Martha Graham

What Martha Graham does

Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance (operating as Martha Graham Dance Company) is a New York-based nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1926 and the oldest professional dance company in the United States. Its core product is the performance of a 181-ballet repertoire built around the proprietary Martha Graham Technique — a contraction-and-release movement methodology trademarked by the Center — supported by continuous commissioning of new works from contemporary choreographers. The organization is structured as a federation of wholly owned operating units: the Martha Graham Dance Company (professional touring ensemble), the Martha Graham School (the oldest professional dance school in the U.S.), Graham 2 (pre-professional second company), and Martha Graham Resources (licensing and archives).

The business model is multi-stream and characteristic of a mid-tier nonprofit arts institution. Performance revenue is generated through ticket sales at major U.S. venues (Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center) and international touring across more than 50 countries, with bookings handled by Rena Shagan Associates in North America and Opus 3 Artists globally. Licensing revenue comes from fees paid by 100+ colleges/universities and professional companies (including American Ballet Theatre, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Royal Ballet of Flanders) to stage Graham reconstructions, augmented by archive research fees ($100–$150). Donations are a critical revenue layer, organized through the GRAHAM100 tiered membership ($100–$10,000) and Patreon subscriptions. Facility revenue is generated by renting six state-of-the-art dance studios at the new 1501 Broadway headquarters. Customer segments split across B2B (professional dance companies, higher education institutions, high schools), B2C (performing arts audiences, dance students), and philanthropic supporters. The organization is currently in the culminating season of its three-year 100th anniversary celebration (2025–26) and has no venture capital or private equity backing; it is governed by a Board of Trustees led by Co-Chairs Javier Morgado and Barbara Cohen, with LaRue Allen (President/ED) and Janet Eilber (Artistic Director) in operational leadership since 2005.

Name

Martha Graham

Legal name

Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance

Website

https://marthagraham.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance operates the oldest U.S. professional dance company, school, and licensing program built around a proprietary 181-ballet repertoire and trademarked technique, serving professional companies, 100+ universities, and global audiences through performances, licensing, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Dance Company

NAICS

Dance Companies (71112), Dance Companies (711120), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Theatre (Narrative/Experimental) (MPAGADAC), Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance) (EDAAAGAD)

Keywords

• Contemporary dance performances
• Dance technique training
• Ballet licensing services
• Dance studio rentals
• Performing arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Performance Revenue: Revenue from ticket sales for performances at venues across the US and internationally, including touring engagements at major venues such as the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, and international locations.
2. Donations and Membership: Donations through the GRAHAM100 campaign with tiered membership ($100-$10,000+) offering exclusive access to behind-the-scenes rehearsals, private events, cocktail hours with artistic leadership, and dress rehearsals. Includes Patreon subscriptions.
3. Licensing Fees: Revenue from licensing Graham ballets to professional dance companies, colleges, universities, and high schools. Professional licensing includes top-level regisseurs and reconstruction materials. Research fees of $150 for film/photographs licensing and $100 for on-site archive access.
4. Studio Rentals: Rental of six state-of-the-art dance studios suitable for classes, auditions, seminars, lectures, rehearsals, and photo shoots. May qualify for NYSCA subsidized hours for New York State dance companies.
5. Booking Fees: Revenue from booking the company for performances, master classes, film screenings, gallery shows, lectures, and workshops at various venues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance operates the oldest professional dance company in the United States (founded 1926), producing and touring Graham masterworks and new commissioned contemporary dance performances. The organization also runs the oldest professional school of dance in the U.S. (Martha Graham School), a pre-professional second company (Graham 2), and a licensing division (Martha Graham Resources) that licenses 181 Graham ballets along with reconstruction materials to professional companies and educational institutions.

