What American Tap Dance Foundation does

The American Tap Dance Foundation (ATDF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1986 (originally as the American Tap Dance Orchestra) and renamed in 2001, headquartered at 154 Christopher Street in New York City. Its mission is to establish and legitimize tap as a vital component of dance by honoring, preserving, and promoting tap dance as an American art form. ATDF serves a distributed base of approximately 500 annual students (ages 3.5 through adult), 75+ performers and technicians, and roughly 60 teachers and staff, delivering year-round classes, youth ensembles (Tap City Youth Ensemble ages 11–19, Junior Ensemble ages 8–12), adult training, a Tap Teacher Training Certificate Program, and performance series including Rhythm in Motion, Sound Check, and Tap Treasures.

The organization's product portfolio is anchored by the American Tap Dance Center (opened 2009), the annual Tap City – NYC Tap Festival (founded 2001), recognition programs including the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame (2002), Hoofer Awards, and Tap Preservation Awards, and touring/educational extensions such as Tap City on Tour, Tap Attacks, Winter Tap Intensive, and Summer Tap Camp. Underlying 'technology' is artistic programming and educational delivery rather than software products. The foundation's historical archive—collected and documented over 24 years—was donated to the Jerome Robbins Dance Division of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in 2019, transferring stewardship of preservation assets to a permanent institutional home.

ATDF's business model is a multi-stream nonprofit revenue structure: institutional grant funding (NEA, NYSCA, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Howard Gilman Foundation, Jerome Robbins Foundation, Tsunami Foundation, NY Community Trust, David Kellogg Family Foundation), individual donations and corporate sponsorships, and program fees from classes, workshops, performances, and studio rentals. Marketing is event-driven—anchored by the Tap City festival, public performances, and community events—and distributed domestically through the NYC facility, school/community outreach, and touring. In March 2024 the Board announced downsizing and closure of the American Tap Dance Center effective June 30 and cancellation of Tap City, citing extraordinary pandemic-era financial challenges; the organization retains its 501(c)(3) status to produce future projects.

Name

American Tap Dance Foundation

Legal name

American Tap Dance Foundation

Website

https://atdf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

American Tap Dance Foundation is a New York–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves and promotes tap dance through year-round classes, youth ensembles, the annual Tap City festival, and recognition programs serving approximately 500 students and 75 performers annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Dance Companies (71112), Dance Companies (711120), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Tap, Jazz & Musical Theatre Dance (MPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI), Dance Performances (THAJAFAD)

Keywords

• Tap dance education
• Dance instruction programs
• Performing arts training
• Dance festival events
• Dance preservation archive

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: ATDF receives grants from foundations and government agencies including New York Community Trust, New York Department of Cultural Affairs, Howard Gilman Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, Jerome Robbins Foundation, and Tsunami Foundation
2. Individual Donations and Sponsorships: Support from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation partners
3. Program Fees: Fees from classes, workshops, performances, studio rentals, and educational programs

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The American Tap Dance Foundation (ATDF) provides year-round tap dance instruction, performance programming, and cultural preservation. Its offerings include classes for children, teens, and adults; youth ensembles; a Tap Teacher Training Certificate Program; an annual Tap City NYC Tap Festival; concert series such as Rhythm in Motion and Sound Check; recognition programs including the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame and Hoofer Awards; and historical tap dance archive stewardship.

Product overview

The American Tap Dance Foundation (ATDF) is a non-profit organization that serves as a steward of tap dance history, providing comprehensive dance education and performance programming. The organization operates a multi-faceted portfolio consisting of: the American Tap Dance Center as its core training facility at 154 Christopher Street in NYC; the annual Tap City - New York City Tap Festival as its flagship event; structured youth programs including the Tap City Youth Ensemble and Junior Repertory for young dancers ages 8-19; year-round classes for children, teens, and adults at all skill levels; a Tap Teacher Training Certificate Program; and performance series including Rhythm in Motion, Sound Check, and Tap Treasures storytelling tours. The foundation also administers recognition programs including the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame, Hoofer Awards, and Tap Preservation Awards to honor and preserve tap dance legacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• American Tap Dance Center A dedicated training facility located at 154 Christopher Street in New York City offering year-round tap dance instruction and rehearsal space for dancers of all ages and skill levels; closed effective June 30, 2024.
• Tap City - The New York City Tap Festival

Quantifiable outcome

• 500 students annually received tap dance training
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Jerome Robbins Dance Division of the New York Public Library for the Performing ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATDF donated its extensive tap dance archive to this division in 2019. The division hosts events honoring ATDF's legacy including Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony for Tony Waag

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• STOMP: A long-running percussion/tap performance production that popularized rhythm-based performance. Comparable as a major commercial tap-driven performance enterprise that competes for the same audience and showcases the tap art form.
• Steps on Broadway: A New York City-based commercial dance studio offering year-round tap and other dance classes for all levels. Comparable to ATDF's American Tap Dance Center as a year-round NYC tap training destination.
• Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival: A National Historic Landmark dance festival with performance, training, and preservation activities. Comparable to ATDF as a dance festival organization that combines ticketed performances with educational programming.
• Broadway Dance Center: A major NYC commercial dance studio with extensive tap and other dance class offerings. Comparable to ATDF's Tap Dance Center as a NYC-based tap/dance instruction destination.
• Dorrance Dance: A leading contemporary tap dance company led by Michelle Dorrance, focused on tap innovation and performance. Comparable to ATDF as a tap-centric performance organization shaping the field's artistic direction.
• Tapestry Dance Company: A tap-focused dance company with educational programming and festival activities (including the Soul to Sole Festival). Comparable to ATDF's integrated performance + education + festival model.
• Chicago Human Rhythm Project: A nonprofit tap dance presenter and educator that produces the annual Chicago Tap Summit and year-round training — directly comparable to ATDF's Tap City festival and Tap Dance Center model of tap-specific festivals, classes, and preservation.
• American Dance Festival: A nationally recognized dance festival and educational organization offering classes, performances, and residencies. Comparable to ATDF's Tap City festival and year-round training programming model.
• National Dance Institute: A New York-based nonprofit providing dance education to children, with intensive programming and performances. Comparable to ATDF as a dance-education nonprofit combining youth instruction with public performance.

Broad incumbents

• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: A larger, established NYC-based dance organization with a school, performances, and community programs. Comparable to ATDF as a NYC-based dance education and performance institution, though broader in genre and substantially larger in scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ATDForg

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 American Tap Dance Foundation