Akademi

Name

Akademi

Legal name

Akademi South Asian Dance UK

Website

https://akademi.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

Dance Companies (711120), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Theatre (Narrative/Experimental) (MPAGADAC), Cultural & Folk Dance Performances (MPAGADAD), Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance) (EDAAAGAD), Dancers, Choreographers & Dance Troupes Booking (HSACAHAD)

Keywords

• South Asian dance
• Performing arts services
• Community dance programmes
• Dance education workshops
• Arts health wellbeing

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Performance Fees: Revenue generated from ticketed performances, corporate events, and private bookings
2. Workshop and Programme Fees: Fees for educational workshops delivered in schools, hospitals, and community settings
3. Grants and Public Funding: Supported by Arts Council England and other public funders for core operations and specific projects
4. Donations and Support: Charitable donations and support from individuals passionate about South Asian dance

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Akademi produces and delivers South Asian dance performances, wellbeing programmes in hospitals and care homes, educational workshops in schools, and artist development services. The organisation creates productions such as Pravaas and Plastic Drastic Fantastic, runs the Dance Well programme for older adults and patients, and supports freelance South Asian dance artists through commissions and mentoring. Its work spans theatre, festivals, schools, healthcare settings, corporate events, and cultural institutions across the UK.

Product overview

Akademi operates as a multi-faceted performing arts organisation offering world-class South Asian dance productions alongside community engagement and wellbeing programmes. The core offerings include dance performances (Productions such as Pravaas and Plastic Drastic Fantastic), health and wellbeing services (Dance Well programme in hospitals and care homes), educational workshops (Schools Programme), artist development (Artist Commissions and mentoring), and community resources (UK Dance School Directory). The organisation functions as a platform combining professional performances with participatory community work, corporate events, and research initiatives, all centered on South Asian dance forms including Bharatanatyam and Kathak.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dance Well: Akademi's wellbeing programme for hospitals and older adults
• Pravaas
• ROaR

