Cora Dance

What Cora Dance does

Cora Dance (legal entity Cora Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dance organization founded in 1998 by Shannon Hummel in New York City. It operates through three integrated business lines: a professional touring company (Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance or SH/CD), two pay-what-you-can community dance education centers (Cora Dance Brooklyn in Red Hook, Brooklyn, established 2009, and Cora Dance Alleghany in Clifton Forge, Virginia, established 2020), and a portfolio of youth, senior, intergenerational, and enrichment programs. Since 2023, the organization has maintained a formal dual NYC/VA residency, performing on both formal stages (BAM, Brooklyn Museum, New York Live Arts) and in unconventional community spaces (gymnasiums, storage units, senior centers).

The organization serves approximately 300+ students annually across both locations, with over 70% attending classes for free or at reduced tuition, alongside senior citizens, pre-professional youth dancers (grades 6-12), and intergenerational ensembles. Programs include Creative Movement, Hip Hop, Modern Dance, and Repertory classes for ages 5+, the Cora Youth Company pre-professional track, The Fellowship Project (a multi-dimensional community engagement initiative including Common Dances, Community Company workshops, and the Crossroads Project connecting rural and urban communities), and enrichment partnerships with schools, community centers, and senior centers. There is no technology product, no AI/ML component, and no digital delivery model; the work is entirely human-delivered in physical spaces.

The revenue model is mission-driven and donor-dependent, combining (1) grants from federal, state, and city arts agencies (NEA, NYC DCA, NYSCA, Virginia Commission for the Arts), private foundations (Alleghany Foundation, Michael Tuch Foundation, Harkness Foundation, Bath County Arts Association), corporate sponsors, and individual donors organized in tiered giving levels, (2) modest performance ticket revenue ($25 or pay-what-you-can, plus $1,500 table sponsorships at the annual Red Hook Community Prom fundraiser), and (3) pay-what-you-can class fees that contribute a minority of total revenue given the 70%+ subsidy rate. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors with officers and members representing both Brooklyn and Alleghany communities, and operates under executive leadership split between founder Shannon Hummel (Director of the Professional Company) and Nikki Assanti (Director of Cora Dance Brooklyn), with a planned transition of Ammara Shafqat to Director of Company Liaison in 2026-2027.

Name

Cora Dance

Legal name

Cora Inc.

Website

https://coradance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cora Dance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating two pay-what-you-can dance education centers in Red Hook, Brooklyn and Clifton Forge, Virginia, alongside a professional touring company, serving 300+ students annually with over 70% attending free or at reduced tuition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education and Community Dance

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Dance Theatre (Narrative/Experimental) (MPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Community dance education
• Pay-what-you-can dance classes
• Pre-professional youth dance training
• Professional contemporary dance company
• Community arts programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Institutional Funding: Cora Dance relies heavily on grants from government arts councils (NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, Virginia Commission For the Arts), foundations (The Alleghany Foundation, Bath County Arts Association, Michael Tuch Foundation), corporate sponsors, and individual donors. The organization maintains a comprehensive donor recognition program with tiered giving levels.
2. Performance Revenue: Ticket sales for professional performances by Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance at venues including BAM, Brooklyn Museum, New York Live Arts, and community spaces. Performances like 'Because' charge $25 or pay-what-you-can for admission.
3. Class Fees and Tuition Assistance: Pay-what-you-can class fees for dance training programs. Over 70% of 300+ students attend class for free or reduced tuition, with the remaining revenue supplemented by donor contributions and fundraising events.
4. Special Events and Fundraisers: Annual Red Hook Community Prom serves as major fundraiser with ticket sales ($125 or pay-what-you-can) and table sponsorships ($1,500). Proceeds support the Tuition and Ticket Assistance Program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cora Dance provides accessible dance education and professional contemporary dance performances through two pay-what-you-can training centers in Brooklyn, NY and Clifton Forge, VA. Its offerings include group dance classes (Creative Movement, Hip Hop, Modern Dance, Repertory) for ages 5 and up, a pre-professional Cora Youth Company for grades 6-12, community enrichment programs delivered at partner schools and senior centers, and a touring professional company creating and performing original choreographic works.

Product overview

Cora Dance is a dance arts organization comprising two pay-what-you-can dance education centers (Cora Dance Brooklyn in Red Hook, Brooklyn and Cora Dance Alleghany in Clifton Forge, VA), a professional performance company (Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance), and multiple youth and community programs (Cora Youth Company, Cora Community Company, Enrichment Programs). The organization offers a spectrum of services from beginner dance classes for ages 5+ to professional touring productions, united by a mission of equitable access to dance. Key programmatic offerings include The Fellowship Project (with Common Dances, Community Company workshops, and The Crossroads Project) and professional works such as 'Because,' 'Vessel,' 'down here,' 'gifts,' and 'Grove.' The professional company performs on formal stages and in community spaces, while education centers provide training in Creative Movement, Hip Hop, Modern Dance, and Repertory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Fellowship Project: Multi-dimensional initiative bringing professional dancers and community members together through creative processes and performances, including Common Dances, Community Company workshops, and The Crossroads Project
• Cora Youth Company (CYC)
• down here
• gifts
• Because
• Vessel
• Grove

