Moving in the Spirit

What Moving in the Spirit does

Moving in the Spirit is a 501c3 nonprofit creative youth development organization founded in 1986 in Atlanta, Georgia, that uses the discipline of dance to develop the social, emotional, and cognitive skills of children and teens. The organization serves approximately 385 students annually across Metro Atlanta, ages 3-18, through a tiered program portfolio that includes the foundational Stepping Stones program, intermediate training companies GLOW in Motion (girls 9-12) and Boys in Motion II (boys 10-13), the intensive Apprentice Corporation (ages 13-18), the Ambassador Team performance company, and a Technical Theater Production job-readiness track launched in January 2024. Programs are delivered at a purpose-built $10 million facility opened in 2021 at 1458 La France St NE adjacent to MARTA's Edgewood/Candler Park station, as well as through community partner sites including schools, homeless shelters, and recreation centers.

The core technology is non-software: dance instruction via credentialed teaching artists, complemented by a 138-seat Beam Theatre and two Harlequin sprung-floor studios. Revenue is generated from a hybrid of programmatic tuition (sliding scale, $80-$170 per month per tier), summer camp fees ($250/week), foundation grants and individual donations (including a $587,500 Chestnut Family Foundation operating gift in 2024 and an $8.4 million capital campaign), space rentals of the Beam Theatre and studios, community dance class fees ($15-$20 per session), ticket sales, and merchandise. The go-to-market model is community-led and event-driven, combining referrals from schools and shelters, public performances at the Rialto Center for the Arts and community venues, and direct online enrollment via the Enrollsy platform.

Customer segments span individual families paying tuition, community partner organizations (e.g., Peace Preparatory Academy, International Rescue Committee, Boyce L. Ansley School) receiving off-site programming, foundation funders, and the broader Atlanta community attending performances and open classes. Documented outcomes include 100% high school graduation and college or vocational enrollment for teen dancers, 96% reporting improved confidence, and decade-long survey benchmarks across self-efficacy and prosocial behavior.

Name

Moving in the Spirit

Legal name

Moving in the Spirit

Website

https://movinginthespirit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Moving in the Spirit is an Atlanta-based 501c3 nonprofit that uses dance-based creative youth development to teach social, emotional, and cognitive skills to approximately 385 children and teens aged 3-18 annually across Metro Atlanta.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Arts Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts & Design Camps (Visual Arts, Crafts, Design Thinking) (EDAMALAH), Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI), Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB), Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE), Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI)

Keywords

• Youth dance programs
• Creative youth development
• Dance instruction services
• Community arts education
• After-school programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Tuition: Monthly tuition fees from dance programs including Stepping Stones ($80/month), GLOW in Motion ($140/month), Boys in Motion II ($80/month), Technical Theater Production ($80/month), and Apprentice Corporation ($170/month). Sliding scale tuition available.
2. Summer Camp Fees: Summer Dance Camp charges $250 per week per child with before/after care available for $50/week. Sibling discounts of 25% offered.
3. Space Rentals: The Beam Theatre and studios are rented for performances, rehearsals, classes, receptions, meetings, photo shoots, and filming events. Spaces include a 138-seat theater, wooden floor studios, marley floor studios, and lobby.
4. Community Dance Classes: Open community class series including dance fitness, jazz fusion, and summer dance series. Classes range from $15-20 per session or class passes available for $75-90 for six classes.
5. Foundation Grants and Donations: Major grants such as $587,500 from Chestnut Family Foundation. Capital campaign raised $8.4 million. Individual donations accepted via online portal, check, stock, donor-advised fund, and legacy giving.
6. Ticket Sales: Performance tickets sold through Eventbrite and Rialto Center box office (404-413-9849). Examples include 'Press Play' event at The Rialto Center for the Arts.
7. Merchandise Sales: Online store via Bonfire selling Moving in the Spirit merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Moving in the Spirit is an award-winning nonprofit creative youth development organization that uses dance as the primary vehicle for helping children and teens (ages 3-18) develop social, emotional, and cognitive skills. It delivers a multi-tiered portfolio of dance programs — including Stepping Stones, GLOW in Motion, Boys in Motion II, Apprentice Corporation, Technical Theater Production, Summer Dance Camp, and the Ambassador performance company — both at its Atlanta arts center and through community partner sites such as schools and shelters.

