Hyde Park School of Dance

What Hyde Park School of Dance does

Hyde Park School of Dance (HPSD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dance education organization founded in 1993 by August Tye following the closure of Maria Tallchief's School of Chicago Ballet. The school is headquartered at 5650 S. Woodlawn Avenue in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, operating across five studios (Studios 1-5) co-located with the First Unitarian Church of Chicago and the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club. HPSD serves approximately 490 students annually — children and adults from 43 Chicago and Northern Indiana zip codes — through 60+ weekly classes covering ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, breaking, West African dance, tap, AcroDance, and Pilates/yoga, delivered by 32 part-time faculty and accompanists.

HPSD's product architecture is organized around a tiered instructional model: foundational classes (First Steps for ages 18 months to 3 years at $65/month), progressive skill tiers priced by class duration (30-90 minutes, $65-$105/month over nine equal monthly installments), adult short sessions and summer workshops ($22 drop-in), and a pre-professional Studio Company Program ($435-$635/month for Trainee, Ballet, and Contemporary Companies). The curriculum is built on the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) teaching method — HPSD is the only school in Chicago led by RAD Registered Teachers (August Tye and Emma Thomas). Annual productions include The Nutcracker at University of Chicago's Mandel Hall (drawing approximately 900 audience members per performance and named one of Chicago's top 4 productions by the Chicago Tribune) and a school-wide Spring Concert.

The business model is dual-revenue: approximately 80% of annual operating budget from tuition and class fees on a 9-month subscription cadence plus an annual $30 family registration fee, and approximately 20% from tax-deductible individual donations ranging from $1 to $20,000. Supplementary revenue streams include corporate sponsorship (Harper Court Arts Council, University of Chicago, Skadden), studio space rentals ($50-$65/hour), branded merchandise via Spreadshirt, and elective performance workshop fees. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through an iClassPro online registration portal supported by community outreach partnerships with local CPS schools and University of Chicago venues. HPSD has no proprietary technology systems — its stack comprises SaaS point tools for registration, payment processing, scheduling, and merchandise fulfillment.

Name

Hyde Park School of Dance

Legal name

Hyde Park School of Dance

Website

https://hydeparkdance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hyde Park School of Dance is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 that provides ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, and other dance education to approximately 490 students of all ages, generating revenue primarily through recurring tuition and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dance Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Dance education
• Ballet instruction
• Pre-professional training
• Community dance programs
• Arts nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Class Fees: Monthly tuition payments for enrolled students ranging from $65-$105 per month depending on class duration (30-90 minutes). Annual registration fee of $30 per family. Short session and drop-in options available for adults.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals representing approximately 20% of annual operating budget. Donations range from $1 to $20,000 and support scholarship programs and day-to-day operations.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Sponsorship revenue from advertising and underwriting opportunities on concert programs, posters, postcards, and fliers. Sponsors include organizations like Harper Court Arts Council, University of Chicago, and Skadden.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including dance bags, water bottles, hoodies, tees, shorts, sweatpants, tanks, and leggings through Spreadshirt storefront.
5. Studio Space Rentals: Rental of studio space to outside parties for events, classes, and workshops. Studios available at $50-$65/hour depending on size.
6. Studio Company Program Fees: Premium monthly tuition for pre-professional company programs ranging from $435/month for Trainee Program to $635/month for Ballet and Contemporary Companies, with bi-annual installment options.
7. Performance Workshop Fees: Fees associated with elective performance workshops including The Nutcracker and other productions, covering out-of-class rehearsals, venue rentals, and staffing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hyde Park School of Dance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dance school providing structured instruction in ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, breaking, West African dance, tap, and AcroDance for students ages 18 months through adult. The school runs a September-May full-year program plus a summer session of camps, intensives, and workshops, supplemented by pre-professional Studio Company training, annual public performances (The Nutcracker and Spring Concert), teacher training, and community outreach. Revenue is generated primarily through monthly tuition, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, studio rentals, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Hyde Park School of Dance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dance school offering a comprehensive dance education program with multiple core disciplines including Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Breaking, West African Dance, Tap, AcroDance, and wellness programs (Pilates/Yoga). The school operates on a platform-plus-modules model with core instructional programs supplemented by pre-professional company training, seasonal summer programming, and community outreach. Major products include progressive ballet curriculum based on Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) method, the Studio Company Program for elite pre-professional training, annual productions (The Nutcracker and Spring Concert), Community Partner Classes, and Studio Space Rentals. Additional services include Teacher Training, Community Engagement outreach, Level Evaluations, and branded merchandise through a third-party storefront.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ballet Program Comprehensive ballet curriculum based on Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) training method, from foundation classes for the youngest dancers through pointe technique and partnering for advanced students. Includes RAD exam preparation classes.
• Modern Dance Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 490+ students served annually from diverse backgrounds
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered supportive, core and minor.

