Dance/USA
Dance/USA is a national nonprofit service organization for professional dance founded in 1982, serving dance companies, artists, and administrators across all genres through membership, advocacy, convening, research, and preservation programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersWashington, DC, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Dance/USA does
Dance/USA is the national service organization for professional dance, founded in 1982 and headquartered in Washington, DC, with 79 employees. The nonprofit serves dance companies, presenters, educators, independent artists, choreographers, and administrators across aerial, ballet, contemporary, culturally-specific, hip-hop, modern, jazz, and tap genres through a national membership network. Its mission centers on championing an inclusive and equitable dance field via leadership, convening, advocacy, research, and preservation.
The organization operates a portfolio of core programs: an annual National Conference (500+ attendees from 34 states and 4 countries), Dance Forum as a pre-conference event at APAP, a two-day Dance Business Bootcamp for independent artists and small organizations, free Dance Advocacy Training webinars paired with a downloadable toolkit, and the Task Force on Dancer Health (established 1993) producing informational papers, a standardized Post-Hire Health Screen developed in 2005 and adopted by 30+ companies, cross-training workout videos, and community Dancer Health Events. Additional programs include the Engaging Dance Audiences (EDA) funding program active since 2008, Dance/USA Fellowships, an awards program (Honor, 'Ernie', Trustees, Champion, and Emerging Leader categories), a Live Arts Lab in collaboration with Theatre Communications Group, a Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) Committee, a Climate Action Task Force, AACD-affiliated committee work, and a formal archiving/preservation program. Supporting services include a member directory, jobs/auditions listings, and funding opportunity resources.
Revenue is generated through multiple streams: recurring membership dues, donations (one-time Annual Fund gifts, recurring monthly gifts, and National Leadership Council for Dance gifts at a $2,500 tier), event registration (e.g., Bootcamp at $197 member / $295 non-member), and merchandise sales (e.g., $20 member / $25 non-member t-shirts). The organization is sustained in large part by foundation grants including the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation as primary EDA funder, National Endowment for the Arts, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Joyce Foundation, Harkness Foundation for Dance, Shubert Foundation, Driehaus Foundation, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Hellman Family Foundation, Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, and the Elda M. Morrison Shearer Foundation. Outreach spans a website/blog with eJournal, email newsletter, social media, and in-person convening. The organization is currently mid-process through a Strategic Reframing Process to address a shifting funding landscape.
Dance/USA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dance/USA
- Legal name
- Dance/USA
- Website
- https://danceusa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Dance/USA is a national nonprofit service organization for professional dance founded in 1982, serving dance companies, artists, and administrators across all genres through membership, advocacy, convening, research, and preservation programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dance/USA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts Membership Organization
- NAICS
- Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ)
Keywords
Where Dance/USA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington, DC
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Dance/USA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for dance organizations, artists, administrators, and other dance professionals. Members receive access to resources, networking, advocacy support, and professional development.
- Donations and Contributions: One-time and recurring donations to support Dance/USA's mission and programs. Includes Annual Fund donations, National Leadership Council for Dance gifts ($2,500 tier), and general contributions.
- Event Registration: Registration fees for professional development events including Dance Business Bootcamp (virtual intensive). Ticket-based revenue for workshops and programs.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of conference merchandise including t-shirts and promotional items at national conferences.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 2025 National Conference T-Shirt |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dance Business Bootcamp Registration |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | National Leadership Council for Dance Gift |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Dance/USA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dance/USA is a national service organization for the professional dance field that provides leadership, advocacy, research, and preservation services. It supports a national network of dance professionals, organizations, and artists through tiered membership programs, an annual national conference, professional development and training, federal/state advocacy representation, funding administration, dancer health resources, and archiving/preservation programs.
Product overview
Dance/USA is the national service organization for professional dance, established in 1982, serving the dance field through a comprehensive suite of programs and services. The organization operates through core programmatic offerings including the annual National Conference, Dance Forum (APAP pre-conference event), and Dance Business Bootcamp (professional development). Its advocacy work encompasses free Dance Advocacy Training webinars with companion toolkit. The Task Force on Dancer Health provides educational resources including informational papers, Post-Hire Health Screen, cross-training videos, and community health events. Dance/USA administers the Engaging Dance Audiences funding program, Dance/USA Fellowships, Dance/USA Awards (Honor, 'Ernie', Trustees, Champion, and Emerging Leader awards), and maintains a National Professional Network with member directory. Additional services include job/audition listings, funding resources, and archiving/preservation support. The organization generates revenue through an e-commerce platform offering donations (annual fund, recurring, National Leadership Council gifts) and merchandise. Dance/USA serves a diverse membership including dance companies, presenters, educators, independent artists, and freelancers across all dance genres.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Membership Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 70 grants and $5 million awarded through Engaging Dance Audiences program since 2008
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Dance/USA
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Dance/USA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Dance/USA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Grounded Growth MarketingminorMarketing firm providing research-backed marketing strategies for dance organizations and sponsor of Dance Forum events.
