Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire Dance Studios is a U.S. franchise network offering ballroom and social dance instruction, serving local consumers through private lessons, group classes, wedding programs, and competitions across 18 dance styles.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1947
- HeadquartersWest Hartford, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Fred Astaire does
Fred Astaire Dance Studios (FADS) is a U.S.-based franchise network of ballroom and social dance instruction studios founded in 1947 and operated via a franchise model in which individual locations are owned by independent franchisees such as Sway With Me LLC (the West Hartford, CT franchisee). The West Hartford studio at 430 New Park Avenue employs 23 people and serves primarily local consumers in Connecticut, with core offerings spanning private one-on-one lessons, group classes, and practice parties covering 18 dance styles across International and American Ballroom categories.
The product surface extends beyond in-studio instruction to include specialized wedding dance programs (First Dance routines and wedding party choreography), a tiered competition circuit (Regional, Inter-Regional, National, International amateur and Pro-Am events), a digital Online Trophy System for student progress tracking, a Student Portal Dashboard, and a branded Online Studio Dance Store for dance merchandise. The underlying technology is described as a proprietary teaching methodology combining private instruction, group classes, and practice parties, with basic digital tools layered on top rather than a software platform.
The business model is predominantly subscription/recurring (private and group lessons, competitions) supplemented by professional services revenue (wedding choreography) and merchandise sales. Pricing is location-dependent with a publicly disclosed introductory offer of $39 for a 30-minute lesson plus 15% off the first package, and customer acquisition is driven by community events, referrals, vendor partnerships, and introductory promotions. The franchise model gives the corporate parent control over brand, curriculum, and competition programming while leaving unit-level operations to franchisees.
Fred Astaire firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fred Astaire
- Legal name
- Fred Astaire Dance Studios
- Website
- https://fadswesthartford.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1947
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fred Astaire Dance Studios is a U.S. franchise network offering ballroom and social dance instruction, serving local consumers through private lessons, group classes, wedding programs, and competitions across 18 dance styles.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fred Astaire industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Dance Instruction Services
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance) (EDAAAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Dance Competitions & Showcases (Non-Esports) (MPAGADAH)
Keywords
Where Fred Astaire is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Hartford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fred Astaire business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Private Dance Lessons: One-on-one instruction with certified dance instructors covering all partnership dance styles
- Group Dance Lessons: Group class instruction and practice parties for skill development and social dancing
- Wedding Dance Programs: Specialized instruction for wedding couples including First Dance routines and wedding party choreography
- Dance Competitions: Regional, Inter-Regional, National and International amateur and Pro-Am dance competitions
- Dance Merchandise Store: Online and in-studio store selling dance-related items including attire and accessories
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Introductory offer: 30-minute lesson for $39 plus 15% discount on first package |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Fred Astaire product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fred Astaire Dance Studios delivers in-person ballroom and social dance instruction through a combination of private lessons, group classes, and practice parties. The curriculum spans 18 International and American Ballroom styles (e.g., Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Cha Cha, Salsa, Swing). Specialized offerings include wedding dance choreography programs and a tiered amateur/Pro-Am competition circuit (Regional through International), supplemented by a branded dance merchandise store.
Product overview
Fred Astaire Dance Studios is a dance education franchise offering ballroom and social dance instruction through a multi-format approach. The core offering consists of private lessons, group classes, and practice parties, with specialized wedding dance programs. The curriculum covers 18 dance styles across International and American Ballroom categories. Additional services include Pro/Am competition programs with regional and national events, an online trophy tracking system for student achievements, and a branded retail store for dance merchandise. The company operates on a franchise model with individual studio locations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Dance Lessons
Companies that use Fred Astaire
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fred Astaire technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Fred Astaire partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- West Hartford Wedding VendorsminorReferral network of wedding-related vendors including photographers, venues, and caterers in the West Hartford area
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fred Astaire competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Steezy Studio: Steezy is an online dance instruction platform offering on-demand classes across multiple styles, serving hobbyist dancers seeking flexible, lower-cost alternatives to in-studio lessons. It overlaps with Fred Astaire's social/recreational segment via a different delivery model.
- CLI Studios: CLI Studios is an online dance education platform partnering with professional choreographers and dancers to deliver on-demand classes, including ballroom-adjacent content. It represents the emerging digital alternative that competes with Fred Astaire's in-person hobby learner segment.
Others
- The Knot (XO Group): The Knot is a leading wedding planning marketplace where couples discover and book vendors. Fred Astaire's West Hartford location already has a referral network with local wedding vendors that interact with The Knot ecosystem, making it a complementary channel partner rather than a competitor.
- WeddingWire: WeddingWire is a major wedding vendor marketplace connecting couples with planners, venues, and service providers. It serves as both a customer acquisition channel and a complementary ecosystem player for Fred Astaire's wedding dance programs.
- Dance Spirit / Dance Magazine: Dance Magazine is the leading trade publication serving the dance industry, covering studio operations, competitions, and instruction trends. It is adjacent to Fred Astaire as an industry information provider rather than a direct competitor, but reaches the same practitioner audience.
Direct peers
- Arthur Murray International: Arthur Murray is the most direct competitor to Fred Astaire Dance Studios, operating a parallel global franchise network teaching ballroom, Latin, and social dance styles through private and group lessons, with its own competition circuit. Both brands compete for the same social dancer, wedding couple, and competitive dancer segments.
- Dance With Me Studios: Dance With Me is a ballroom dance instruction franchise with locations across the US, offering private lessons, group classes, and wedding choreography—closely overlapping with Fred Astaire's format, customer segments, and curriculum.
- Ballroom Dance Chicago: Ballroom Dance Chicago is an independent ballroom studio offering private and group instruction in International and American styles, plus wedding dance preparation—directly comparable to Fred Astaire's core offerings without the franchise structure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fred Astaire social profiles
Digital presenceFred Astaire financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fred Astaire leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Fred Astaire funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fred Astaire 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 Fred Astaire
What does Fred Astaire do?
Fred Astaire Dance Studios delivers in-person ballroom and social dance instruction through a combination of private lessons, group classes, and practice parties. The curriculum spans 18 International and American Ballroom styles (e.g., Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Cha Cha, Salsa, Swing). Specialized offerings include wedding dance choreography programs and a tiered amateur/Pro-Am competition circuit (Regional through International), supplemented by a branded dance merchandise store.
Is Fred Astaire a public or private company?
Fred Astaire is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Fred Astaire founded?
Fred Astaire was founded in 1947. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fred Astaire based?
Fred Astaire is headquartered in West Hartford, United States, in the North America region.
How does Fred Astaire make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Private Dance Lessons are the primary driver. The others are group Dance Lessons, wedding Dance Programs, dance Competitions and dance Merchandise Store.
Who are Fred Astaire's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Steezy Studio and CLI Studios. Others are The Knot (XO Group), WeddingWire and Dance Spirit / Dance Magazine. Direct peers are Arthur Murray International, Dance With Me Studios and Ballroom Dance Chicago.
Does Fred Astaire have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fred Astaire.
What industry is Fred Astaire in?
Fred Astaire's product category is Dance Instruction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAGAD, Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance), with a secondary code of EDAMAAAH, Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance). Its NAICS code is 61161 and its SIC code is 7997.