Danse-Cité Inc

What Danse-Cité Inc does

Danse-Cité Inc is a Montreal-based non-profit contemporary dance organization founded in 1982 by Daniel Soulières and led since 2019 by Artistic and General Director Sophie Corriveau. The organization operates without a resident choreographic ensemble or fixed venue, functioning as a nomadic co-producer and presenter that accompanies roughly 3-4 artist projects per year through cycles of research, creation, production, and presentation. Its signature platform, La Trace des créateurs, runs three tracks (Traces-Interprètes, Traces-Chorégraphes, Traces-Hors-Sentiers) serving emerging and established choreographers in Montreal. Over 44 seasons, the organization has supported 361 original choreographies, 170 productions across 74 Montreal venues, and 924+ performers, and it is a founding member of the Art Circulation consortium (since 2007) and a member of Regroupement Québécois de la Danse.

The organization's second core activity is Audiodescription (la voix des arts), launched in 2019 as Quebec's first live audio description service for dance performances, delivered via the Sennheiser MobileConnect application on audience smartphones. The turnkey offering includes scriptwriting, live narration, tactile visit workshops, audience development, and technical coordination, and is sold to dance presenters such as Danse Danse, FTA, La Chapelle, MAI, Tangente, Place des Arts, and Usine C. Since 2021 the service has covered 25 spectacles with 220+ participations and has trained a small cadre of specialized describers (3-4 specialists plus 30 volunteer guides), targeting the 206,000+ Quebec residents living with blindness or partial sight.

The business model is multi-stream non-profit: core operations are funded by Canada Council for the Arts, CALQ, Conseil des arts de Montréal, Patrimoine canadien, and Emploi Québec; supplemented by private foundation donors including TD, Fondation Mirella & Lino Saputo, Fondation Sandra et Alain Bouchard, Fondation Sibylla Hesse, Fonds de la police militaire pour les enfants aveugles, and Fondation Cypihot-Ouellette; and partially offset by ticket revenue under a four-tier solidarity pricing model ($20 TOUT DOUX, $28 DOUX, $38 HEUREUX, $60 GÉNÉREUX). The leadership model uses a co-commissariat structure (Ellen Furey 2019-2022, Winnie Ho 2022-2025, Michael Martini from August 2025) layered with a Board of Directors including Paul Chambers (President), Sovann Rochon-Prom Tep, Emmanuelle Gill-Houpert, David Trudel, Martin Faucher, Ariane Monjauze, and Smaille Pierrilus.

Name

Danse-Cité Inc

Legal name

Danse-Cité Inc

Website

https://danse-cite.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Danse-Cité is a Montreal non-profit founded in 1982 that co-produces contemporary dance works with independent choreographers and operates Quebec's pioneering live audio description service for blind and partially sighted audiences, delivered via Sennheiser MobileConnect technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemporary Dance Production and Accessibility Services

NAICS

Dance Companies (711120), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Contemporary dance coproduction
• Live audio description services
• Dance accessibility services
• Performing arts presentation
• Independent dance support

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidies: Core funding from public partners including Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ), Conseil des arts de Montréal (CAM), Patrimoine Canada, and Emploi Québec.
2. Ticket Sales with Solidarity Pricing: Performances offered with tiered solidarity pricing model ($20-$60) allowing voluntary redistribution for public access.
3. Major Donors: Major donors supporting audio description services including TD, Fondation Mirella & Lino Saputo, Fondation Sandra et Alain Bouchard, Fondation Sibylla Hesse, Fonds de la police militaire pour les enfants aveugles, Fondation Cypihot-Ouellette.
4. Corporate Sponsorships and Foundations: Foundation support for accessibility initiatives including Fondation INCA, RAAMM, Fondation des Aveugles du Québec, Connec-T, and private foundations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Danse-Cité is a Montreal-based non-profit dance organization that operates as a nomadic co-producer and presenter of contemporary dance works. It supports independent artists through research, creation, production and dissemination services, and offers a pioneering turnkey live audio description service that makes dance performances accessible to blind and partially sighted audiences. The organization accompanies 3-4 projects per year through full production cycles, providing artistic, administrative, production and communication support without holding permanent choreographers or dancers.

Product overview

Danse-Cité is a Montreal-based contemporary dance organization founded in 1982 that functions as both a coproduction company and an access services provider. Its core offerings center on two interconnected areas: (1) artistic accompaniment through its La Trace des créateurs program, supporting artists in research, creation, production, and dissemination; and (2) the Audiodescription service (la voix des arts), a comprehensive turnkey solution providing live audiodescription of dance performances for blind and partially sighted audiences, including scriptwriting, live narration, tactile workshops, and post-show discussions. The organization does not have fixed venues and supports projects in various spaces including public venues, installations, and unconventional locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Audiodescription : la voix des arts: A specialized audio description service for live dance performances, making dance accessible to blind and partially sighted audiences.

