What Ballroom Dance Chicago LLC does

Ballroom Dance Chicago LLC is a privately held dance instruction studio founded in 2008 by Matthew Sove, operating from two Chicago locations: the original Lakeview studio and the newer West Loop Loft. The company teaches ballroom, Latin, swing, and wedding dance across private lessons (introductory at $49), group classes, structured memberships with a four-month minimum commitment, and recurring social events and balls. Customer segments span wedding couples, romantic partners seeking connection, individual learners, competitive dancers, and wellness-oriented adults, with an emerging line of sound bath and yoga programming and curated international dance trips to Vienna.

The studio's product portfolio includes private and group instruction, wedding-specific packages, gift certificates, online recorded content for asynchronous learning, and experiential travel products. Technology infrastructure is non-proprietary and consumer-facing: Momence handles booking and scheduling, Squarespace hosts the website, and a basic CRM supports customer management. There is no proprietary platform, no AI/ML capabilities, and no patents or research output referenced in the input material.

Revenue is generated through multi-stream consumer transactions — lesson packages, memberships, events, gift certificates, online content, and Vienna trips. Go-to-market relies on a strong third-party review footprint (Google, The Knot, Yelp), a wedding-vendor channel, and referrals. The company also operates a Ballroom Training School / Apprentice Program that develops and retains teaching talent, providing a talent pipeline tied to the founder's Master Instructor brand.

Name

Ballroom Dance Chicago LLC

Legal name

Ballroom Dance Chicago LLC

Website

https://ballroomdancechicago.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dance Instruction Services

NAICS

Dance Companies (711120)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance) (EDAAAGAD)

Keywords

• Ballroom dance lessons
• Wedding dance choreography
• Group dance classes
• Private dance instruction
• Latin swing dance

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Private Lessons: One-on-one instruction with professional dance instructors. Priced at $49 for intro/new student lessons. Standard private lessons booked through Momence platform.
2. Group Classes: Small group classes including semi-private lessons for couples (2-4 couples), Fundamentals courses ($399/month), Crash Courses ($60/person), and drop-in classes.
3. Studio Memberships: Monthly membership program with benefits including free attendance at socials and Choreography Flow sessions. Requires minimum four-month initial commitment.
4. Events & Balls: Formal galas, socials, and themed events including Valentine's Day Ball ($199/couple), Winter Formal, Harvest Ball, and special event classes.
5. Online Services: Recorded dance tutorials with 24-hour trial period, subscription model for ongoing access, personalized streaming lessons, and free dance tutorials.
6. Travel Programs: Annual group trips to Vienna for traditional ball season, including attendance at Kaffeesiederball and Opernball. Revenue from trip coordination and potentially ticket booking services.
7. Gift Certificates: Non-refundable gift certificates available for all studio services, redeemable for lessons, classes, and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ballroom Dance Chicago LLC provides in-person ballroom, Latin, swing, and wedding dance instruction at two Chicago studios (Lakeview and West Loop). Core offerings include private one-on-one lessons, semi-private group classes for couples, group classes for individuals without partners, structured Fundamentals courses, and customized wedding first dance choreography. The studio is supported by monthly socials, formal balls, wellness offerings (sound baths, yoga), and annual trips to Vienna during Austrian ball season.

