in 2026) and runs Summer School programs. Key productions include 'Ein Schritt von Dir' (awarded Thüringer Theaterpreis 2026) and 'BEGEGNUNGEN – TANZTHEATER INKLUSIV'. Additional services include studio rentals and the 'contact.energy' dance competition. The organization is relocating to KulturQuartier Schauspielhaus in 2027, which will provide expanded rehearsal and performance spaces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tanzschule (Dance School) Community dance school offering recurring dance courses for approximately 350 members across all age groups (children from age 3, youth, adults) in disciplines including Ballet, Contemporary, Modern Dance, Modern Jazz, Breakdance, Hip Hop, Flamenco, Pilates, and creative children's dance, delivered in-person at studios in Erfurt.
• Tanztheater Erfurt Company Professional dance company producing contemporary dance theater productions, often with live music, performed at Theater Erfurt, Studio.Box, and partner venues. Collaborations include joint productions with Theater Erfurt and Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar.
• Junior Company Youth dance company offering children and teenagers performance opportunities through structured productions such as Pinocchio, Peter und der Wolf, Momo, and Romeo und Julia, including collaborations with regional choirs and ensembles.
• Summer School Intensive summer dance program offering multi-week workshops in ballet and contemporary dance with professional instructors, scheduled annually (Summer School 2026 with Lucia Giarratana).
• Internationales Tanztheater Festival Erfurt Annual international dance theater festival hosted in Erfurt, featuring international guest performances, participatory formats, new productions, and the contact.energy competition for young choreographers.
• Studioräume mieten (Studio Rental) Rental of two equipped dance studios (80sqm at Lachsgasse 3 and 60sqm at Dalbergsweg 1) featuring dance floors, ballet bars, mirror walls, sound systems, and WiFi, available on weekends and weekday mornings for external workshops and training.

Quantifiable outcome

• Selected as one of only 10 projects nationwide for TANZPAKT Stadt-Land-Bund (2025-2030) funding
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Theater ErfurtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing primary cooperation partner for dance productions. Joint productions include 'Romeo und Julia', 'Orpheus und Eurydike', 'Die Göttliche Komödie', 'Magnificat', 'Face Me – Le Sacre du printemps', 'Reprise', and 'MOMO'. Theater Erfurt provides main stage venue for annual performances and year-end showcases featuring approximately 300 participants.
• Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar (DNT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor cooperation partner for cross-institutional dance projects. Joint productions under TanzWert project include 'Reprise' (2025 at Theater Rudolstadt), 'Face Me – Le Sacre du printemps', and 'Die Göttliche Komödie'. Combines DNT musical resources with Tanztheater Erfurt choreography.
• KulturQuartier SchauspielhauscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor relocation planned for 2027. Will provide three new rehearsal spaces and access to the Large Hall. KulturQuartier is a culture cooperative with over 900 members. Partnership also includes Kinoklub Erfurt and Radio F.R.E.I. Erfurt as joint tenants in the historic building.
• Kinoklub ErfurtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner in KulturQuartier Schauspielhaus project. Co-tenant in the KulturQuartier building project.
• Radio F.R.E.I. ErfurtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal radio station cooperation partner in KulturQuartier Schauspielhaus project. Co-tenant and cultural collaborator.
• Philharmonisches Orchester ErfurtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Magnificat production combining orchestral music with dance choreography at Erfurter Kaufmannskirche.
• Opernchor des Theaters ErfurtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Orpheus und Eurydike production combining opera chorus with dance.
• Kaufmannsgesellschaft Erfurt e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for Magnificat production at Erfurter Kaufmannskirche, a Bach memorial site.
• Ev. Stadtakademie Meister Eckhart ErfurtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on 'Tanz im ewigen Jetzt' project combining dance with Meister Eckhart philosophy, performed at Barfüßerkloster ruins.
• Kunsthalle ErfurtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for 'BEGEGNUNGEN – TANZTHEATER INKLUSIV' inclusive dance theater event featuring choreographers from Germany and Austria.
• Kinder- und Jugendchor am Erfurter DomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Pinocchio production with children's choir performing alongside Tanztheater Junior Company.
• University of ErfurtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanned exchange format for dance and performance students in partnership with TANZPAKT funding, enabling practical work with experienced instructors.
• Dachverband Tanz Deutschland e.V.minorOthersNational dance umbrella organization member, implementing partner of TANZPAKT Stadt-Land-Bund funding program.
• LAG Soziokultur ThüringenminorOthersThuringian state association for socio-culture, member organization supporting cultural work.
• Thüringer TheaterverbandminorOthersThuringian theater association, member organization for performing arts.
• ECHODRAMA Cultural Group (Athens)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration on 'Dazwischen das Meer' production exploring Mediterranean themes with live music.
• Ulrike Quade Company (Amsterdam)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational coproduction partner for 'The Fairy Queen' opera, combining dance theater with puppetry in Dutch-German collaboration.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Peers

• Folkwang Tanzstudio:

Broad incumbents

• Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch: Iconic German dance theater company based in Wuppertal. Closely comparable to Tanztheater Erfurt as a German dance theater producing original choreographic works with live performance and educational outreach, though at materially larger scale and global recognition.
• Staatsballett Berlin: Major German state ballet company operating across three Berlin venues. Comparable as a German dance company producing full-length classical and contemporary work, though at substantially larger scale and with state-subsidized institutional backing.
• Hamburg Ballett: Long-established German ballet company under John Neumeier. Operates a comparable dual model of professional company performances plus ballet academy/school for talent development, comparable to Tanztheater Erfurt's Company + Junior Company + dance school integration.

Direct peers

• Sasha Waltz & Guests: Berlin-based independent dance company producing contemporary dance theater productions with cross-genre collaboration (opera, film, installation). Highly comparable model: independent company producing choreographic works with associated educational/community programming.
• Tanzhaus NRW: Düsseldorf-based dance center combining professional production, dance education across multiple styles, residencies and festivals. Operates a comparable hybrid model to Tanztheater Erfurt's school + company + festival structure, with similar focus on contemporary dance infrastructure in a German region.
• Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company: Independent German dance company producing contemporary choreography with associated school programs. Comparable scale and independent-producer model to Tanztheater Erfurt, with similar focus on mid-size German contemporary dance infrastructure.
• Compagnie Toula Limnaios: Berlin-based independent contemporary dance company of similar independent scale to Tanztheater Erfurt, producing original choreographic works. Comparable as a German independent contemporary dance producer without a fixed institutional venue.
• Kampnagel Hamburg: Hamburg-based performing arts center producing contemporary dance, theater and performance with associated residency and education programs. Comparable hybrid venue-producer model for contemporary dance presentation and artist development in Germany.

Others

• Palucca Hochschule für Tanz Dresden: Dresden-based higher education institution for dance. Directly comparable as a German dance education provider — Tanztheater Erfurt's office manager Lucia Giarratana holds a Master's from Palucca — and shares the dance pedagogy talent pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@tanztheater-erfurt
• Facebookfacebook.com/tanztheatererfurt
• Instagraminstagram.com/tanztheater_erfurt/?hl=de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tanztheater-erfurt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Dance Theater Erfurt