Product overview

Moving in the Spirit is an award-winning creative youth development organization that uses dance as the primary vehicle for helping children and teens develop social, emotional, and cognitive skills. The organization operates a multi-tiered program portfolio structured around age and skill level: Stepping Stones serves as the foundational open-level program for ages 3-18 with classes in creative movement, modern dance, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and West African dance; GLOW in Motion targets intermediate-level girls ages 9-12 for leadership development; Boys in Motion II serves boys ages 10-13; Apprentice Corporation provides intensive advanced training for teens ages 13-18; and Ambassador Team serves as the premiere performance company for ages 10-18. Additional offerings include Technical Theater Production (job-readiness training for ages 13-18), Summer Dance Camp (ages 7-15), and facility rentals including The Beam Theatre and dance studios. The organization also delivers programs through community partnerships at schools and shelters throughout Metro Atlanta. Currently in its 40th year, the organization operates a $10 million arts and youth development center adjacent to MARTA transit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of teen dancers graduate on time from high school AND enroll in college or vocational training
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MARTAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018MARTA selected Moving in the Spirit as the community-arts anchor for their new transit-oriented development at Edgewood/Candler Park station. MITS signed a 99-year land lease with MARTA and Columbia Ventures. The facility is positioned directly next to MARTA rail and bus stations for transit accessibility.
• Columbia VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnered with MARTA to develop the transit-oriented project. MITS signed a 99-year land lease as community-arts anchor for the Edgewood/Candler Park station development.
• Giwayen MatacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning dance, percussion, and vocal ensemble. Artistic Director Tambra Omiyale Harris teaches West African dance to MITS performance companies. Giwayen Mata also presents community classes at MITS's The Beam theater twice monthly.
• Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner20+ year partnership began in 2000. MITS performs regularly at the Rialto Center, including major productions like 'Press Play' and 'Journey on the A Train.' The Rialto is an important venue for student performances and community engagement.
• Perkins&WillminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRenowned architectural firm that designed Moving in the Spirit's new arts and youth development center. The design involved 64 stakeholders including students, alumni, parents, board members, and community partners.
• The Boyce L. Ansley SchoolminorOthersCommunity partner providing tuition-free private schooling to children experiencing homelessness. MITS delivers dance programs to students at this partner site.
• International Rescue CommitteeminorOthersOrganization helping displaced people survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. MITS delivers dance programs to clients of this partner organization.
• Peace Preparatory AcademyminorOthersEducational institution serving the whole child, family, and community. MITS delivers dance programs at this partner school.
• The High Museum of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMITS Youth Ambassadors performed 'Grief Migration: A Spiritual Invitation' at The High Museum as part of their Juneteenth activities. Partnership connects MITS dancers to Atlanta's premier art institution.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Giwayen Mata: An award-winning Atlanta-based dance, percussion, and vocal ensemble with a teaching and community-class portfolio. Direct strategic partner of MITS with overlapping student base and curriculum (West African dance).
• Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education: Operating in the same Atlanta metro market with a youth dance school layered onto a professional ballet company. Directly comparable dance-education model and target demographic; differing in classical-ballet focus vs. MITS's multi-genre, social-emotional curriculum.
• National Dance Institute: A NYC-based nonprofit that uses dance as a vehicle for youth development and social-emotional learning for school-age children. Closely comparable mission, methodology, and target population to Moving in the Spirit, differing primarily by geography and scale.
• DanceATL: Atlanta's dance sector support and advocacy organization, named in MITS materials with a board member connection. Operates within the same regional dance ecosystem with overlapping organizational partners and audiences.
• Center for Creative Youth: Nonprofit summer and after-school arts programs for teens using multi-genre creative practice (dance, theater, visual art) for youth development. Strongly comparable model and age group to MITS's Apprentice Corporation and Summer Dance Camp.

Others

• Performing Arts Center at Purchase College (SUNY): Regional presenting-and-education performing arts venue offering dance programming and youth residencies. Tangentially comparable as a dance-education partner venue; differs primarily as a college-affiliated venue rather than a youth-development operator.

Regional players

• Atlanta Contemporary: Atlanta arts-education nonprofit offering studio practice, exhibitions, and youth programs. Comparable as a peer Atlanta arts-education nonprofit with youth engagement programming, though visual-arts focused.
• Alliance Theatre: Atlanta-based performing arts organization with a substantial youth education program (mentioned in MITS staff bios). Comparable institutional ecosystem and donor overlap; broader theater vs. dance focus.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta: Larger, broader youth-development nonprofit operating clubs and structured afterschool programs across Metro Atlanta — including arts offerings. Competes for the same families, schools, and donor base MITS serves.
• Young Audiences Arts for Learning: National nonprofit network delivering arts-in-education programming (including dance) to K-12 schools and communities. Directly comparable creative-youth-development mission with national scale vs. MITS's single-market focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/movinginthespirit
• Xx.com/moveinthespirit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/moving-in-the-spirit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Moving in the Spirit