Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub

What Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub does

Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub is a Newcastle West, NSW-based non-profit contemporary dance and multi-arts organisation founded in 2015 and operating with a six-person core team from studios at 880 Hunter Street. Its mission is to cultivate and champion professional contemporary dance practice, choreography, and multidisciplinary creation across the Hunter region, NSW, Australia, and through selected international programs. The organisation serves four primary segments: mid-career and emerging choreographers, professional dancers and multidisciplinary artists, young people (via The Flipside Project), and the broader community (via Catapult Community school workshops, masterclasses, evening classes, and First Nations programs).

The product portfolio is structured as interconnected programs rather than discrete technology products. Core offerings include Catapult Company (a professional dance company commissioning national and international choreographers), Propel Choreographic & Multi-Disciplinary Residencies, Hunter Seed Residencies for emerging artists, International Programs (UK and Israel exchanges), The Flipside Project youth initiative (Senior, Junior, and First Nations ensembles), Catapult Community (school workshops, Teacher PD, First Nations programs), Catapult Classes (Contemporary Technique, Ballet, Adult, Yoga, Creative Kids), venue hire across two studios, the IMPACT FESTIVAL, and free online class videos introduced during COVID-19. The underlying production infrastructure consists of two physical studio spaces (Studio 1 at 23m x 8m with Tarquet floor; Studio 2 at 8m x 8m with sprung Tarquet floor) equipped with performance lighting, seating bank, green screen, and photographic capabilities. There is no proprietary software, AI, or platform technology underpinning the offerings.

The business model is a hybrid non-profit revenue mix rather than a traditional commercial GTM. Direct revenue is generated from a $30/year membership program providing discounts on classes, masterclasses, open-studio events, and venue hire; per-class fees for open dance instruction; pay-as-you-go venue hire with special rates for not-for-profit arts organisations; and ticketed performance revenue. Indirect and underwriting revenue flows from donations and a diversified grant stack including Create NSW, City of Newcastle, Sidney Myer Foundation, Sydney Myer Cultural Capacity Fund, Museums & Galleries of NSW, the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, and the Israeli Embassy. Distribution is primarily direct from the Newcastle studios, supplemented by venue partnerships (Newcastle Art Gallery, The Lock-Up, Civic Theatre, Maitland and Lake Macquarie regional art galleries), festival circuit appearances (Sydney Fringe, Fringe World Perth), and school outreach across NSW. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on organic social (Facebook, Instagram), email newsletters, the company website, and word-of-mouth within the dance ecosystem rather than paid acquisition.

Name

Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub

Legal name

Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub

Website

https://catapultdance.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub is a Newcastle West, NSW-based non-profit contemporary dance organisation that commissions professional choreographers, runs residencies, youth programs, and community workshops, and serves emerging and mid-career choreographers, young people, and the Hunter region community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Services

NAICS

Dance Companies (711120)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Dancers, Choreographers & Dance Troupes Booking (HSACAHAD), Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH)

Keywords

• Contemporary dance
• Choreographic residencies
• Youth dance programs
• Performing arts workshops
• Community dance classes

Headquarters

HQ city

Newcastle West

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Program: Annual membership at $30 providing discounts on classes, masterclasses, open-studio events, venue hire, and monthly newsletters to support contemporary dance practice.
2. Dance Classes: Fees for open classes in Contemporary Technique, Ballet, Adults, Yoga, Creative Kids, and other dance forms.
3. Venue Hire: Rental of studio spaces for rehearsals, performances, photographic shoots, and private lessons. Special rates for not-for-profit arts organisations.
4. Performance Tickets: Revenue from ticketed performances by Catapult Company, The Flipside Project, and various productions.
5. Donations: Donations from supporters to support contemporary dance practice and performance in the community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub is a Newcastle-based contemporary dance and multi-arts organisation that commissions professional dance works, runs choreographic and multi-disciplinary residencies for emerging and mid-career artists, delivers youth dance programs (The Flipside Project), and offers community classes, school workshops, and venue hire. It operates as an incubator and producer of professional dance practice with regional, national, and international reach.

Product overview

Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub is a multi-arts organization based in Newcastle, NSW that offers a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include the Catapult Company (a professional dance company commissioning national and international choreographers), Propel Choreographic & Multi-Disciplinary Residencies (for mid-career and emerging artists), and The Flipside Project (a youth initiative with Senior, Junior, and First Nations ensembles). Supporting programs include Catapult Community (school workshops, masterclasses, Teacher Professional Development), Catapult Classes (contemporary technique, ballet, yoga, Creative Kids), and Hunter Seed Residencies for emerging choreographers. The organization also offers venue hire for rehearsals and performances, presents the IMPACT FESTIVAL, and provides First Nations-specific dance programs. Free online class videos were introduced during COVID-19. The programs work together to cultivate professional contemporary dance practice, support emerging artists, and engage the community through dance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Flipside Project: Catapult's youth initiative focused on developing choreographic practice, professional development and performance opportunities for young people. Includes senior, junior, and First Nations Ensembles.
• Propel Residencies
• Catapult Company
• Hunter Seed Residencies
• Catapult Community
• IMPACT FESTIVAL

Products and services

• Catapult Company

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Newcastle Art GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor venue partner for performances and exhibitions. Supported youth exchange with Rutherford Dance Company, RE/COLLECT residency, and numerous other productions including SODEISHA, Rutherford Exchange, and Sound of Silence.
• City of NewcastlecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner providing funding and support for community dance programs and initiatives.
• The Lock-Up GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for contemporary experimental multidisciplinary arts practice. Second year of collaboration in 2018 for PROPELLED events featuring T(w)O and Tohu.
• Israeli EmbassymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported The Loneliness Project international collaboration with choreographer Rachel Erdos (Israel/Britain).
• The Israeli Association of Independent ChoreographersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with for The Loneliness Project international choreographic collaboration.
• NAISDA Dance CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for First Nations programs, providing cultural resources, protocols, and support for professional and school outreach programs.
• Jo Clancy, WAGANA Aboriginal DancerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partnership assisting with resources, protocols, and support in development and implementation of professional and First Nations school programs.
• Rutherford Dance Company: Youth (Birmingham, UK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational youth exchange collaboration between Flipside Project (Newcastle NSW) and Rutherford Dance Company (Birmingham UK). Supported by CreateNSW and Sydney Myer Cultural Capacity Fund.
• Form Dance ProjectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvited guests at Short Sharp Choreographic Festival; partnered for Transitions performance.
• Tantrum Youth ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Manning the Fort performance at Fort Scratchely.
• NSW Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for school workshops, performances, and education programs.
• University of NewcastlecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Flipside Project and student involvement in productions.
• Ausdance NSWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeak dance body partner supporting The Flipside Project youth dance initiatives.
• Critical Path (Sydney)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange residency collaboration for RE/COLLECT and PROPELLED programs.
• Maitland Regional Art GalleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for SODEISHA and other productions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sydney Dance Company: Australia's largest contemporary dance company based in Sydney. Operates the same fundamental model of commissioning choreographers and staging contemporary dance productions, but at a substantially larger scale with national touring and international profile.
• Australian Dance Theatre: Adelaide-based flagship contemporary dance company. Comparable artistic model (commissioning national and international choreographers for contemporary dance works) but operates at a much larger scale with established national and international touring circuits.
• Expressions Dance Company: Brisbane-based contemporary dance company with a comparable commissioning-and-residency model. Operates at a larger metropolitan scale but pursues the same core mission of developing and staging contemporary choreographic work in Australia.
• Chunky Move: Major Melbourne-based contemporary dance company commissioning national and international choreographers. Tara Samaya, whose work is associated with Catapult's network, is recognized through Chunky Move's Common Ground. Comparable in commissioning model but with significantly larger scale and metropolitan audience.

Others

• NAISDA Dance College: Australia's leading Indigenous dance training college and a Catapult partner on First Nations programming. Comparable focus on culturally-grounded dance development and First Nations protocols, but operates as an educational institution rather than a producing company.
• Ausdance NSW: Peak body for dance in New South Wales and a direct partner supporting Catapult's Flipside Project. Functions as an enabling/advocacy organization in the same dance sector rather than a competing producer, but represents an important reference point for sector positioning and funding pathways.

Direct peers

• Critical Path: Sydney-based choreographic research and residency centre that has partnered with Catapult on RE/COLLECT and PROPELLED programs. Both organisations run exchange residencies focused on choreographic research for emerging and mid-career artists.
• QL2 Dance: Canberra-based youth dance organisation running a comparable model of youth ensembles, choreographic development, and performance opportunities for young dancers. Similar organizational scale, regional focus, and dual youth/professional programming mix.
• Form Dance Projects: Australia-based regional contemporary dance producer with a comparable size and program mix (residencies, festival-style programming). Catapult lists Form as a partner for Short Sharp Choreographic Festival and Transitions, indicating a directly comparable organizational model.
• Tantrum Youth Arts: Newcastle-based youth arts organisation collaborating with Catapult on Manning the Fort (2016 CONDA winner for choreography). Operates a similar youth-ensemble model producing choreographic and performance opportunities for young people in regional NSW.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/catapultdance1
• Instagraminstagram.com/catapult_dance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catapult-dance-choreographic-hub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub