Ohio Contemporary Ballet

What Ohio Contemporary Ballet does

Ohio Contemporary Ballet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional contemporary ballet company headquartered in Shaker Heights, Ohio, operating from a facility known as The Dealership that houses a Black Box Studio Theatre. Founded in 1987 as Verb Ballets and rebranded to Ohio Contemporary Ballet (with the legacy name still referenced historically), the company presents eclectic programs that combine 21st-century choreographers with restaged classics, including works by Donald McKayle, Gerald Arpino, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Stephanie Martinez, and Heinz Poll. It serves Northeast Ohio audiences across Cleveland, Akron, Shaker Heights, Lakewood, and surrounding communities through mainstage performances at Playhouse Square, EJ Thomas Hall, Cleveland Public Theatre, Cain Park, and Beck Center for the Arts, alongside free outdoor summer performances.

The company's product portfolio falls into four functional areas: (1) professional performance, including signature programs such as Ballet Unbound, Echoes & Innovations, DanceWorks, Fresh Inventions, Emerging Choreographers Showcase, The Little Nutcracker, and collaborative productions with rock guitarist Neil Zaza; (2) education, via the Youth Academy for ages 2-14, adult drop-in classes, summer camps ($55-$290), and multi-day intensives; (3) community outreach, including free outdoor performances, children's programming, and adult movement workshops (Moving Connections); and (4) fundraising events anchored by the annual Spring Gala. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via owned and partner venues, online ticketing platforms (EventBrite, Ticketmaster), and online streaming for select cinematic productions.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model combining transaction-based ticket sales, subscription/recurring class tuition, one-time charitable donations from individuals, corporate sponsorships (Cleveland Cliffs, Jones Day, Squire Patton Boggs, CBRE, Vocon, Benesch, and others), and foundation grants (notably the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Foundation as summer-series sponsor). The company has no venture or private equity involvement and is governed by a Board of Directors; no revenue figures are publicly disclosed. Its core technology is live dance performance and choreography production, with no proprietary software platform, AI capabilities, or technology integrations beyond standard marketing and ticketing channels.

Name

Ohio Contemporary Ballet

Legal name

Ohio Contemporary Ballet

Website

https://ocballet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ohio Contemporary Ballet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional contemporary ballet company in Northeast Ohio that produces mainstage performances, runs a Youth Academy and adult classes, delivers community outreach, and operates an annual Spring Gala, serving audiences across Cleveland, Akron, and Shaker Heights.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts (Contemporary Ballet)

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Dance Performances (THAJAFAD), Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Contemporary ballet performances
• Youth dance education
• Community dance outreach
• Professional dance company
• Choreographic commissions

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Performance Ticket Sales: Revenue from mainstage performances, studio shows, and special events. Tickets range from free community performances to $275 patron gala tickets.
2. Dance Classes and Training: Youth Academy classes, adult dance classes, summer camps, and dance intensives. Pricing varies from free trial classes to $290 summer camps.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and foundation support including annual Spring Gala fundraising events.
4. Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorships for performances, gala events, and programs from companies including Cleveland Cliffs, Jones Day, Squire Patton Boggs, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ohio Contemporary Ballet is a nonprofit professional contemporary ballet company that produces ticketed mainstage performances, commissions new choreography, and operates a Youth Academy (ages 2-14) along with adult dance classes, summer and winter dance intensives, and community outreach programming. Revenue is generated through performance ticket sales, tuition for dance classes and intensives, corporate and foundation sponsorships, individual donations, and an annual Spring Gala fundraiser.

