New York City Dance School

What New York City Dance School does

New York City Dance School (NYCDS New York City Dance School GmbH) is a Stuttgart-based dance education operator founded in 1975 by Sabine and Ray Lynch. The company runs a flagship facility at Heilbronnerstraße 391 comprising approximately 1,000 square meters, six purpose-built studios, changing rooms, showers, a bistro, and lounge areas. It delivers more than 100 weekly courses across 18+ dance styles including Ballett, Modern, Hip Hop, Jazz Dance, Contemporary, House, Dancehall, Popping, Breaking, Step Tanz, Afro, K-Pop, and Latin forms, taught by 40+ instructors with backgrounds at institutions such as Stuttgart Ballet and with international touring artists. The school serves over 1,500 participants across children (from age 3), teens, students, and adults at beginner through advanced levels, and maintains six dance companies/ensembles that compete regionally and nationally and perform in annual productions including SCHAU FENSTER and DANCING FEET (1,300+ guests at Theaterhaus Stuttgart).

The business model blends recurring revenue and transactional revenue streams. The primary engine is monthly memberships (Adults 65-130 EUR/month, Kids & Teens 45-85 EUR/month, Students 50-100 EUR/month on 6- or 12-month contracts) supplemented by prepaid products (drop-in at 25 EUR, 10-class card at 250 EUR, 4-week Unlimited Pass at 149 EUR) and a one-time online class package (149.90 EUR for 300+ tutorials). Ancillary monetization includes private lessons, party/event packages (350-500 EUR), corporate performance bookings via a dedicated sales channel (flashmobs, team-building, brand activations for clients such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz Museum, Bosch, Teamviewer, Breuninger, and s.Oliver), and ticketed annual stage productions. Distribution is primarily studio-based in Stuttgart, with an e-commerce storefront at shop.nycds.de and digital/online video distribution restricted to Germany.

The company is independently held (GmbH structure), with no disclosed external funding or parent company. Sabine Lynch remains involved as founder and director of the affiliated Professional Dance Academy (a state-recognized Berufsfachschule offering BAföG-eligible vocational training founded in 2006), while Hoang "LUH" Le Ung serves as Geschäftsführer. The technology stack is conventional e-commerce and marketing analytics (PayPal, Klarna, Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, Google Ads, Ströer tracking), with no proprietary AI or platform technology.

Name

New York City Dance School

Legal name

NYCDS New York City Dance School GmbH

Website

https://nycds.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NYCDS operates a Stuttgart-based dance school delivering 100+ weekly classes across 18+ styles for 1,500+ participants of all ages, with subscription memberships, online tutorials, performance ensembles, corporate event booking, and an affiliated vocational dance academy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dance Education Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ), Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB), Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI)

Keywords

• Dance education
• Dance instruction
• Dance studio
• Dance performances
• Vocational dance training

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Monthly membership plans offering unlimited or limited weekly class access. Adults pay 65-130 EUR/month depending on frequency (1x/week at 65 EUR, 2x/week at 90 EUR, unlimited at 120 EUR for 12-month contracts). Higher rates for 6-month terms.
2. Prepaid Class Cards: Single drop-in classes at 25 EUR, 10-class cards at 250 EUR (11 classes for price of 10), and 4-week unlimited passes at 149 EUR.
3. Online Classes: Digital class packages offering 300+ video tutorials across various dance styles and levels, sold as one-time purchase at 149.90 EUR.
4. Party/Event Packages: Private party bookings for birthdays, bachelorette parties, team building. Two tiers: basic 90-min workshop at 350 EUR, comprehensive 120-min package with catering at 500 EUR.
5. Corporate Performance Booking: Custom dance performances for corporate events, flashmobs, and special occasions. Professional and amateur dance groups available for booking.
6. Dance Competition and Event Revenue: Annual stage show DANCING FEET at Theaterhaus Stuttgart attracts over 1,300 guests. Ticket sales for public performances and productions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

New York City Dance School sells weekly in-person dance instruction across 100+ classes in styles such as Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop, Jazz Dance, Contemporary, Step Tanz, House, Dancehall, Popping, Breaking, Afro, K-Pop and Latin forms, delivered by 40+ instructors in six studios at its Stuttgart location. It monetizes this core instruction through tiered monthly memberships, prepaid drop-in and multi-class cards, trial lessons, private lessons, and party/event packages, and extends the brand through six in-house dance companies, an annual DANCING FEET show, an online class video library and a corporate dance-performance booking service.