Products and services

• Productions World-class South Asian dance performances delivered in theatres, festivals, parks, and public spaces, featuring internationally recognised dancers and choreographers performing classical forms such as Bharatanatyam and Kathak alongside contemporary work.
• Dance Well A wellbeing programme bringing South Asian dance to hospitals and older adults, featuring movement workshops, performances, and interactive sessions designed to enhance physical, mental, and social well-being for patients, residents, and staff.
• Schools Programme South Asian dance workshops and educational programmes for primary and secondary schools, introducing students to Kathak, Bharatanatyam, and other classical forms through movement and cultural context.
• Pravaas Outdoor dance production exploring climate-driven movement of people from the Sundarbans region, combining South Asian dance forms with Carnatic vocals as a promenade performance commissioned by Norfolk & Norwich Festival and Brighton Festival.
• Plastic Drastic Fantastic A dance theatre work for children aged 7+ and families exploring the complex relationship with plastics, originally co-produced with Polka Theatre and presented at Southbank Centre.
• Corporate and Private Events Customised South Asian dance performances and workshops for corporate events, private functions, and cultural celebrations including Diwali festivals, heritage month events, and corporate cultural programming.
• Artist Commissions Artist commissioning programme run in partnership with DanceEast, offering £5,000 commissions to individual artists or collectives with South Asian dance at the core of their practice, including specific commissions at the intersection of South Asian dance and creative technology.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dance Well participants report feeling more flexible and loose after sessions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Coventry UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2024Akademi partnered with CDaRE (The Centre for Dance Research) at Coventry University to offer a doctoral research award - South Asian Dance as a Lens to Investigate Urgent Contemporary Narratives. Part of Midlands4Cities Collaborative Doctoral Awards, investigating the impact of South Asian dance on complex contemporary narratives such as decolonial agenda and climate crisis.
• DanceEastcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Akademi Artist Commissions 2024 partnership with DanceEast - five artist commissions of £5000 each to individual artists or collectives with South Asian dance at the core of their practice. One commission specifically for artists working at intersection of South Asian dance and creative technology.
• Sadler's WellscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2023Akademi partnered with Sadler's Wells on their South Asian Dance Development Programme - a two-year development programme offering eight developing choreographers and dance makers access to intensive weekends of creative exchange, peer-led learning, mentoring, and support. Akademi was invited to participate in this initiative inspired by discussions with Sadler's Wells' South Asian Dance Advisory Panel in 2022.
• Without WallsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWithout Walls supported Pravaas production and touring. Pravaas was selected as part of Without Walls Blueprint 2021 and supported through the R&D phase via the Blueprint Investment Fund. Without Walls commissioned the production for Norfolk & Norwich Festival and Brighton Festival.
• British MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAkademi partnered with British Museum for community workshops exploring Kathak dance inspired by the Ancient India: living traditions exhibition. Eight workshops conducted from May to July 2025 culminating in a performance at the museum's South Asia Gallery.
• V&A MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAkademi performed at V&A Museum's South Asia Gallery closing event and Diwali family events. Partnership for performances, workshops and collaborative events celebrating South Asian culture.
• Norfolk & Norwich FestivalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Pravaas outdoor dance work exploring climate-driven movement of people. Part of Without Walls consortium.
• Brighton FestivalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Pravaas outdoor dance work as part of festival programming.
• 101 Creation SpacesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue provided for Pravaas R&D and creation phases in Newbury. Provided travel, accommodation and catering support.
• Inside Out DorsetsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented Pravaas at Inside Out Dorset festival as part of 2023 touring programme.
• CW+ (Chelsea and Westminster Hospital charity)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAkademi's Dance Well programme partnered with CW+ for arts for all programme at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. Deliver performances and workshops for patients, staff and visitors.
• Young V&A MuseumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for family pop-up performances celebrating stories through South Asian music and dance.
• Devonshire SquaremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Diwali festival partnership - Devonshire Square Community & Events Management collaborates with Akademi to curate Diwali celebrations featuring Indian classical and folk dances.
• RambertsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAkademi delivering South Asian dance workshops for Rambert at Colours of Redbridge events - inclusive dance sessions for strength and wellbeing.
• Colours of RedbridgesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Colours of Redbridge for inclusive dance sessions primarily for older people, disabled people and people with care needs.
• Holborn Community AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership delivering Dance Well programme for older adults. HCA participants have become regular performers at festivals including Camden Market celebrations.
• Southbank CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented Plastic Drastic Fantastic as part of Southbank Centre's Spring Family Fun season and Choreografata 2011.
• Angela Rippon's Let's Dance CampaignmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAkademi invited to perform at campaign press launch. Partnership aligned with mission to bring dance to everyone and make South Asian dance part of everyone's creative expression.
• Royal Museums GreenwichmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for performances at National Maritime Museum Diwali events and Queen's House International Women's Day celebration.
• Breathe Arts Health ResearchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvited Akademi to perform Diwali celebrations at St Thomas Hospital for Breathe's arts in health programme.
• COMMONGROUND&supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Asian arts collective collaborating with Akademi on events including Royal Museums Greenwich programmes.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rambert: One of the UK's leading contemporary dance companies with a much larger scale and broader repertoire. Rambert is both a partner (delivering workshops with Akademi) and a broader incumbent whose inclusive dance programming overlaps with Akademi's health and community work.
• English National Ballet: One of the UK's major ballet companies with extensive education and outreach programmes, including work in healthcare settings similar to Akademi's Dance Well. A much larger incumbent, but with overlapping arts-in-health and schools programming.
• Sadler's Wells: The UK's primary dance venue and producer, with a significant South Asian Dance programme developed in partnership with Akademi. Sadler's Wells is a strategic partner, funder, and venue rather than direct competitor, but its South Asian Advisory Panel and commissioning activities overlap with Akademi's territory.

Emerging players

• Candoco Dance Company: UK-based inclusive dance company integrating disabled and non-disabled dancers, with a focus on health, education, and community engagement programmes. Candoco's work in healthcare and inclusive settings parallels Akademi's Dance Well approach to underserved audiences.
• StopGap Dance Company: Inclusive dance company producing work with disabled and non-disabled artists, with strong education and participation programmes. StopGap's community and health-sector focus is comparable to Akademi's outreach through Dance Well and ROaR.
• Motion Dance Collective: A smaller UK dance collective referenced in connection with Akademi's archive and Apotheosis production. Operates at a smaller scale in the contemporary dance space and represents a peer in the freelance/collective delivery model.

Direct peers

• Phoenix Dance Theatre: Leeds-based contemporary dance company of comparable scale to Akademi, producing touring work and education programmes. Phoenix offers a useful size and operational model comparison for Akademi's touring and educational delivery.
• SAMPAD: Birmingham-based South Asian arts development organization supporting dance, music, and visual arts. SAMPAD shares Akademi's mission of developing and promoting South Asian arts in the UK, and competes for similar public funding pools and community audiences.
• Shobana Jeyasingh Dance: A London-based dance company creating contemporary work rooted in South Asian dance vocabulary. Shobana Jeyasingh Dance is the closest direct peer to Akademi, operating at similar scale in the UK with comparable cultural-heritage and contemporary dance positioning.
• Srishti: London-based dance company specializing in Indian classical and contemporary dance forms. Srishti is a direct peer in the UK South Asian dance category, producing performances and educational programmes comparable to Akademi's offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Akademi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCy8hCc5G9yUkkvUOrBOCB-g
• Facebookfacebook.com/akademi.southasian.dance
• Instagraminstagram.com/akademidance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Akademi