Product overview

The Martha Graham Dance Company offers a portfolio of interconnected performing arts products and services. At its core is the professional dance company (the oldest in the U.S.), which performs both Graham masterworks and newly commissioned works through its touring/booking services. The company is supported by the Martha Graham School (training) and Graham 2 (pre-professional development). Revenue-generating products include the licensing program through Martha Graham Resources (licensing ballets to other companies and institutions), studio rentals at their Midtown headquarters, and the GRAHAM100 sub-brand encompassing the 100th anniversary celebration with its global Lamentation Variations project. All offerings are unified by the preservation and continuation of Martha Graham's artistic legacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Martha Graham Dance Company The oldest professional dance company in the United States, performing Graham masterworks and new works by contemporary choreographers. The company tours nationally and internationally.
• Martha Graham School The oldest professional school of dance in the United States and the only one primarily focused on the Martha Graham Technique and repertory. Provides training in the Graham Technique for beginning, intermediate, and advanced students.
• Graham 2 A pre-professional company and second company of the Martha Graham Dance Company, providing training and performance opportunities for emerging dancers as a development pipeline to the main Company.
• Martha Graham Resources Licensing Program Licenses Graham ballets (181 works) to professional dance companies, colleges, universities, and high schools. Provides professional regisseurs, reconstruction materials, Noguchi sets/props rental, and company-quality costumes. Also provides archival research access (film, photographs) at fixed research fees.
• Lamentation Variations An ongoing creative project where choreographers create short dances inspired by Martha Graham's iconic solo Lamentation. Performances are shown with a film of Graham followed by three variations.
• Booking and Touring Services Domestic, national, and international touring services for presenting the Graham Company at venues, supplemented by auxiliary events such as master classes, film screenings, gallery shows, lectures, and workshops.
• Studio Rentals Rental of six state-of-the-art dance studios at the 1501 Broadway Midtown Manhattan headquarters, suitable for classes, auditions, yoga, Pilates, seminars, lectures, rehearsals, and photo shoots. NYSCA subsidized hours are available for qualifying New York State dance companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 dancers have performed as members of the Company since founding in 1926
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PHILADANCO!coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026A collaboration for 'in case of fire, speak' choreographed by Tommie Waheed-Evans, featuring four Graham dancers and four from PHILADANCO!. The work is inspired by Graham's 'American Document' (1938) which premiered in reaction to the rise of fascism in Europe. Partnership with ArtPhilly.
• Long Beach OperacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025A three-season collaboration with Long Beach Opera as part of GRAHAM100 celebration, including productions such as 'The Feast' starring countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński and creative projects with Artistic Director Janet Eilber.
• PBScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDocumentary in development with PBS as part of GRAHAM100 celebration documenting Martha Graham's legacy and the Company's 100th anniversary.
• NYC Dance ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBook by NYC Dance Project featuring today's Graham dancers and archival photos from the past 100 years as part of GRAHAM100 celebration.
• Chapman UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChapman University's College of Performing Arts and Musco Center for the Arts collaboration where dance students will perform alongside Chapman's orchestra. Dean Anne Hogan leads this interdisciplinary initiative as part of the University's strategic vision.
• American Ballet TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional licensing partner that has licensed Graham masterworks for their productions with professional regisseurs and reconstruction materials provided by Martha Graham Resources.
• Paul Taylor Dance CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional licensing partner that has licensed Graham masterworks with professional regisseurs and reconstruction materials provided by Martha Graham Resources.
• Royal Ballet of FlanderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational professional licensing partner that has licensed Graham masterworks for their productions.
• Graham/Noguchi CollaborationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSet exhibitions celebrating the artistic partnership between Martha Graham and Isamu Noguchi, featuring iconic sets and props from Graham's ballets.
• New York Public Library for the Performing ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExhibition at NYPL for the Performing Arts as part of GRAHAM100 celebration showcasing the Company's legacy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Pilobolus: A smaller but innovative dance company with strong commercial licensing and educational programming. Comparable in scale and in monetizing IP through licensing, though with a markedly different creative style.

Direct peers

• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: The other flagship American modern dance company, founded in 1958 and based in New York. Operates a parallel structure of a professional touring company, school (The Ailey School), and pre-professional second company — directly comparable to Martha Graham's Company/School/Graham 2 architecture.
• Paul Taylor Dance Company: A leading American modern dance company and one of Martha Graham's named licensing partners. Operates a touring company, school, and licensing/educational programming, competing for the same audiences, donors, and higher-ed licensing relationships.
• José Limón Dance Foundation: Another foundational American modern dance company, founded by a Graham contemporary. Operates a touring company and educational programming around a signature technique and repertoire — directly comparable artistic and operational model to Martha Graham.
• Merce Cunningham Trust: The post-legacy organization stewarding Merce Cunningham's choreography, technique, and digital archives through licensing and education. A direct peer in IP monetization, technique preservation, and licensing to professional and educational institutions.
• Mark Morris Dance Group: A major American modern dance company with a robust school and educational outreach. Competes for the same touring venues, school enrollees, and donor base as Martha Graham's New York-based operations.
• Trisha Brown Dance Company: Post-legacy contemporary dance company stewarding Trisha Brown's choreography and technique. Operates a parallel licensing/educational program and was previously led by LaRue Allen — providing both artistic and management comparability.
• American Ballet Theatre: A major American ballet company and named Graham licensing partner. Competes for the same touring venues, premium ticket buyers, and higher-ed dance programs, while also being a customer through Martha Graham Resources licensing.

Broad incumbents

• New York City Ballet: A larger, more broadly commercial performing arts institution at Lincoln Center. Competes for premier New York performance venues, donors, and touring audiences, but operates a much larger scale and primarily classical-ballet repertoire.

Others

• Juilliard School Dance Division: The preeminent dance education institution where Artistic Director Janet Eilber trained and now collaborates. Functions as both a feeder for Graham talent and a partner for cross-institutional educational programming (e.g., the Chapman University cross-disciplinary initiative).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/MarthaGrahamDanceCompany
• Facebookfacebook.com/MarthaGrahamDance
• Instagraminstagram.com/marthagrahamdance
• TikToktiktok.com/@marthagrahamdance
• Xx.com/marthagraham
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/martha-graham-dance-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Martha Graham