What ImPulsTanz does

ImPulsTanz, founded in 1984 and operated as IMPULSTANZ GmbH, is a Vienna-based cultural organisation that runs the world's largest festival for contemporary dance and performance. Its core products are an annual one-month summer festival (9 July – 9 August 2026) of performances across 14+ Viennese venues, intensive week-long and weekend dance workshops at the Arsenal workshop centre, application-based research projects, and the free outdoor Public Moves community dance program (celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026). The portfolio extends into youth programming (Shake the Break for ages 3.5–18 with Dschungel Wien), a subsidised Chance to Dance initiative for disadvantaged children (with CAPE 10 and Licht ins Dunkel), free childcare during workshop hours (with AK Wien support), the Soçial evening program (Festival Lounge at Burgtheater Vestibül, Rathaus parties), the [8:tension] Young Choreographers' Series, and Country Retreats. No proprietary technology platform underpins the offering; operations rely on a conventional website booking system, on-site and phone box offices, and physical venue infrastructure.

The business model combines transaction-based and subsidised revenue streams: tiered workshop fees (€80–€390 per workshop with volume discounts across Regular / Reduced / Professional / Youth / Disability categories), performance ticket sales (with student, senior, and 65% disability discounts plus subscription bundles of 20%–40%), Festival Lounge and party admissions (free mid-week; €10–€20 weekends), merchandise, vouchers, and country retreats. Co-funding from public-sector and institutional partners (AK Wien, Licht ins Dunkel, MuseumsQuartier, Burgtheater, ART for ART, City of Vienna) and corporate sponsors (FM4, Lufthansa Group, 25hours Hotel) supplements ticket revenue. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via online self-serve booking, on-site box offices, phone sales, and partner channels. Customers span professional dancers, choreographers, students, families, people with disabilities, and cultural tourists across more than five distinct audience segments.

Name

ImPulsTanz

Legal name

IMPULSTANZ GmbH

Website

https://impulstanz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ImPulsTanz, founded in 1984 and based in Vienna, operates the world's largest contemporary dance and performance festival — an annual one-month summer program of performances, workshops, research projects, and community classes serving professional dancers, students, families, and international visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Festival

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320), Dance Companies (71112), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Festival & Event Producers/Organizers (MPAIAFAC), Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks) (MPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Contemporary dance festival
• Dance workshops
• Performance arts
• Dance education programs
• Choreography programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Workshop Fees: Tiered workshop pricing for different participant categories (Regular, Reduced, Professionals, Youth, People with disabilities). Week-long workshops and Intensive weekend workshops. First workshop priced higher, with subsequent workshops at reduced rates.
2. Research Projects: Intensive project weeks with application process, priced at €370-390 depending on booking date. Additional €325 rate for those already booking other workshops.
3. Performance Tickets: Performance ticket sales with standard and discounted categories. Discounts available for students, seniors, workshop participants, and people with disabilities.
4. Festival Lounge & Party Admissions: Festival Lounge: Free entry Sun-Wed, €10 Thu-Sat. Parties at Rathaus Arkadenhof: €18 advance / €20 box office, with workshop pass discounts.
5. Merchandise & Shop: Festival merchandise, accessories, and posters sold at Arsenal shop location.
6. Country Retreats: Multi-day retreat experiences with workshop participants receiving 10% discount.
7. Vouchers: Gift vouchers available for workshop and performance tickets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ImPulsTanz organizes and operates the annual Vienna International Dance Festival (running approximately one month in summer, July 9 – August 9, 2026), delivering contemporary dance performances, intensive week-long and weekend workshops, research projects, free outdoor dance classes (Public Moves), youth and children programs, and social events across 14+ venues in Vienna. The organization sells tickets to performances, fees for workshops and research projects, vouchers, and festival merchandise directly to individual attendees, professionals, students, and international visitors.