Product overview

Ballroom Dance Chicago is a dance studio offering a comprehensive range of instructional services for ballroom, Latin, swing, and wedding dance. The core offerings include Private Lessons (personalized one-on-one instruction), Group Classes for both individuals and couples (semi-private lessons with 2-4 couples), and Wedding Dance Lessons (custom choreography for first dances). The studio also provides structured Fundamentals Courses (4-week progressive programs), Crash Courses (monthly 3-hour intensive workshops), and Choreography Flow Sessions (advanced technique refinement). Supporting offerings include Sound Bath & Yoga Classes (wellness programming), Country Dance Series, 4th Saturday Socials (monthly social events), and Vienna Ball Trips (annual travel experiences to Austrian ball season). The studio operates under a membership model and offers New Student Specials for onboarding. Educational resources include Free Dance Tutorials and Music Playlists. The company also runs a Ballroom Training School for aspiring instructors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Lessons One-on-one personalized dance instruction tailored to individual goals and skill levels, covering ballroom, Latin, swing, and wedding dance styles. Includes intro lessons at $49 for new students and full 60-minute sessions (45 minutes instruction, 15 minutes studio practice) for returning students.
• Group Classes for Couples (Semi-Private) Small group lessons limited to 2–4 couples where couples stay together throughout the class, receiving personalized instruction in a social setting. Designed for couples seeking shared learning experiences.
• Group Classes - No Partner Needed Small-group dance instruction for individuals without a partner, covering multiple dance styles with rotating partner assignments. Targets solo learners.
• Wedding Dance Lessons Customized first dance choreography and preparation for wedding couples, including parent-child dances and wedding party routines. Wedding consultation priced at $49; minimum 12 weeks before wedding recommended.
• Fundamentals Group Classes Structured 4-week progressive courses held twice weekly (Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:45–8:45 PM) covering dance fundamentals. Progresses through styles such as Waltz, Cha Cha, Viennese Waltz, West Coast Swing, Tango, and Rumba. Priced at $109/week or $399/month.
• Crash Courses Intensive 3-hour beginner workshops held monthly on the first Saturday from 10:30 AM–1:30 PM, covering specific dance styles including West Coast Swing, Bachata, Country Two Step, Foxtrot, Hustle, and Viennese Waltz. Priced at $60/person with 35% discount for members.
• Choreography Flow Sessions 90-minute advanced sessions with Master Instructor focused on connecting dance steps smoothly and creating cohesive performances. Priced at $60/person, free for members. Targeted at intermediate dancers.
• Country Dance Classes Monthly country dance series covering styles including Country Two Step, Country Shuffle, Country Swing, and Country Waltz.
• Studio Events and Balls Formal galas, social dances, and themed events including Chicago Ball Season, Valentine's Day Ball ($199/couple), Winter Formal, Harvest Ball, and special event classes. Limited to 25 couples for select balls.
• 4th Saturday Socials Monthly social events featuring a 45-minute class followed by 2 hours of open dancing, with rotating dance styles. Priced at $25/person for class + social, $18 for social only. Free for studio members.
• Vienna Ball Trips Annual group trips to Vienna, Austria for traditional ball season, including attendance at Kaffeesiederball and Opernball at the Hofburg Palace. Revenue from trip coordination and ticket booking services.
• Studio Membership Monthly subscription membership program with benefits including free attendance at 4th Saturday Socials and Choreography Flow sessions. Requires minimum four-month initial commitment.
• New Student Specials Introductory packages for new students including $49 intro lessons, Try It Out Month ($329 for 1 person or $469 for 2 people, including 1 private lesson, 4 group/couples classes, 2 crash courses, and 1 Fourth Saturday Social), and $49 wedding consultations.
• Gift Certificates Non-refundable digital and physical gift certificates available for lessons, classes, and studio services.
• Sound Bath & Yoga Classes Wellness programming including Sunday Reset sessions combining gentle yoga, meditation, and sound bath experiences with crystal and Tibetan bowls.
• Ballroom Training School (Apprentice Program) Training program for aspiring dance instructors located near the studio, offering comprehensive instruction in partner dance teaching methods.
• West Loop Valentine's Classes Couples drop-in classes priced at $99 per couple per 45-minute class. Beginner-friendly, BYOB. Multiple styles offered over February 13–14.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fred Astaire Dance Studios: National ballroom dance studio franchise with multiple Chicago-area locations offering private lessons, group classes, and wedding dance instruction. Most directly comparable large-scale competitor in the same ballroom instruction category.
• Arthur Murray Dance Studios: Long-established global ballroom dance studio chain with Chicago locations, competing head-to-head in private lessons, group programs, and wedding choreography. Closest scale competitor to BDC's core offerings.
• Dance With Me Studios: Ballroom and Latin dance studio chain focused on wedding dance preparation and social dancing for couples. Comparable business model with private lessons, group classes, and wedding choreography as primary revenue drivers.
• Shall We Dance Ballroom: Independently owned Chicagoland ballroom dance studio (Park Ridge, IL) offering private and group lessons, social dances, and wedding dance instruction. Direct local competitor serving the same metropolitan Chicago customer base.
• City Ballroom Dance Studio: Boutique ballroom dance studio offering private lessons, group classes, and wedding choreography in a similar premium-priced format. Comparable small-scale competitor in the private instruction and wedding segment.

Others

• National Dance Council of America: Governing body for competitive ballroom and Latin dance in the U.S., sanctioning the competitions and events that BDC participates in. Not a direct competitor but a key ecosystem enabler for BDC's competition programming.
• USA Dance: National nonprofit promoting social and competitive ballroom dance, organizing local chapter events including in Chicago. Adjacent ecosystem participant that complements rather than competes with BDC's commercial studio model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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 Ballroom Dance Chicago LLC