Product overview

New York City Dance School operates as a multi-faceted dance education platform offering a unified portfolio of in-person and digital dance instruction services. The core offering consists of weekly dance courses across 100+ classes spanning classical, contemporary, and urban styles for all ages. This is supplemented by membership subscription plans (with tiers for adults, youth, and students) that provide ongoing access, as well as prepaid options like Drop-In tickets and Unlimited Passes for flexible attendance. The Online Classes platform (300+ video tutorials) extends reach digitally and is bundled with memberships or sold separately. Performance pathways through dance companies (Manhattan Dance Company, Future District Crew, Junior Dance Academy, Liberty Dance Team) enable competitive and stage opportunities. Additional services include private lessons, party packages for celebrations, professional dance talent booking for corporate events, and seasonal programs like Summer Dance. The affiliated Professional Dance Academy provides accredited vocational training in dance, choreography, and pedagogy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dance Courses (Kursangebote) Weekly group dance classes across 100+ courses and 18+ styles (from Ballet and Modern to Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, K-Pop and Afro) for children (age 3+), teens and adults at beginner through advanced levels. Delivered by 40+ instructors across six studios at the Stuttgart facility.
• Membership Plans (Mitgliedschaft) Recurring subscription memberships providing weekly access to dance courses. Adult tiers: 1x/week at 65-75 EUR/month, 2x/week at 90-100 EUR/month, Unlimited at 120-130 EUR/month; Kids & Teens at 45-95 EUR/month; Students at 50-110 EUR/month. Memberships also bundle access to 250+ online classes.
• Prepaid Dance Passes Flexible pay-as-you-go access for non-members: Drop-In single class at 25 EUR, 10-class card at 250 EUR (11 classes for the price of 10), and a 4-week Unlimited Pass at 149 EUR.
• Online Classes (Online-Kurse) On-demand digital dance instruction library with 300+ video tutorials covering multiple dance styles and skill levels. Available as a standalone Online Class Package at 149.90 EUR (one-time purchase) or included with active memberships.
• Private Lessons (Privatstunden) One-on-one dance instruction with undivided instructor attention, booked via email inquiry for personalized learning at any style or level.
• Trial Class (Probestunde) Complimentary introductory dance lesson that lets prospective students experience the school's teaching style and identify the right course before purchasing a membership.
• Dance Companies & Ensembles Six in-house performance teams providing competitive and stage opportunities for students: Manhattan Dance Company, Future District Crew, New Future District Crew, Young Future District Crew, Liberty Dance Team and Junior Dance Academy. These ensembles compete at regional and national championships and perform at corporate events.
• Party Packages (Feiern) Private dance-themed event packages for birthdays, bachelorette parties and team-building. Package 1 (350 EUR) is a 90-minute workshop with certificates and a gift for the birthday person; Package 2 (500 EUR) extends to 120 minutes and adds catering (pizza, sausages, cake/muffins).
• Dance Performance Booking Talent booking service providing customized dance groups (professional or amateur) for corporate events, flashmobs, weddings and special occasions. Booked via [email protected] with custom choreography and performance design.
• Summer Program (Sommerprogramm) Annual intensive summer dance camp running August through September with courses for all age groups; external participants can purchase a Summer Dance Pass to attend.
• Professional Dance Academy State-recognized vocational school (Berufsfachschule) providing full-time accredited education in dance, choreography and dance pedagogy. BAföG-eligible and operated as the career-pathway arm of NYCDS.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving over 1,500 participants with 100+ courses weekly
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MHP RIESEN LudwigsburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Exclusive partnership with 1st division basketball team. Liberty Dance Team (LBDT) performs at up to 30 home games per year, halftime shows in MHP Arena (4,700 capacity). The LBDT is a core performance team of the school with deep integration into the partner's entertainment program.
• Professional Dance AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated institution providing state-recognized vocational dance education (BAföG-funded). Founded by Sabine Lynch in 2006 as additional training division. Serves as a career pathway for talented students. Website: professional-dance-academy.de
• VAUN e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member. Association helping children and teenagers gain stage experience and develop as dancers. Supports youth dance development mission.
• Produktionszentrum StuttgartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with dance production center for professional performances and production support. The school has its own production room with professional stage capabilities.
• Theaterhaus StuttgartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual DANCING FEET show held at Theaterhaus Stuttgart, one of Germany's leading dance venues. Major annual production attracting over 1,300 guests.
• Tanztage StuttgartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for dance festival and cultural events in Stuttgart.
• Stuttgart für KinderminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal family and children's activities platform for marketing and visibility.
• Gabriele LutzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndividual partner, likely in dance/health sector.
• Sportschule KiedaischminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSabine Lynch serves as examiner for dance specialty at this Stuttgart sports school.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stuttgart Ballet: One of the world's leading classical ballet companies, headquartered in Stuttgart and a referenced credential for several NYCDS instructors. Comparable as an adjacent dance ecosystem player with broader prestige but distinct focus on professional performance rather than community instruction.
• Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch: Internationally renowned German dance company and associated training programs. Comparable to NYCDS in the German dance landscape — overlapping on contemporary/modern dance instruction and performance production, but operating at a much larger institutional scale.

Direct peers

• Steps on Broadway: Long-established New York City dance studio offering drop-in classes, memberships, and workshops across multiple styles. Directly comparable to NYCDS as a multi-style urban dance school with professional instruction, performance opportunities, and broad demographic reach.
• Broadway Dance Center: Iconic NYC dance studio serving thousands of students weekly across dozens of styles with international faculty and performance pathways. Closely mirrors NYCDS's hybrid education-plus-performance model and broad age-group coverage.
• Millennium Dance Complex: Los Angeles dance studio specializing in hip-hop, contemporary and commercial styles with high-profile choreographers. Comparable to NYCDS as a multi-style urban-contemporary school with strong talent brand and competition/performance culture.
• EDGE Performing Arts Center: LA-based studio offering professional training, competition teams, and recreational classes across hip-hop, jazz and contemporary. Mirrors NYCDS's company/ensemble structure and competition-team ecosystem.
• The Ailey School: Official school of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, offering professional and recreational training programs. Comparable to NYCDS's blend of high-level vocational training (via Professional Dance Academy) and broad community dance education.

Emerging players

• CLI Studios: Online dance platform founded by a former NBA dancer offering subscription access to choreography tutorials. Comparable to NYCDS's online content monetization model and overlap on commercial/hip-hop curriculum.
• STEEZY: Online dance instruction platform with subscription video tutorials across multiple styles. Comparable to NYCDS's digital Online Classes offering (300+ videos, 149.90 EUR), but scaled purely digitally without a physical studio footprint.

Regional players

• Tanzhaus NRW: Large multi-studio dance venue in Düsseldorf offering courses, performances and residencies. Comparable to NYCDS as a flagship regional dance center with studio infrastructure, multi-style curriculum and event programming — but serves a different German metropolitan market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights2 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nycds
• Facebookfacebook.com/nycds
• Instagraminstagram.com/nycds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-york-city-dance-school-gmbh

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 New York City Dance School