- HarlequinminorDance floor manufacturer and sponsor of Dance/USA Awards in 2025.
- Arts Insurance Program, LLCminorInsurance provider offering specialized coverage for arts organizations.
- Dance Resource CenterminorLocal dance service organization partnered with Dance/USA to develop Day of Dancer Health events, starting with pilot in 2015.
- Theatre Communications GroupminorTheatre service organization partnered with Dance/USA for Dual Leadership program in 2007-2008.
- Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP)coreNational service organization for performing arts presenting professionals. Dance/USA hosts Dance Forum as APAP pre-conference event annually.
- International Association of Dance Medicine & ScienceminorInternational organization focused on dance medicine and science. Listed as additional resource for dancer health information.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Dance/USA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Americans for the Arts: Largest national arts service organization in the U.S., advocating broadly for all arts disciplines. Operates a wider portfolio than Dance/USA but competes for the same foundation and federal funding pools.
Regional players
- National Performance Network: National network of diverse performing arts presenters and artists. Comparable membership/grantmaking model and overlapping funder base (Doris Duke, NEA), but with a broader performing arts scope than Dance/USA.
- National Dance Council of America: Governing body for competitive ballroom and Latin dance in the U.S., sharing the 'national dance' positioning with Dance/USA but focused on competitive rather than professional performing arts dance.
- Arts Midwest: Regional arts organization serving the Midwest with touring, grantmaking, and convening programs. Comparable nonprofit service-organization structure and federal funding relationships to Dance/USA.
- New England Foundation for the Arts: Regional arts funder and service organization with overlapping grantmaking, convening, and advocacy functions. Operates at smaller geographic scale than Dance/USA but with analogous revenue model and programs.
Direct peers
- National Association for Music Education (NAfME): National service organization for music education, sharing Dance/USA's membership, advocacy, and professional development model but applied to music rather than dance.
- Theatre Communications Group: National service organization for the professional theatre field, directly paralleling Dance/USA's role for dance. TCG partnered with Dance/USA on the 2007-2008 Dual Leadership program, evidencing close operational comparability.
- Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP): National service organization for performing arts presenters and managers. Dance/USA hosts its Dance Forum as a pre-conference event at APAP's annual conference, reflecting parallel convening and membership models.
Emerging players
- Dance Heritage Coalition: Alliance dedicated to documenting and preserving dance history. Directly comparable to Dance/USA's Archiving & Preservation program line but operating as a coalition rather than a membership service org.
- International Association of Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS): International organization focused on dance medicine and science, explicitly listed as a Dance/USA resource partner. Overlaps directly with Dance/USA's Task Force on Dancer Health programming.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Dance/USA social profiles
Digital presenceDance/USA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dance/USA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Dance/USA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dance/USA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dance/USA
What does Dance/USA do?
Dance/USA is a national service organization for the professional dance field that provides leadership, advocacy, research, and preservation services. It supports a national network of dance professionals, organizations, and artists through tiered membership programs, an annual national conference, professional development and training, federal/state advocacy representation, funding administration, dancer health resources, and archiving/preservation programs.
Is Dance/USA a public or private company?
Dance/USA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Dance/USA founded?
Dance/USA was founded in 1982. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Dance/USA based?
Dance/USA is headquartered in Washington, DC, United States, in the North America region.
How does Dance/USA make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are donations and Contributions, event Registration and merchandise Sales.
Who are Dance/USA's main competitors?
Americans for the Arts is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are National Performance Network, National Dance Council of America, Arts Midwest and New England Foundation for the Arts. Direct peers are National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Theatre Communications Group and Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP). Emerging players are Dance Heritage Coalition and International Association of Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS).
Does Dance/USA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dance/USA.
What industry is Dance/USA in?
Dance/USA's product category is Performing Arts Membership Organization. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAAAH, Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance), with a secondary code of MPAGADAJ, Dance Festivals & Dance Series. Its NAICS code is 711 and its SIC code is 7900.