Paul Taylor Dance Company

What Paul Taylor Dance Company does

The Paul Taylor Dance Company, founded in 1954 and operated through the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is one of the most established American modern dance ensembles. Its core product is a touring repertory of 147 works by founder Paul Taylor plus contemporary commissions, presented primarily at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater and at international venues across more than 64 countries. The company reaches audiences through tiered ticketing ($10 student rush, $20 Under 40, group discounts) and corporate sponsorships from firms including Baron Capital, KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, Blackstone, and KKR. Its education arm, Taylor Center for Dance Education and Taylor School, delivers youth programs (ages 2-18), a professional division, intensives, summer camps, the Arnhold Tier 3 program (60+ NYC public schools, 4,000+ participants), and the Polaris Project for community engagement, with operations at two Manhattan studios (Taylor Dance West in Midtown and Taylor Dance East on the Lower East Side).

Name

Paul Taylor Dance Company

Legal name

Paul Taylor Dance Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://paultaylordance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Paul Taylor Dance Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1954 that presents modern dance performances, tours internationally, and runs youth and professional dance education programs through its Taylor Center for Dance Education across two Manhattan studios.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Modern Dance

NAICS

Dance Companies (711120), Dance Companies (71112), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Dance Competitions & Showcases (Non-Esports) (MPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Modern dance performances
• Dance education programs
• Community arts outreach
• Choreographic repertory licensing
• Performing arts training

Headquarters

HQ city

New City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Performance Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticket sales at Lincoln Center seasons, touring performances, and special events. Tickets sold through theater box offices including David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center.
2. Donations and Membership: Tax-deductible donations to the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation (501(c)(3)), membership programs including Esplanade Circle for major donors, TaylorNEXT for young patrons, and various giving levels. Bequests and planned giving programs.
3. Dance Education Classes: Revenue from Taylor School classes including professional division classes ($22 single, $105 5-class card, $200 10-class card), youth program semesters ($240-$495), and intensives.
4. Studio Rentals: Rental income from Taylor Dance West and Taylor Dance East studio spaces.
5. Licensing: Revenue from licensing Taylor Company commissions and Taylor repertory to other dance companies and presenters.
6. Corporate Partnerships: Support from corporate sponsors including Baron Capital Group, KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, Blackstone, KKR, and others at various giving levels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Paul Taylor Dance Company presents live modern dance performances of Paul Taylor's choreographic repertory and newly commissioned works, primarily at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater and on international tours to 600+ cities across 64 countries. Through the Taylor Center for Dance Education, it sells semester-based youth programs, professional-level Taylor Modern classes, open-level classes, summer intensives, and studio rentals at two Manhattan locations. Revenue is supplemented by licensing Taylor repertory to other dance companies and by tax-deductible donations, memberships, and corporate sponsorships supporting the 501(c)(3) Foundation.

Product overview

Paul Taylor Dance Foundation operates as a multi-faceted arts organization centered on the Paul Taylor Dance Company, one of the most renowned modern dance ensembles since 1954. The Foundation's portfolio includes: the Paul Taylor Dance Company (core performance ensemble), Taylor Center for Dance Education (education division), Taylor School Youth Program, Professional Division, New Voices Collection (choreography commissions), and The Taylor Collection (147 Paul Taylor dances). The company presents performances at Lincoln Center and tours internationally, while the education arm offers youth programs, professional training, summer camps, and community outreach through initiatives like the Arnhold Tier 3 Program and Polaris Project. Additional offerings include studio rentals at Taylor Dance West and Taylor Dance East locations, the Taylor Archives, and membership/donor programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Taylor Center for Dance Education: Dance education center providing training, education, and outreach opportunities across multiple Manhattan locations.
• Taylor School Youth Program
• Taylor Teen Ensemble
• New Voices Collection
• Polaris Project
• Taylor*NEXT*
• Arnhold Tier 3