Products and services

• Audiodescription (la voix des arts)
• Coproduction and Presentation Services
• La Trace des créateurs
• Audiodescription Training Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 44 seasons with 361 original choreographies and 170 productions
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Agora de la dansecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResident dance company and primary venue partner for co-presentations. Long-standing partnership including artist residencies and co-productions since 1991.
• La Chapelle Scènes ContemporainescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKey venue partner for co-presentations of contemporary dance and performance works, including audio description-enabled performances.
• Maison ThéâtrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-presenter for youth-oriented dance performances and family shows with audio description services.
• MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIntercultural arts venue partner for co-presentations and audio description services.
• Danse DansecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor dance presenter partner for co-productions and audio description services for contemporary dance performances.
• FTA - Festival TransAmériquescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor contemporary performance festival partner for co-presentations and audio description services.
• TangentecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDance venue partner for co-presentations including audio description-enabled performances.
• La Voix des ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudio description partner providing specialized expertise in live description services for performing arts accessibility.
• Fondation INCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation for blind and visually impaired persons; key development partner for audience development and accessibility programming. Provides expertise and support for audio description initiatives.
• RAAMM (Réseau d'Actions et d'Aide aux Maladies de la Myopie)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccessibility organization supporting audience development for visually impaired communities.
• Fondation des Aveugles du QuébecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec foundation for blind persons; development partner for accessibility and cultural inclusion initiatives.
• Connec-TminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccessibility organization providing support for visually impaired community engagement.
• Art CirculationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of Montreal dance companies established in 2007 to support and promote member work nationally and internationally. Danse-Cité founding member.
• RQD (Regroupement Québécois de la Danse)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial dance advocacy organization. Danse-Cité is a member; Artistic Director Sophie Corriveau accepted co-presidency in November 2023 to participate in revitalization and development of the dance sector.
• La danse sur les routesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQuebec touring dance network; member organization for dance circulation and touring.
• Place des ArtscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Montreal cultural complex hosting co-presentations including performances with audio description.
• Usine CcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContemporary performance venue partner for co-presentations including FTA performances with audio description.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Danse Danse: Major Montreal dance presenter operating at Place des Arts. Directly comparable as a presenter of contemporary dance that co-produces with choreographers and tours work; competes for the same presenter partnerships, presenter-side audiences, and co-commissioning opportunities in the Montreal dance ecosystem.
• Agora de la danse: Montreal dance venue and presenter, resident partner of Danse-Cité since 1991. Directly comparable as a venue that co-presents contemporary dance and develops artist accompaniment, sharing the same artist base and audience.
• Festival TransAmériques (FTA): Montreal-based international performing arts festival. Compares as a presenter of contemporary dance and performance, co-presenting with Danse-Cité on multiple productions and competing for the same presenter-side programming slots and audience attention.
• La Chapelle Scènes Contemporaines: Montreal contemporary performance venue presenting dance and experimental work. Comparable as a co-presentation partner that hosts many of the same choreographers and shares audience development challenges in the contemporary dance segment.
• Tangente: Montreal dance venue and presenter focused on contemporary dance. Directly comparable as a co-presentation partner and presenter serving overlapping artist and audience communities; shares operational model of supporting emerging and established choreographers.
• MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels): Montreal intercultural arts venue presenting dance and performance. Compares as a co-presentation partner and presenter addressing similar diversity and accessibility priorities, including audiences that overlap with Danse-Cité's inclusive programming.

Others

• Regroupement Québécois de la Danse (RQD): Provincial dance advocacy and member organization where Danse-Cité holds leadership. Comparable as a sectoral association representing Quebec dance professionals; serves an enabling/advocacy role rather than a presenting competitor.
• La danse sur les routes du Québec: Quebec touring dance network supporting circulation of dance works. Comparable as a sector-supporting organization enabling Quebec dance touring; relevant as an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct presenter competitor.
• Compagnie Marie Chouinard: Montreal-based contemporary dance company and Danse-Cité co-presentation partner. Comparable as a creator of contemporary dance works that relies on Danse-Cité and similar co-producers for presentation infrastructure; operates upstream in the value chain as a supplier rather than a presenter competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Place des Arts: Montreal's largest performing arts complex hosting multiple resident presenters including Danse Danse. Compares as a larger incumbent that aggregates dance presentation across multiple partner organizations and serves as a venue landlord/co-presenter to Danse-Cité productions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/dansecite
• Facebookfacebook.com/danse.cite
• Instagraminstagram.com/dansecite
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/danse-cit%C3%A9-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Danse-Cité Inc