Product overview

ImPulsTanz is a dance and performance festival offering a comprehensive portfolio centered on contemporary dance education and performance. The core offerings consist of Performances (featuring international productions and the [8:tension] Young Choreographers' Series), Workshops & Research (intensive week-long workshops and research projects at Arsenal), and Public Moves (free outdoor dance classes across Vienna). The portfolio extends to youth programming including Shake the Break workshops for children aged 3.5-18, the subsidised Chance to Dance program, and free childcare services. Additional offerings include the Soçial entertainment program with Festival Lounge and parties, and Country Retreats for immersive multi-day experiences. The festival operates from July 9 to August 9, 2026, with venues including MuseumsQuartier, Arsenal, Burgtheater, Odeon, and multiple outdoor locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Performances

Quantifiable outcome

• Largest contemporary dance festival in the world since 1984
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dschungel WiencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2026Cooperation with Dschungel Wien theater for young audiences at MuseumsQuartier. Hosts Shake the Break kids workshops (3.5-18 years) and Chance to Dance subsidized programs in studios DW 1+2+3.
• Arbeiterkammer Wien (AK Wien)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported by AK Wien for free childcare services during workshop hours. Enables parents to participate in workshops while children ages 2+ are cared for at no cost.
• Licht ins DunkelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation Fund from Licht ins Dunkel supports Public Moves expansion to Klagenfurt, Linz, and Salzburg since 2024. Also supports Chance to Dance subsidized workshops for disadvantaged children.
• CAPE 10coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CAPE 10 for Chance to Dance program providing subsidized dance workshops for disadvantaged children. Kristina Kovacevic serves as contact for referrals.
• 25hours HotelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel partnership offering 15% discount on daily rates including breakfast at 25hours Hotel Vienna for festival attendees (July 8 - August 10, 2026). Code: FRIENDSOFIMPULSTANZ
• Lufthansa Group AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings for discounted flight fares to Vienna. Exclusive booking platform for festival attendees with fares available one week before and after festival.
• FM4 (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFM4 Fridays partnership featuring FM4 hosts and DJs at Festival Lounge. Austrian youth radio station providing media partnership and audience access.
• ART for ART WerkstättencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFestival uses ART for ART workshop spaces at Arsenal for workshop programming. Historic halls normally used for Vienna State Opera, Burgtheater, and Volksoper set designs.
• MuseumsQuartiercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term venue partnership with MuseumsQuartier cultural complex. Festival uses MQ forecourt for Public Moves and hosts workshops, performances, and main offices at MQ.
• BurgtheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFestival uses Burgtheater Vestibül for Festival Lounge evening events and Burgtheater stages for performances.
• WUK (Werkstätten- und Kulturhaus)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partnership with WUK culture center for performances and research projects at WUK Projektraum.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sadler's Wells: London's leading dance house, presenting contemporary dance programming year-round plus outreach and learning programs. Comparable as a dance-specialized venue/promoter hosting international artists, educational programming, and a year-round audience development model that complements ImPulsTanz's festival approach.
• American Dance Festival: Iconic US contemporary dance festival held annually featuring performances, workshops, and a renowned professional training program. Closely comparable as a multi-week international dance festival combining performance programming with intensive professional workshop offerings.
• Tanz im August: Berlin's flagship international contemporary dance festival, held annually each August. Directly comparable to ImPulsTanz as a multi-week international contemporary dance festival featuring performances, workshops, and artist residencies targeting similar professional and enthusiast audiences.
• Holland Dance Festival: Major biennial contemporary dance festival in the Netherlands featuring international dance productions, workshops, and educational programming. Directly comparable in festival model, scale, and combination of performances with intensive workshop programming.
• Montpellier Danse: France's leading international contemporary dance festival held annually in Montpellier, combining performances, workshops, and outreach. Comparable as a European contemporary dance festival of similar scale and audience composition, with comparable programming across master classes and professional development.

Broad incumbents

• BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music): Brooklyn-based performing arts center presenting international contemporary dance, theater, and music programming with strong educational components. Comparable as an international contemporary dance presenter with educational programming and audience development focus, though operates year-round rather than as a single festival.
• Edinburgh International Festival: Premier performing arts festival held annually in Edinburgh with dance, theater, opera, and music programming. Comparable as a major summer international performing arts festival with strong tourism and partnership-driven marketing, though dance is one of several disciplines.
• Festival d'Avignon: One of the world's largest performing arts festivals, held annually in France. Comparable as a large-scale international summer performing arts festival driving tourism and audience engagement, though broader than dance alone.

Emerging players

• Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch: Iconic German dance company and performance organization associated with Pina Bausch. Comparable as a high-profile contemporary dance producing and presenting organization with international touring, though structured as a resident company rather than a festival model.
• Spring Dance (Sydney Opera House): Annual international contemporary dance festival previously presented at the Sydney Opera House, featuring international artists and workshops. Comparable as a multi-week international contemporary dance event, though historically positioned as a festival series rather than a standalone organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ImPulsTanz
• Facebookfacebook.com/ImPulsTanz
• Instagraminstagram.com/impulstanz_festival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 ImPulsTanz