Dance Umbrella of Ontario

What Dance Umbrella of Ontario does

Dance Umbrella of Ontario (DUO) is a non-profit, non-membership arts management services organization founded in 1988 and headquartered at 410 Jarvis Street, Toronto. It was co-founded by the Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and Canada Council for the Arts to provide financial management, grant writing, marketing, administrative, and production support to Ontario-based dance artists and organizations. The organization operates as a hands-on service provider rather than a software company, delivering work through a small core team plus contracted administrators and a finance consultant.

DUO generates revenue through three engagement models: a Partnership Program and Business Consultation (both quote-based, multi-year or project engagements), and Pay As You Go services billed hourly at $35 plus HST for dance-sector clients and $50 plus HST for non-dance non-profits. Complementary revenue streams include hot desk rentals at $150 plus HST per month, equipment rentals at $50 per day (Marley dance floors and Christie projectors via DanceMakers), and referrals for free rehearsal space at Canada's National Ballet School. Free 30-minute consultations are the primary top-of-funnel mechanism, followed by customized scope-based proposals.

The underlying technology stack is described as standard arts management and digital tools for finance, marketing, and administration, with no proprietary software product. The organization also publishes community resources (Job Board, Grant Calendar, Events Calendar), conducts sector research (e.g., "A Shifting Landscape: Dance Presentation in the GTA" with Nordicity), runs a free Pilot Mentorship Program starting October 2025, and participates in advocacy through the Canadian Arts Coalition. Governance is provided by a volunteer Board of Directors chaired by Collette "Coco" Murray, with Executive Director Robert Sauvey leading the staff.

Name

Dance Umbrella of Ontario

Legal name

Dance Umbrella of Ontario

Website

https://danceumbrella.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dance Umbrella of Ontario is a Toronto-based non-profit founded in 1988 that provides arts management services, including financial management, grant writing, marketing, and administrative support, to independent dance artists and dance organizations across Ontario through subsidized hourly, consultation, and partnership programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Management Services for Dance Sector

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Dancers, Choreographers & Dance Troupes Booking (HSACAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Dance Floor, Staging & Platform Rentals (HSACAFAD)

Keywords

• Arts management services
• Dance sector support
• Nonprofit dance services
• Grant writing services
• Arts administration consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Partnership Program: Quote-based personalized partnership program providing comprehensive arts management services tailored to client needs. Services include strategic planning, marketing, grant writing, financial management, and administrative support with custom pricing based on scope.
2. Business Consultation: Quote-based expert business guidance services for dance businesses including strategic planning, marketing recommendations, funding exploration, and operational efficiency improvements.
3. Pay As You Go: Flexible hourly-based services starting at $35 plus HST per hour for dance sector clients. Provides affordable, accessible support on an as-needed basis without long-term commitments.
4. Hot Desk Rentals: Monthly rental of dedicated workspace desks at 410 Jarvis Street, Toronto for independent artists, freelancers, and small arts organizations at $150 plus HST per month.
5. Equipment Rentals: Daily rental of Marley dance floors and Christie projector through DanceMakers equipment inventory. DUO clients receive 50% discount on standard $50/day rate.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dance Umbrella of Ontario (DUO) is a nonprofit arts management services organization that delivers comprehensive, affordable back-office support to dance artists and organizations across Ontario. Its core offerings are three engagement models — the Partnership Program (customized long-term support), Business Consultation (project-based expert guidance), and Pay-As-You-Go hourly services (starting at $35 plus HST per hour) — covering financial management, bookkeeping, grant writing, marketing, communications, administration, production, and strategic planning.

