Company on the Ground

What Company on the Ground does

Compagnie par Terre is a French independent performing arts company founded in 2005 by dancer, choreographer, author, and director Anne Nguyen. Operating as an association under French law (loi 1901) and headquartered in Joinville-le-Pont with a Paris correspondence office, the company creates contemporary dance and theater-dance works that treat urban and hip-hop dance styles—including break, popping, and locking—as complete choreographic languages suited to major stage presentation. Its productions have toured internationally across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Australia since 2005, including performances at the Holland Festival, Tanz im August, Crossing The Line, Festival d'Avignon IN and OFF, and over fifty other international festivals.

The company's underlying intellectual property is a proprietary choreographic methodology that decomposes and recomposes urban dance movements through geometric and mathematical frameworks inspired by urban architecture and martial arts. Specific codified techniques include the geometric transposition of hip-hop gestures, the looping pop dance style developed for bal.exe, and the kata choreography framework. Beyond stage productions, the company has expanded into adjacent formats including opera choreography commissions (Les Pêcheurs de Perles, 2025; Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria, 2027), a published poetry collection (Manuel du Guerrier de la Ville), a public-facing web video game (SKILLZ, 2021, featuring 39 dancers from 11 urban dance disciplines), interactive museum installations (TOURNER at Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, 2024–2026), and short films (Épicentre, UNDERDOG CITY) screened at international dance film festivals.

Compagnie par Terre's business model rests on three revenue streams: recurring multi-year public institutional funding from the French Ministry of Culture/DRAC Île-de-France, Région Île-de-France (Permanence Artistique et Culturelle), and Département du Val-de-Marne, which forms the primary financial base; performance and co-production revenue from touring productions booked by national theaters, opera houses, and festivals; and commissioned artistic projects including opera choreography, film, video game, and installation work. The company serves a hybrid audience of French public cultural institutions, venue presenters, urban dance practitioners, school communities (via Battle des Battles), and general performing arts audiences. Ticket pricing is set by venue presenters; the company does not publish direct consumer pricing.

Name

Company on the Ground

Legal name

Compagnie par Terre

Website

https://compagnieparterre.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public institutional funding: The company receives multi-year support from the Ministry of Culture/DRAC Île-de-France, the Île-de-France Region (Permanence Artistique et Culturelle), and the Val-de-Marne Department. This constitutes the primary financial foundation.
2. Performance revenue and co-productions: Revenue generated from touring performances, co-productions with theaters and opera houses, and venue/presentation fees at cultural institutions
3. Artistic projects and commissions: Opera choreography commissions, film productions, video game development, and interactive installations commissioned by cultural institutions

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Compagnie par Terre is a French performing arts company that creates and tours contemporary dance theater productions, opera choreographies, short films, an interactive video game, and immersive installations rooted in hip-hop and urban dance vocabularies. Its works are presented at national theaters, opera houses, festivals, and museums across France and internationally, accompanied by educational programs in schools. The company is funded primarily through public institutional subsidies supplemented by performance fees, co-productions, and commissioned artistic projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SKILLZ: A video game created in 2021 that allows the public to play and recognize different hip-hop dance styles. Features 39 dancers from 11 different disciplines including break, hip hop freestyle, house, lock, pop, top rocks, waack, voguing, hype, jazz-rock, and krump. Accessible via skillz.compagnieparterre.com.

Products and services

• Witch Hunting Contemporary dance production exploring the scapegoat mechanism through confrontation of krump, popping, and African urban and traditional dances. Touring to national theaters and festivals.
• [Superstrat[ Solo dance production performed by an African urban and traditional dancer exploring links between ancestral dance traditions and the Afro-American diaspora heritage.
• PROMENADE OBLIGATOIRE Iconic dance piece for eight poppers exploring synchronization, individuality, and collective movement, with planned revival in 2026 at Opéra de Massy.
• Matière(s) première(s) Contemporary dance piece for six dancers exploring extractivism through African urban and traditional dances. Touring schedule through 2026-2027.
• Underdogs Dance trio exploring the etymology of popping, political symbols, and social markers of the urban collective unconscious.
• Les Pêcheurs de Perles (opera choreography) Choreography and staging of Georges Bizet's opera Les Pêcheurs de Perles, performed by the Orchestre National d'Ile-de-France at Opéra de Massy.
• Le Retour d'Ulysse (opera staging) Staging and choreography of Claudio Monteverdi's opera Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria, under the musical direction of David Stern for Opera Fuoco, premiering at Opéra de Massy in April 2027.
• TOURNER (interactive installation) Immersive interactive installation commissioned for the DANSER exhibition at the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie (Paris), running July 2024 through May 2026.
• SKILLZ (video game) Online video game accessible via skillz.compagnieparterre.com, designed to raise public awareness of the diversity of urban dances. Features 39 dancers from 11 disciplines.
• UNDERDOG CITY (short film) Short film exploring the Statue of Liberty to question concepts of liberty, universalism, cosmopolitanism, and cultural integration, created for the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad.
• Épicentre (short film) Short film questioning cultural appropriation through dance, symbols, and stereotypes associated with bodies. Awarded Prix Performance at Urban Films Festival 2022 and Third Public Prize at TANZAHOI 2022.
• Battle des Battles (educational program) Artistic education program combining hip-hop dance workshops with event organization skills for students, delivered in partnership with schools and cultural centers.
• Agitation Upcoming dance trio subverting the rebellious essence of break dance, exploring antagonistic postures and their resolution through dialogue of bodies. Premiere scheduled at Opéra de Massy in October 2027.

