Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers

What Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers does

Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers (MDTAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 2021 through the merger of Contemporary Dance Theater (est. 1972 by Jefferson James) and MamLuft&Co. Dance (est. 2007 by Jeanne Mam-Luft). The organization operates across three Cincinnati locations — Hartwell (headquarters at 8222 Monon Ave), College Hill (1805 Larch Ave), and a satellite partnership at Clifton Cultural Arts Center — delivering modern and contemporary dance programming that spans a vertically integrated pipeline from toddler recreational classes through audition-based Academy training (Levels I-IV) to a paid professional repertory company. Core revenue streams include Academy tuition ($200-$280/month), recreational and adult class fees, performance ticket sales ($20-$43, with subscriptions offering up to 20% discount), summer camps and intensives ($60-$400), private lessons ($45-$65/session), and a diversified institutional funding base spanning the National Endowment for the Arts, Ohio Arts Council, ArtsWave community campaign, the Robert & Adele Schiff Family Foundation, Crosset Family Fund, Arts Midwest GIG Fund, and individual donors.

The organization's product surface combines three pillars: (1) Mutual Dance Theatre, a resident repertory company that commissions and stages works by diverse national and regional artists, performing in the Up-Close and Modern Mix series; (2) the Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series, a presenting platform that brings nationally-significant touring companies to Cincinnati (recent bookings include Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Yue Yin Dance Company, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Whim W'Him, Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre, and Blue13 Dance Company); and (3) Mutual Arts Centers, the education arm offering the Academy for Modern Dance (described as the only modern dance-specialized academy in Cincinnati for youth ages 7-18), recreational classes for ages 3-18, summer intensives, private lessons, masterclasses, the Young Professionals Group, and the Get Up! Get Down! online curriculum integrating dance with Ohio 3rd-grade math and reading standards. Distribution runs through owned facilities, the Aronoff Center for the Arts via a Cincinnati Arts partnership, and digital platforms (Ticket Tailor, ClassFit, Dance Studio Pro). MDTAC serves an audience described as spanning 76% of Cincinnati's zip codes as a neighborhood arts center.

Name

Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers

Legal name

Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers

Website

https://mutualdance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers is a Cincinnati-based nonprofit that operates a professional modern dance repertory company, presents national touring companies, and runs a multi-location dance education academy serving students from toddlers to adults across the Cincinnati region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Services

NAICS

Dance Companies (711120), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ), Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Modern dance performances
• Dance education programs
• Performing arts nonprofit
• Dance academy training
• Community arts programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Performance Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual tickets to performances including resident company shows (Up-Close, Modern Mix) and presented touring companies. Ticket prices range $20-$43 with subscription discounts up to 20%.
2. Tuition and Class Fees: Recreational and academy dance classes for children and adults with monthly tuition ranging from $200-$280 for Academy programs. Private lessons at $45-$65 per session.
3. Summer Programs: Summer camp and intensive programs including Teen Summer Intensive ($330-$400) and weekly summer classes ($60 per class).
4. Sponsorships and Grants: Support from foundations including Robert & Adele Schiff Family Foundation, Crosset Family Fund, and Karen Zaugg; government funding from National Endowment for the Arts and Ohio Arts Council; and individual donors through ArtsWave campaign.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers operates a resident modern dance repertory company that commissions and performs works by national and regional choreographers, presents touring dance companies through the Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series, and runs dance education and community programs for all ages — from recreational classes for children to an audition-based Academy for Modern Dance and adult workshops. The nonprofit also delivers the free Get Up! Get Down! online learning program that integrates dance with third-grade math and reading curriculum.