Product overview

Ohio Contemporary Ballet is a professional contemporary ballet company offering a portfolio of dance-related products and services. The core offerings include professional dance performances featuring works by contemporary and classical choreographers, an accredited Youth Academy for children ages 2-14, adult dance classes, and community outreach programs including children's programming and adult movement workshops. The company also produces signature events including the annual Spring Gala fundraiser, the Fresh Inventions choreographic showcase, Emerging Choreographers Showcase, The Little Nutcracker holiday production, and DanceWorks collaborations with Cleveland Public Theatre. Educational programs include the Winter Dance Intensive workshop and masterclasses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Dance Performances Contemporary ballet performances featuring works by 21st-century choreographers alongside classically-styled works, presented at venues across Northeast Ohio including Cain Park, Playhouse Square, and EJ Thomas Hall for general audiences.
• Youth Academy Year-round and seasonal dance training program for children ages 2-14 offering ballet and contemporary training plus performance opportunities.
• Adult Dance Classes Drop-in dance classes for adults including ballet and contemporary styles, welcoming all skill levels with first class free.
• Children's Programming Outreach Community outreach programs bringing dance education and live performance experiences to young children throughout the region.
• Adult Movement Workshops (Moving Connections) Moving Connections workshops providing movement education and wellness-focused programs for adults across Northeast Ohio.
• Fresh Inventions Annual choreographic initiative providing opportunities for company dancers to create and present original works, featuring emerging choreographers hosted annually at Cleveland Public Theatre.
• Emerging Choreographers Showcase Annual program featuring rising choreographers committed to elevating marginalized voices and commissioning works that reflect contemporary times.
• The Little Nutcracker One-hour family-friendly holiday ballet showcasing professional dancers alongside Youth Academy students, presented at Shaker Heights and Akron area venues.
• DanceWorks Annual collaboration with Cleveland Public Theatre featuring bold new works and contemporary dance premieres.
• Winter Dance Intensive Multi-day dance training workshop during winter break covering ballet, classical variations, Progressive Ballet Technique, and partnering.
• Youth Academy Summer Camps Annual summer camps for Youth Academy students including Fairy Tale Dance Camp (ages 3-6) and Young Artist Dance Intensive (ages 7-12), featuring ballet, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary styles.
• Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival Annual free summer outdoor festival of contemporary ballet performances presented across parks and community venues in Northeast Ohio.
• Spring Gala Annual fundraising gala featuring cocktails, dinner, live auction, paddle raise, and a company performance, with patron tiers ranging from $175 to $300.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached audiences in 26 states and 5 countries through virtual performances during pandemic
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Akron Dance InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration for children's programming and pre-show activities at Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival. Partners on The Little Nutcracker performances.
• Cleveland Public TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual host of Fresh Inventions and DanceWorks performances, providing the CPT stage for remarkable dance premieres since the program's inception.
• BlueWater Chamber OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative performances combining orchestral music with dance, including Musical Momentum program featuring joint choreography and live accompaniment.
• ArtSparksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance education organization collaborating on The Little Nutcracker production in Akron, featuring student performers alongside professional dancers.
• Shaker Arts CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Ballet Under the Stars as part of the Heart of the Arts series, bringing performances to the Shaker Heights community.
• Playhouse SquarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor venue partner hosting annual performances including Echoes & Innovations and Ballet Unbound, the largest theater district in the country.
• Beck Center for the ArtsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPerformance venue partner hosting Ballet at the Beck for West Side community outreach performances.
• Tremont West Development CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Celebrating A Decade of Grace and Arts in August performances at Lincoln Park in Tremont neighborhood.
• Vocon Partners, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning architecture and design firm hosting Spring Gala events at their Cleveland headquarters, with years of sponsorship support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Complexions Contemporary Ballet: New York-based contemporary ballet company that similarly blends classical ballet technique with modern dance innovation and commissions works from leading contemporary choreographers. Closest peer to OCBallet in artistic mission and repertoire style.
• Charlotte Ballet: Mid-size US regional ballet company known for its contemporary-leaning repertoire under Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and later leadership. Comparable artistic direction and emphasis on modern/21st-century choreography.
• Nashville Ballet: Mid-size US regional ballet company combining traditional and contemporary works with a community-focused school. Comparable in scale, mixed repertoire, and educational/community programming model.
• Alonzo King LINES Ballet: San Francisco-based contemporary ballet company renowned for commissioning works from boundary-pushing choreographers. Closely comparable in its contemporary-classical fusion approach and emphasis on new choreography.
• Milwaukee Ballet: Mid-size US regional ballet company with a strong school/academy component and mixed classical/contemporary repertoire. Comparable in scale, structure, and the integration of performance and training programs.
• Oregon Ballet Theatre: Pacific Northwest regional ballet company of similar scale presenting classical masterworks and contemporary commissions. Comparable in artistic programming mix and community engagement focus.
• Cincinnati Ballet: Ohio-based professional ballet company of similar regional scale offering a mix of classical and contemporary programming. Comparable in operating model, venue partnerships, and community education focus.
• Cleveland Ballet: Cleveland-based professional ballet company serving the same Northeast Ohio market. Operates in overlapping venue ecosystems (Playhouse Square, EJ Thomas Hall) and competes for the same audiences, donors, and choreographic talent.
• BalletMet (Columbus): Central Ohio's professional ballet company presenting both classical repertoire and contemporary works. Comparable in size, regional nonprofit structure, and balance of performance and education programming.

Broad incumbents

• Dance Theatre of Harlem: Iconic American ballet company with national brand recognition, blending classical and contemporary works with strong educational/outreach programming. Comparable in mission emphasis on accessibility and artistic diversity, though at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkJ5zohmYUOORRGaBmtQctw
• Facebookfacebook.com/ocballet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ocballet
• Instagraminstagram.com/ocballet_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Ohio Contemporary Ballet