Quantifiable outcome

• Épicentre short film received Prix Performance at Urban Films Festival 2022 and 3rd Prix du Public at TANZAHOI International Dance Film Festival 2022
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Opéra de MassyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Anne Nguyen serves as artist in residence at Opéra de Massy. The company created and premiered Les Pêcheurs de Perles (2025) and will premiere Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria in April 2027 and Agitation in October 2027 at this venue.
• La Manufacture CDCN Nouvelle-Aquitaine Bordeaux • La RochellecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist association in 2025/2026 within the framework supported by the Ministry of Culture. Provides production support and presentation opportunities for the company's artistic projects.
• Opéra FuococoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the lyrique company directed by David Stern for opera productions. Anne Nguyen will choreograph and stage Monteverdi's Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria under David Stern's musical direction in 2027.
• Association Fondament'allcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Didier Boko's association on the Battle des Battles project, combining hip-hop dance workshops with event organization skills in schools.
• Théâtre des 2 Rives de Charenton-le-PontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist association in 2025/2026 within the Ministry of Culture supported framework.
• Théâtre Molière -> Sète scène nationale de l'archipel de ThaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist association in 2025/2026 within the Ministry of Culture supported framework.
• Théâtre des Bergeries - Noisy-le-SeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist association in 2025/2026 within the Ministry of Culture supported framework.
• Ministère de la Culture / DRAC Île-de-FranceflagshipOthersMulti-year funding support from the Ministry of Culture's regional directorate. Primary institutional backer for the company's operations and artistic development.
• Région Île-de-FranceflagshipOthersFunding support through Permanence Artistique et Culturelle program, contributing to the company's operational costs and artistic projects.
• Département du Val-de-MarnecoreOthersOperating support funding from the department where the company is headquartered.
• L'Auditorium SeynodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for the SKILLZ video game project.
• CENTQUATRE-PARIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency venue for artistic creation, particularly noted for hosting the company's development periods.
• CND Centre national de la dansecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency at the national dance center in Pantin/Ivry-sur-Seine, with studio space provided for artistic development.
• Chaillot – Théâtre national de la DanseflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist association from 2015 to 2018, presenting Anne Nguyen's works at France's national dance theater.
• La VillettecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner and presenting venue for performances in Paris, including for Héraclès sur la tête.
• La Ferme du Buisson - Scène nationale de Marne-la-ValléecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Battle des Battles educational project 'Beaux Quartiers' and co-presentation of company productions.
• Briqueterie CDCN du Val-de-MarnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency venue and partner for territorial choreographic residency in Ivry-sur-Seine, including production of UNDERDOG CITY short film.
• Cité des Sciences et de l'IndustriecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned the TOURNER interactive installation for the DANSER immersive exhibition (2024-2026), targeting children and families.
• CN D Centre national de la dansecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the TOURNER installation, providing studio space and institutional support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Akram Khan Company: UK-based contemporary dance company rooted in Kathak and contemporary fusion, touring internationally with major institutional backing and associated-artist residencies. Comparable in fusing a specific cultural dance lineage with contemporary stage practice and global touring.
• Compagnie 111 (Aurélien Bory): French contemporary performing arts company blending circus, dance, and visual installations with international touring and Ministry of Culture support. Comparable in its cross-genre R&D approach and reliance on French institutional infrastructure.
• Ballet Preljocaj: Major French contemporary dance company with a comparable public-subsidy-plus-international-touring business model, multi-format productions (stage, film), and anchor status within French national dance institutions. Comparable scale and operational footprint.
• Compagnie Käfig: French hip-hop dance company founded by Mourad Merzouki, operating on a comparable model of national residencies, international touring, and contemporary-hip-hop fusion. The most direct French peer for Compagnie par Terre in terms of genre, institutional backing (CCN de Créteil), and touring economics.
• Hofesh Shechter Company: Internationally touring contemporary dance company with associated-artist status at major venues, blending urban and contemporary vocabularies. Closely comparable in operational model (small core company, international touring, venue associations) and aesthetic positioning.
• Compagnie Maguy Marin: Long-established French contemporary dance company operating on similar institutional association models with French national theaters and CDCNs, and touring major international festivals. Directly comparable in terms of revenue structure (public subsidy plus performance fees) and association-driven operations.
• CCN de Créteil / Compagnie Käfig: National Choreographic Center hosting Compagnie Käfig with permanent institutional residency, government funding, and hip-hop stage production. Mirrors the residency-plus-public-funding architecture that supports Compagnie par Terre's operational base.

Others

• Cité de la Danse / CDCN Pôle en Scènes (ex-CND Pantin): National dance resource center providing studio residencies and production support to French dance companies, including Compagnie par Terre. Comparable as a French-sector ecosystem player rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Batsheva Dance Company: Prominent national-level contemporary dance company with institutional backing and international touring across major festivals. Comparable in operating a resident repertory company model with extensive international touring.
• Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch: Iconic German dance-theater company operating as a public-sector institution with much larger scale and budget. Comparable in producing multivocal dance-theater works presented at major international venues and festivals, though with broader operating scale and theater-based legacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cieparterre
• Facebookfacebook.com/compagnieparterre

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 Company on the Ground