Products and services

• Cora Dance Brooklyn (CDB) Pay-What-You-Can Classes Pay-what-you-can dance training center in Red Hook, Brooklyn offering classes for ages 5+ in Creative Movement, Hip Hop, Modern Dance, and Repertory at PAVE Academy Charter School and other Red Hook locations.
• Cora Dance Alleghany (CDA) Pay-What-You-Can Classes Pay-what-you-can dance training center in Clifton Forge, Virginia offering classes in Creative Movement, Modern Dance, and Repertory for ages 5 and up at the Historic Masonic Theatre and other locations throughout the Alleghany Highlands region.
• Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance (SH/CD) Professional Company Professional dance company creating emotionally raw and human-centered choreography performed on formal stages and in unconventional community spaces, with dual residency in New York City and Virginia since 2023.
• CDB CYC/Cora Youth Company Youth dance company for students in grades 6-12 providing serious dance study and performance opportunities, chosen by invitation and open auditions, with two tiers divided by age and ability, including touring opportunities along the East Coast.
• CDA CYC/Cora Youth Company Youth dance company program providing dedicated students in Alleghany County opportunities to study dance seriously and perform works by professional choreographers, with local performances.
• CDB Enrichment Programs Dance-based programs at schools, community centers, and public spaces throughout Red Hook, including partnerships with PAVE Academy Charter School, PS15, Miccio Community Center, South Brooklyn Community HS, and the Red Hook Senior Center.
• CDA Enrichment Programs Local enrichment programs bringing dance to schools, community centers, and public spaces throughout the Alleghany Highlands, including programs at Boys Home of VA and partnerships with Bath County schools.
• The Fellowship Project Multi-dimensional initiative bringing professional dancers and community members together through creative processes and performances, including Common Dances, Community Company workshops, and The Crossroads Project connecting rural and urban communities.
• Add Water, Make Dance Summer Camp Summer dance camp experience for rising 7th-10th graders exploring contemporary dance, improvisation, storytelling, and choreography, culminating in a performance.
• Cora Community Company Intergenerational collaborative dance-making ensemble open to anyone ages 11+ under the direction of Nikki Assanti, culminating in year-end concert performances.
• Because Dance work for gymnasiums exploring memory, humanity, and shared experiences through movement and music, created by Shannon Hummel in collaboration with dancers, featuring an original score by Hans Bilger, with admission at $25 or pay-what-you-can.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 students served with over 70% attending for free or reduced tuition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

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

• PAVE Academy Charter SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Cora Dance Brooklyn programming including dance classes, Cora Youth Company rehearsals, and performances. Students participate in enrichment programs and collaborative projects with other Cora programs.
• Red Hook Senior CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing Gentle Modern and Yoga classes for adults 60+ with collaborative projects and performances connecting seniors with youth programs.
• Boys Home of VirginiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing enrichment program partnership providing dance-based programs to youth at the Boys Home facility in Covington, VA.
• Bath County Arts AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts organization enabling Cora Dance programs at Millboro and Valley Elementary Schools in Bath County, VA through funding support.
• Miccio Community CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity center partner in Red Hook hosting Step Forward programs and bringing open community classes to festivals and events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Battery Dance Company: Battery Dance Company is a NYC-based contemporary dance organization that combines a professional touring company with extensive community education programs serving youth, seniors, and underserved populations. It is the most direct peer to Cora Dance in terms of mission, scale, and programming mix.
• Mark Morris Dance Group: Mark Morris Dance Group operates a professional contemporary dance company alongside extensive community education programs (Dance for PD, school partnerships, etc.). Comparable to Cora Dance in combining high-caliber professional contemporary dance with broad community education access, though at significantly larger scale.
• Urban Bush Women: Urban Bush Women is a Brooklyn-based dance company focused on the intersection of art, social justice, and community engagement. Similar to Cora Dance in combining contemporary performance with community-centered programs targeting underserved populations.
• Gibney: Gibney is a NYC dance and social impact organization that supports professional dance artists while running community-based movement programs for survivors of violence and other populations. Comparable to Cora Dance in combining professional performance with equity-driven community programming.
• Dance Theatre of Harlem: Dance Theatre of Harlem combines a professional ballet company with school and community education programs that increase dance access for underrepresented communities. Comparable to Cora Dance in mission-driven professional performance plus community education programming.
• Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company: Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is a smaller NYC-based contemporary dance company that combines professional performance with educational outreach and community programming. Comparable to Cora Dance in scale, structure, and the combination of touring professional work with education.

Others

• Movement Research: Movement Research is a NYC-based dance service organization supporting experimental and contemporary dance through performances, workshops, and artist residencies. Comparable as a contemporary dance ecosystem enabler, though not a directly competing company.
• Pentacle: Pentacle is a nonprofit dance service organization providing management and administrative support to independent dance companies and choreographers. Relevant as a potential support/administrative partner comparable to Cora Dance's operational structure.

Emerging players

• Camille A. Brown & Dancers: Camille A. Brown & Dancers is a contemporary dance company creating work that intersects with cultural identity and community narratives. Comparable to Cora Dance in narrative/contemporary choreographic approach but with stronger Broadway commercial adjacency and less community education focus.

Broad incumbents

• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is one of the largest and most established modern dance companies in the US with extensive educational outreach (Ailey Extension, school programs, AileyCamp). Represents a much larger-scale incumbent in the same contemporary dance + community education space as Cora Dance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CoraDanceOrg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cora-dance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Cora Dance