Products and services

• Lincoln Center Season Performances Annual three-week New York season at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater featuring 20+ performances of Paul Taylor classics, repertory revivals, and world premieres, with tiered ticket pricing ($20 Under 40, student rush, multi-program discounts, group discounts). For individual ticket-buyers, dance enthusiasts, and corporate patrons.
• Worldwide Touring Performances International and domestic touring performances booked by theaters, festivals, and presenters worldwide. Recent tours have reached Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, Germany, Italy, Oman, Peru, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Turkey. Bookings handled by Lisa Conlon, Director of Tour Engagements.
• Performance Licensing Licensing of Paul Taylor commissions and Taylor repertory works to other dance companies and presenters for performance at their venues. Generates licensing royalty revenue for the Foundation.
• Professional Division (Taylor Modern Classes) Morning Taylor Modern classes for professional dancers ages 18+ taught by current company members and distinguished alumni. Held Tuesday-Friday 10:00-11:30am at Taylor Dance West. Pricing: $22 single class, $105 for a 5-class card, $200 for a 10-class card (pay-as-you-go).
• Taylor School Youth Program Semester-long youth dance program for ages 2-18 offering Taylor Modern curriculum and ballet, with progressive levels (Taylor Tots ages 2-3 at $240-$260, Levels 1-4 ages 4-12 at $420-$445, Taylor Teen ages 13-18 at $470-$495, and ballet classes at $445-$470 per semester).
• Open Level Classes Drop-in dance classes including ballet, modern, and fitness offerings (yoga, functional fitness, pilates) for various skill levels, with registration via the MindBody platform.
• Intensives and Summer Dance Camps Pre-professional training intensives for dance students seeking advanced training, plus seasonal summer dance camps for youth providing intensive dance education during summer months.
• Studio Rentals Rental of Taylor Dance West (307 West 38th Street, Floors 9 & 10, Midtown) and Taylor Dance East (551 Grand Street, Top Floor, Lower East Side) studios for external classes, events, rehearsals, and photo/video shoots.
• Membership Programs Patron membership programs including Esplanade Circle for major donors ($100,000+ level), TaylorNEXT for young patrons ages 21-45, and general membership levels starting at $250, providing exclusive events, behind-the-scenes access, and named recognition.
• Corporate Support / Sponsorship Corporate sponsorship and partnership programs at tiered giving levels ($25,000-$99,999 and $100,000+) for businesses supporting the Foundation's programming, including Lincoln Center Season sponsorship.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ cities visited in 64 countries since 1960
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lincoln Center / David H. Koch TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary venue for annual New York season performances. The company has presented at Lincoln Center since returning in 2022, with performances at the David H. Koch Theater featuring live music by Orchestra of St. Luke's.
• Orchestra of St. Luke'scoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongtime musical partner providing live orchestral accompaniment for performances. Music Director David LaMarche conducts, with Principal Conductor Bernard Labadie. James Roe serves as President and Executive Director.
• The Joyce Theater FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation for intimate theater engagements in New York City, providing alternative performance venue for specialized programming.
• NYC Department of Education / Office of Arts and Special ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Arnhold Tier 3 program bringing free dance performances and education to NYC public school students, parents, and teachers.
• Santo LoquastocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrincipal Set & Costume Designer with over 60 Broadway productions and multiple Tony Awards. Collaborated extensively with Paul Taylor on scenic and costume design.
• Jennifer TiptoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrincipal Lighting Designer and Tony Award winner. Has designed lighting for Taylor works since the 1960s, working on dozens of dances including Promethean Fire, Brandenburgs, and others.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pilobolus: American modern dance company with a comparable touring footprint, repertory licensing model, and educational outreach programs. Similar in scale and business mix of performance, licensing, and workshops for corporate and educational clients.
• Merce Cunningham Trust: Legacy modern dance organization stewarding the post-founder repertory and licensing estate of Merce Cunningham. Directly comparable to PTDC in managing a single-choreographer canon after the founder's passing and licensing works to other companies.
• Martha Graham Dance Company: Another legacy American modern dance company founded in the 20th century, similarly dependent on a single founder's choreography and a New York performance base. Highly comparable in repertory licensing model, educational programming, and donor-driven nonprofit economics.
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Iconic American modern dance company headquartered in New York City. Directly comparable to Paul Taylor as a peer institution of comparable size, mission, and audience profile, and the closest head-to-head competitor for Lincoln Center audiences, major donors, and top-tier choreographic talent.
• Mark Morris Dance Group: Major American modern/contemporary dance company based in New York with a strong education and touring operation. Comparable to Paul Taylor in scale, repertory-based touring model, and use of live orchestral accompaniment.

Broad incumbents

• American Ballet Theatre: Large-scale American dance company headquartered in New York with a similarly broad repertory, touring operation, and education programs. A broader incumbent that competes for the same institutional donors, touring presenters, and Lincoln Center-area audiences.
• New York City Ballet: Significantly larger dance institution resident at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater, the same venue where PTDC presents its annual season. Overlaps directly on venue and audience but operates as a much larger, broader dance portfolio (classical ballet) rather than modern dance specialty.

Others

• Juilliard School: Premier performing arts conservatory in New York offering dance, music, and drama training. Comparable as a leading dance education provider that competes for serious pre-professional students and influences the broader dance talent pipeline.
• Steps on Broadway: Large NYC dance studio offering open professional and adult classes in modern, ballet, and other styles. Comparable to PTDC's Professional Division and Open Level Classes as a paid training destination for professional and serious adult dancers.

Regional players

• Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: Major American contemporary dance company based in Chicago with significant touring and education programs. Comparable as a mid-sized dance organization with a touring and education-led model, though serving a different geographic anchor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/paultaylordance
• Facebookfacebook.com/PaulTaylorDance
• Instagraminstagram.com/paultaylordance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paul-taylor-dance-company

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Paul Taylor Dance Company