Product overview

Dance Umbrella of Ontario (DUO) is a non-profit arts management services organization founded in 1988 that provides comprehensive, personalized support to dance artists and organizations across Ontario. The organization operates as a services company rather than a software product company, offering three engagement models: the Partnership Program (customized long-term support), Business Consultation (project-based expert guidance), and Pay As You Go Services (flexible hourly support starting at $35/hour). These core offerings are supported by specialized service modules in Administration + Production (including grant writing, touring coordination, and nonprofit incorporation), Marketing + Communications (website development, social media, SEO, brand development), and Finance + Bookkeeping (full-cycle accounting, payroll, tax preparation). DUO also provides physical resources including hot desk rentals at their Toronto office, free rehearsal space access at Canada's National Ballet School through partnership, and equipment rentals through DanceMakers. Additional community resources include a Job Board, Grant Calendar, Events Calendar, and a Pilot Mentorship Program. The organization serves clients across Ontario's diverse dance sector, with over 55% of clients identifying as IBPOC and/or Deaf and Disabled communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Partnership Program
• Business Consultation
• Pay As You Go Services
• Hot Desks for Rent
• DanceMakers Gear Rentals
• Pilot Mentorship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 55% of clients identify as IBPOC and/or Deaf and Disabled, demonstrating equitable access to services
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Miziwe Biik Indigenous Employment and Training ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Since 2016, DUO has hired Indigenous trainees through this program to mentor next-generation Arts Administrators, Producers, and Managers for the dance sector. Two interns were hired full-time after completing their one-year training program.
• Ontario Arts Council (OAC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1988Co-founded DUO in 1988 alongside Toronto Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts to address the challenging funding environment for dance professionals in Ontario. Susan Cohen at OAC spearheaded the creation of Dance Umbrella of Ontario.
• Toronto Arts CouncilflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1988Co-founded DUO in 1988 alongside Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts to provide much-needed support to dance professionals in Ontario.
• Canada Council for the ArtsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1988Co-founded DUO in 1988 alongside Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council to address the complex funding landscape and enable dance professionals to thrive.
• Canada's National Ballet School (NBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint agreement provides free evening studio space (8:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Monday-Friday) at 400 Jarvis Street for DUO clients and CADA/East members. DUO also serves as advisor on NBS Campus Optimization Project and proposed dance hub feasibility study.
• CADA/EastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CADA/East (formerly CADA-ON) provides free rehearsal space access at Canada's National Ballet School for professional and emerging artist members.
• DanceMakersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDanceMakers makes their equipment (Marley dance floors and Christie projector) available for community rental through DUO. DUO facilitates access and booking for these rental items at the shared office location.
• Nordicity Group LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner on multiple sector studies including 'A Shifting Landscape: Dance Presentation in the GTA' and the research study and needs assessment on dance rehearsal spaces in Ontario.
• Mass CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on landscape analysis of eighteen arts organizations providing services to support dancers and dance companies. Joint research initiative involved 18 interviews and an online gathering with dance service organizations.
• Bridget MacIntosh and AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner contributing to and carrying out the research study and needs assessment on dance rehearsal spaces in Ontario alongside DUO and Nordicity.
• ArtsBuild OntariominorOthersAcknowledged for providing data for the research study and needs assessment on dance rehearsal spaces in Ontario.
• Canadian Arts Data / Données sur les arts au Canada (CADAC)minorOthersAcknowledged for providing data for the research study and needs assessment on dance rehearsal spaces in Ontario.
• Canadian Arts CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDUO joined the Canadian Arts Coalition's Campaign for Culture, a national call to protect and increase investment in arts funding. Through this campaign, over 50,000 letters were sent to the federal government advocating for the arts.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mass Culture: Ontario-based arts service organization that collaborated with DUO on a landscape analysis of 18 dance service organizations. Directly comparable as a sector-capacity organization supporting Ontario arts, including dance.
• CanDance Network: Canadian dance network partner organization of DUO. Directly comparable as a national dance service network providing capacity, convening, and information services to Canadian dance professionals.
• CADA/East (Canadian Association for Dance Assembly, East): Eastern-Canadian dance assembly organization partnered with DUO on shared rehearsal space access at NBS. Directly comparable as a dance-specific service organization supporting artists and presenters.
• Dance/USA: U.S. national dance service organization providing advocacy, research, and capacity-building services to the American dance sector. Highly comparable as a national dance service backbone, though U.S.-focused.
• Dance/NYC: New York-based dance service organization providing research, advocacy, and programs to support dance artists and organizations. Comparable as a regional dance service hub with research and capacity-building mandates.
• Ontario Presents: Ontario touring and presenting network, network partner of DUO with shared sector service mandate. Comparable as an Ontario performing arts service organization supporting presenters and touring dance artists.
• ArtsPool: U.S. arts administration cooperative providing shared back-office services (finance, HR, payroll) to small and mid-sized arts organizations. Directly comparable service model to DUO's Finance + Bookkeeping and Administration modules.

Broad incumbents

• Fractured Atlas: Large U.S. arts services organization providing fiscal sponsorship, insurance, and operational support to thousands of artists and arts groups. Comparable as a multi-service arts support organization, though at much greater scale and broader scope.
• Springboard for the Arts: U.S. community arts development organization supporting artists with resources, toolkits, and programs. Comparable as a capacity-building organization for individual artists, including those in dance.
• Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP): U.S. membership association for the performing arts presenting and booking field. Comparable as a sector service body, though broader in scope across all performing arts disciplines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/danceumbrella
• Facebookfacebook.com/DanceUmbrellaofOntario

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Dance Umbrella of Ontario