• Harper Court Arts CouncilsupportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal arts organization that supports HPSD as a sponsor, contributing to the school's ability to provide dance education and performances to the community.
• University of Chicago Office of Civic EngagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership providing venue access (Mandel Hall) for The Nutcracker performances and supporting community arts initiatives. The relationship benefits both parties in fostering arts on Chicago's South Side.
• Local Schools and CPS InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity engagement partnerships with local schools providing in-school dance programs, after-school programming, and lecture demonstrations. These partnerships extend HPSD's reach into underserved areas of Chicago's South Side.
• Royal Academy of Dance (RAD)coreTechnology or IntegrationHPSD is Chicago's only ballet school headed by RAD-certified instructors. The RAD teaching methodology is integrated into HPSD's ballet curriculum, and students can opt to take RAD exams. RAD is a globally recognized dance education and teacher training organization.
• 57th Street Book FairminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual community event where HPSD performs lecture demonstrations, increasing visibility and community engagement.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• San Francisco Ballet School: Major U.S. ballet training institution offering progressive curriculum from beginner to pre-professional with formal examination pathways. Comparable as a multi-level ballet school with auditions, performance productions (e.g., Nutcracker), and scholarship programs.
• Peridance Capezio Center: Long-established New York dance school offering a multi-genre curriculum (ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop) with open adult and youth classes and pre-professional tracks. Closely comparable multi-discipline, multi-age dance training business model at meaningful scale.
• Ruth Page Center for the Arts: Chicago dance institution providing studio space, training, and performance opportunities for ballet, modern, and contemporary dance. Comparable as a multi-studio dance hub with educational programming and performance productions in the same city.
• Steps on Broadway: Iconic New York dance studio offering drop-in and ongoing classes across ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and hip hop for adults and teens. Comparable as a broad-curriculum community dance school with a drop-in and subscription pricing model similar to HPSD's adult offerings.
• Ballet Chicago: Chicago ballet training organization with School of Ballet Chicago and Studio Company program serving youth through pre-professional dancers. Highly comparable for its focus on ballet pipeline, Studio Company model, and Chicago presence.
• The Joffrey Academy of Dance: Chicago-based pre-professional ballet and dance training academy affiliated with The Joffrey Ballet. Directly comparable as a Chicago ballet training school competing for the same families and pre-professional talent, with a similar model spanning youth through adult levels.
• The Ailey School: NYC-based pre-professional dance training institution offering classical ballet, Horton-based modern, and jazz programs with scholarship-backed enrollment. Comparable for pre-professional Studio Company-style programming and scholarship-supported access.
• Lou Conte Dance Center (Hubbard Street Dance Chicago): Chicago's Hubbard Street-affiliated school, offering multi-style dance training including ballet, modern, jazz, and hip hop across youth, teen, and adult levels. Closely aligned multi-discipline dance school in the same metro market.
• Visceral Dance Center: Chicago-based dance center focused on contemporary and modern training with class programming for adults and youth. Directly comparable as a community dance school serving similar age segments and styles in the same metro.

Regional players

• Dance for Life Chicago: Chicago-based dance presenting and community organization that produces an annual showcase and supports the broader local dance ecosystem. Comparable as a Chicago dance presenter/community-builder rather than a school; related audience and donor pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HydeParkSchoolofDance
• Xx.com/hydeparkdance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hyde-park-school-of-dance

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Hyde Park School of Dance