Product overview

Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers is a unified performing arts organization combining a resident dance company with education and community programming. The core offerings include: Mutual Dance Theatre (the resident repertory company), the Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series (presenting touring companies), and the Mutual Arts Centers (education facilities). Education programs span the Academy for Modern Dance (audition-based youth program), recreational dance classes for kids and adults, summer camps and intensives, and Get Up! Get Down! (free online learning program combining dance with academic curriculum). Performance programming includes the Up-Close series (intimate studio performances), Modern Mix (multi-choreographer showcases), and presented guest companies. Additional offerings include private lessons, the Young Professionals Group, and masterclasses with visiting artists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mutual Dance Theatre (Resident Company) The resident dance company of Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers that creates and performs modern and contemporary dance works, staging repertory by national and regional choreographers for Cincinnati audiences.
• Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series Presenting series that brings nationally-significant touring dance companies to Cincinnati, including Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Whim W'Him, Yue Yin Dance Company, Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre, and Blue13 Dance Company.
• Academy for Modern Dance Cincinnati's only audition-based academy specializing in modern dance for youth ages 7-18, with multiple levels (I-IV) providing rigorous training in ballet, modern, and jazz culminating in performance opportunities.
• Recreational Dance Classes for Kids Non-audition recreational dance classes for children and teens ages 3-18 in ballet, modern, hip hop, jazz, and tap, offered at Hartwell and Clifton locations.
• Adult Dance Classes Weekly dance and fitness classes for adults including classes with the resident company, offered at Hartwell and College Hill locations for all experience levels.
• Summer Dance Camp Week-long summer day camp for children featuring kids bop, modern dance, and creative movement, supplemented with crafts and other activities.
• Teen Modern Dance Summer Intensive Annual immersive week-long summer program for teen dancers exposing them to university programs, professional artists, and modern dance styles, typically held late June to early July.
• Adult Modern Dance Summer Intensive Modern dance-centered summer study program for adults with a variety of faculty, designed as a multi-day intensive.
• Private Lessons and Solo Choreography Private one-on-one dance lessons and choreographed or self-choreographed solo work available for any dancer, including recital performers and Academy students seeking additional studio time.
• Young Professionals Group Annual membership program for young professionals offering 25% off Friday night performance tickets, pre-show happy hours, and networking events.
• Get Up! Get Down! Learning Through Dance Free online educational program combining dance with third-grade math and reading curriculum aligned to Ohio learning standards, with video lessons and self-led activities for teachers and students.
• Mutual Dance Theatre Performance Series (Up-Close, Modern Mix) Annual in-house performance series including Up-Close (intimate fourth-wall-breaking studio performances by the resident company) and Modern Mix (multi-choreographer showcase of diverse contemporary works).
• Masterclasses and Community Workshops Dance masterclasses typically connected to the performance season, offering opportunities to study with touring companies and professional artists, including the Move With Mutual community program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 76% of Cincinnati zip codes as neighborhood arts center

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Clifton Cultural Arts CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for satellite recreational dance classes at Clifton Cultural Arts Center location; includes walk-over service from Fairview Clifton German Language School and Clifton Area Neighborhood School
• Cincinnati ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partnership for Aronoff Center performances; box office services; accessibility services including listening devices
• Jefferson JamescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder of Contemporary Dance Theater (est. 1972) whose Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series continues under MDTAC

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Cincinnati Ballet: Cincinnati's largest classical dance institution and the primary local competitor for audience, donor, and student mindshare. Compares on venue partnership with Aronoff Center, Academy training model, and Cincinnati nonprofit arts ecosystem but operates in ballet rather than modern dance.
• Dayton Contemporary Dance Company: Ohio-based modern and contemporary dance company with a similar repertory/presenting model, education programs, and regional touring. Directly comparable as a fellow Ohio modern-dance organization serving an adjacent Midwest metro.

Direct peers

• Complexions Contemporary Ballet: Contemporary dance company touring works by Dwight Rhoden and others (which MDTAC's Rehearsal Director has performed). Comparable in repertory focus, national touring, and presenting relationship model.
• Mark Morris Dance Group: Modern dance company with integrated education programs, repertory licensing, and national touring. Comparable in artistic programming and integrated school/community engagement at a similar nonprofit scale.
• Pilobolus: Innovative repertory dance company with national touring and educational outreach. Comparable in artistic innovation focus, repertory licensing model, and integrated outreach programming to schools.
• Parsons Dance: Modern dance company known for repertory licensing to schools and universities, plus national touring. Comparable in leveraging licensing as a revenue channel and in resident-company-plus-education programming model.
• Deeply Rooted Dance Theater: Chicago-based modern dance company also presented by MDTAC. Comparable repertory model, education programming, and tour-to-presenting-house relationship; similar scale and nonprofit governance.
• Dallas Black Dance Theatre: NEA American Masterpiece Touring Artist and modern dance company that MDTAC presents as a touring engagement. Comparable as a similarly-sized resident company plus education/outreach model with strong national presenting ties.

Broad incumbents

• Martha Graham Dance Company: Historic U.S. modern dance institution with licensed repertory, education programs, and global touring. Compares on modern dance heritage, repertory licensing model, and school/outreach programming, though at a national scale.
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: The largest U.S. modern dance company and a global brand with extensive education and presenting operations. Compares on repertory modern dance, national touring, and integrated school/educational programming, but at vastly greater scale.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mutualdance
• Instagraminstagram.com/mutualdance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mutualarts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers