Center For Modern Dance Education (CMDE)

What Center For Modern Dance Education (CMDE) does

The Center For Modern Dance Education (CMDE) is a 501(c)-style nonprofit community arts organization incorporated in 1962 and headquartered at 84 Euclid Ave, Hackensack, New Jersey. Founded by Shirley Ubell (who held a BA in Psychology and an MS in Movement Therapy from Hunter College), CMDE delivers inclusive, non-competitive dance education across modern, African, hip hop, ballet, tai chi, yoga, and adaptive movement disciplines. The organization serves participants ranging from age 4 to 84+, including adults and children with developmental and physical disabilities, youth at risk (via the Moving Into Knowledge Program funded by Bergen County DHS), and seniors, through in-studio classes, Zoom classes, outreach programming at senior centers, schools, and community centers, plus structured ensembles (Afro-Modern Company, Hackensack Moves Dance Company, Moving Experience Dance Company) and free summer camps.

CMDE operates with seven core employees and a teaching faculty of approximately 13 instructors, leveraging a standard SMB technology stack: MindBody for class registration and studio rentals, PayPal for donation processing, Constant Contact for email marketing, Zoom for virtual classes, and Vimeo for hosting performance recordings. The organization relies on MindBody's consumer registration flow and Vimeo as a low-cost performance archive/communications channel rather than building proprietary technology.

Revenue is generated through four streams: tuition (drop-in rates of $7-$20 and semester tuition of $45-$120 per class), government and foundation grants (NJSCA, NEA, Bergen County DHS, Genesis Inspiration Foundation, Levitt Foundation, NJEDA, Lillian Pitkin Schenck Fund, and others — the dominant revenue line), individual donations (including the named Shirley and Earl Ubell Scholarship Fund), and studio space rentals to mission-aligned artists. Pricing incorporates DDD funding for adults with disabilities and donation-based Zoom access, reinforcing the organization's accessibility-first positioning. Marketing is community-led, anchored by word-of-mouth, the website, Constant Contact newsletters, social media, performances, and school/senior-center partnerships.

Name

Center For Modern Dance Education (CMDE)

Legal name

Center for Modern Dance Education

Website

https://cmde.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CMDE is a 64-year-old Hackensack, NJ nonprofit delivering inclusive, non-competitive dance education across modern, African, hip hop, ballet, and adaptive movement formats to participants ages 4 to 84+ — including adults with developmental disabilities and youth at risk — funded through grants, tuition, donations, and studio rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dance Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMAAAH

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Arts & Creative Enrichment (Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Dance)

SECONDARYMPAGAOAJ

Virtual Training, Workshops & Masterclasses (Interactive Sessions)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Virtual & Hybrid Events

Keywords

• Dance education
• Community arts programs
• Adaptive dance classes
• Youth dance camps
• Modern dance training

Headquarters

HQ city

Hackensack

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Dance Class Tuition: CMDE generates revenue primarily through tuition fees for dance classes. Pricing includes drop-in rates ($7-$20 depending on age/senior status) and full semester tuition ($45-$120 per class). Zoom classes operate on a donation basis.
2. Government and Foundation Grants: CMDE receives significant funding from government agencies and foundations including New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Bergen County Department of Human Services Youth Services Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, Genesis Inspiration Foundation, and other institutional funders.
3. Individual Donations: The organization accepts donations through PayPal and has a dedicated Shirley and Earl Ubell Scholarship Fund for supporting students who cannot afford full tuition.
4. Studio Space Rentals: CMDE provides low-cost studio space to dancers and other artists whose mission is compatible with theirs, generating additional revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CMDE provides in-person and virtual dance instruction across modern, African, hip hop, ballet, tai chi, yoga, and adaptive styles for all ages from toddlers through seniors, including individuals with disabilities. Offerings also include free summer dance camps, performance ensembles (Afro-Modern Company, Hackensack Moves, Moving Experience), the free ChoreoLab youth program, school outreach, studio rentals, workshops, and annual performances such as Danceathons.

Product overview

The Center for Modern Dance Education (CMDE) is a non-profit community arts organization offering a diverse portfolio of dance education programs and services. The core offerings include dance classes across multiple disciplines (Modern, African, Hip Hop, Ballet, Tai Chi, Yoga), special events and performances, and community outreach. The portfolio includes specialized youth programs (Summer Dance Camps, ChoreoLab, Afro-Modern Company), adult company programs (Hackensack Moves Dance Company), and inclusive programs for individuals with disabilities (Strive: Moving Experience). Additional services include scholarship programs, studio space rentals, and the Moving Into Knowledge school program. CMDE serves all ages from toddlers to seniors, with an emphasis on accessibility and non-competitive artistic engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Afro-Modern Company: CMDE's youth dance company. A high-energy performance group open to teen and young adult dancers with some dance or drumming experience and a strong desire to learn African dance and perform.
• Hackensack Moves Dance Company
• Moving Experience Dance Company
• ChoreoLab

Products and services

• Dance Classes In-person and virtual dance instruction across Modern Dance, Ballet Basics, Creative African Dance, Hip Hop, Tai Chi, Yoga, Mindful Movement, and adaptive programs. Classes serve all ages from toddlers to seniors, including individuals with disabilities.
• Summer Dance Camps Free inclusive summer camp programs for youth including Teen Camp (ages 13-18, July 13-24), Girls' Camp (ages 7-12, July 27-Aug 7), and Boys' Camp (ages 7-12, Aug 10-21). All programs inclusive of individuals with disabilities.
• ChoreoLab Free 12-week creative dance program for youth ages 10-17, meeting Mondays and Wednesdays at 4:30pm. Led by Lateefah Fleming and Lori Manning, funded by the Lillian Pitkin Schenck Fund.
• Afro-Modern Company Youth dance company (ages 8-16) combining African dance and Modern dance. Classes held Thursdays with Yahaya Kamate (African Dance, 5:30pm) and Ms. Sade (Modern Dance, 6:30pm).
• Hackensack Moves Dance Company Adult dance company (ages 18+, or 16+ per homepage) focused on African dance and Modern dance. Performs at community events. Supported by NJEDA A.R.T. Phase II Grant Program.
• Strive: Moving Experience for Adults with Disabilities Inclusive dance and movement program for teens and adults with disabilities. CMDE is a Qualified Provider for adults with developmental disabilities. Available in-person and via Zoom.
• Understanding Movement Workshops Workshops with Claire Porter covering Choreography Basics, Movement Fundamentals, and Enlivening Space. Focused on movement analysis and creative dance skills.
• Moving Into Knowledge Program Free dance programs in schools and after-school classes focusing on transferable skills development. Funded by Bergen County Department of Human Services Youth Services Commission.
• Scholarship Programs Multiple scholarship opportunities including Mimi Cole Scholarship (gifted teens/young adults), Eva Bauer Scholarship (gifted teens), Cliff Allen New Dancer Scholarship (ages 6-9), Bruce Baker Scholarship (male students), Edyth T. Carfagno Memorial Scholarship (adults), and Earl Ubell Memorial Scholarship Fund (partial scholarships and work-study).
• Special Events and Performances Annual events including Danceathon Day, school-wide concerts, and performances. Includes Kid's Story Slam Performance, National Day of Dance, dance workshops, and the United States of Dance concert.
• Studio Space Rentals Low-cost studio space available to dancers and artists with compatible missions. Outside organizations may offer classes including acting, Classical Indian Dance, social dance, meditation, ballet, soul line dancing, and fitness.
• Moving Experience Dance Company Self-contained classes for children, teens, and young adults with disabilities. CMDE is a Qualified Provider for adults with developmental disabilities.
• Outreach Programs Dance classes brought to senior centers, community centers, libraries, and non-traditional locations. Includes curriculum-integrated programming for educational settings.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Fair Lawn Community CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for 'United States of Dance' performance on February 22, 2025.
• Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded CMDE the 2017 Arts Award for Excellence and houses the ADA Advisory Board with CMDE representation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Peridance Capezio Center: NYC-based dance school offering open drop-in and intensive classes across multiple styles for adults and teens, plus an affiliated professional company. Comparable to CMDE on multi-discipline class offerings, semester registration model, and community/performer crossover programming.
• Mark Morris Dance Center: Brooklyn-based community dance center offering open-class programming in modern, ballet, and contemporary styles to the public, taught by professional faculty. Directly comparable to CMDE as a nonprofit/community dance school offering multi-discipline, multi-level classes for adults of all ages and abilities.
• Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance: NYC school affiliated with the Martha Graham Dance Company offering technique, composition, and open classes in modern dance for all levels. Comparable to CMDE on modern-dance focus, multi-level adult class offerings, and nonprofit educational mission.
• Sharron Miller's Academy for the Performing Arts: New Jersey-based community dance school offering multi-discipline classes for adults and children with a non-competitive, inclusive philosophy. Strongly comparable to CMDE given shared NJ geography, multi-age programming, and community-arts orientation.
• Steps on Broadway: Long-running NYC dance studio offering drop-in and semester classes across ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, and tap for adult students of all levels. Closely comparable to CMDE's class-based tuition model, drop-in pricing, and broad multi-style curriculum.
• Gibney: NYC nonprofit dance and social-justice organization providing community classes, residencies, and performances with explicit focus on accessibility and inclusion. Highly comparable to CMDE's mission-driven, inclusive, multi-discipline programming and nonprofit grant-supported model.

Regional players

• New Jersey Ballet: Regional New Jersey ballet company and school offering classical ballet training and performance programming across multiple NJ locations. Comparable to CMDE as a NJ-based dance education nonprofit serving local students with both classes and performance opportunities, though more classical in focus.

Broad incumbents

• Ballet Hispánico: NYC-based nonprofit dance school and company offering multi-style classes (including Afro-Latin and modern) with a focus on Latino cultural expression and community access. Comparable to CMDE on inclusive mission, cultural-dance emphasis, and school-plus-company structure.
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Major national dance organization running Ailey Extension community classes, AileySchool professional training, and the Alvin Ailey company. Comparable to CMDE as a broader nonprofit that delivers community dance education alongside professional performance, though at far greater scale.

Others

• Dance New Jersey: Statewide service organization supporting dance education and the dance community across New Jersey through advocacy, networking, and programming. Comparable to CMDE as an NJ-focused dance ecosystem organization with overlapping community/arts mission, though not a direct competitor for students.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-modern-dance-ed

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Center For Modern Dance Education (CMDE)