FORM Dance Projects

What FORM Dance Projects does

FORM Dance Projects Inc. is a Western Sydney-based non-profit contemporary dance organization founded in 2011 and headquartered at Parramatta Heritage Centre, operating with 8 employees. The organization produces a portfolio of programs spanning curated contemporary performance (Dance Bites, ENCOUNTER, twobytwo), youth festivals (Sharp Short Dance), intensive professional workshops (IDEA), youth company work (WE ARE HERE), secondary education programs aligned with the HSC curriculum (Choreographic Workshop, Learn the Repertoire-See the Show), and community initiatives for seniors and people with Parkinson's (Together We Dance, Dance for Parkinson's). Its core service is programming, curation, and production rather than technology; the operating stack consists of standard tools (Stripe for payments, GiveNow for donations, Humanitix/Eventbrite for ticketing, Zoom for online classes, Google Analytics for site analytics).

The business model is a hybrid non-profit funding construct: earned revenue from ticket sales (adult $18-$50, concession $12-$28, livestream $15) and workshop fees ($10-$350 per participant) is augmented by multi-year grants from Create NSW, City of Parramatta Council, Australia Council for the Arts, and NSW Government, plus philanthropic support from Packer Family Foundation, Crown Resorts Foundation, and Creative Partnerships Australia, with donations processed through GiveNow. The go-to-market is community-led, relying on partnerships with marquee venues (Riverside Theatres, Sydney Opera House, Carriageworks, Sydney Festival) for distribution and co-presentation, rather than paid acquisition. The audience is segmented across five primary personas: young dancers and choreographers under 21, professional and emerging dancers, Years 9-12 HSC dance students, seniors 55+, and the broader Western Sydney community.

FORM's customer base is concentrated geographically (Western Sydney region, New South Wales) rather than by single-anchor dependency, with audience segments diversified across age groups, skill levels, and community types. The organization is led by Creative Director Paul Selwyn Norton and Creative Producer Naomi Hibberd and is governed under New South Wales law. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed and the organization has no external private equity or venture capital ownership.

Name

FORM Dance Projects

Legal name

FORM Dance Projects Inc.

Website

https://form.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FORM Dance Projects is a Western Sydney-based non-profit contemporary dance organization producing curated performances, youth festivals, professional workshops, HSC-aligned education programs, and community initiatives for dancers, students, and seniors across five customer segments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts - Contemporary Dance

NAICS

Dance Companies (711120), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Competitions & Showcases (Non-Esports) (MPAGADAH), Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Dance Performances (THAJAFAD)

Keywords

• Contemporary dance
• Dance education
• Youth dance festival
• Community dance
• Performing arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Parramatta

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales and Performance Revenue: Revenue generated from dance performances at venues including Riverside Theatres and Sydney Opera House. Ticketed events include Dance Bites season, Sharp Short Dance festival, and various performance works.
2. Donations and Support: Donations from supporters to fund future of independent contemporary dance in Sydney and Western Sydney. Accepts contributions through GiveNow platform.
3. Workshop and Masterclass Fees: Fees charged for workshops, masterclasses, and educational programs. Prices range from $10 for masterclasses to $350 for intensive multi-day workshops.
4. Education Program Fees: Choreographic workshops and education programs for HSC dance students. Prices around $33-$35 per student.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FORM Dance Projects produces and presents contemporary dance performances, intensive professional development workshops with international choreographers, youth dance festivals, HSC choreographic education programs, and community engagement initiatives for seniors and people with Parkinson's. Programs span ticketed performance seasons at partner venues, multi-day paid workshops, school curriculum-aligned education, and screen-dance projects. The organization operates as a non-profit, distributing programs primarily through venue partnerships in Western Sydney and Sydney.

Product overview

FORM Dance Projects is a Western Sydney-based arts organization offering a portfolio of dance-related products and services centered around contemporary dance performance, education, and community engagement. The core offerings include: Dance Bites (curated contemporary performance program), Sharp Short Dance (annual youth dance festival featuring performers under 21), IDEA (intensive workshop masterclass series with renowned choreographers), WE ARE HERE Company (youth dance company for ages 20-30), and Learn the Repertoire - See the Show (education program for HSC dance students). Additional programs include community initiatives such as Dance for Parkinson's, Together We Dance (senior dance film program), and large-scale performance works like ENCOUNTER. The organization operates primarily from Parramatta, partnering with Riverside Theatres and supported by Create NSW and City of Parramatta Council.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dance Bites Curated signature program of contemporary performance works by NSW and Australian choreographers engaging leading dancers and artists, presented at Riverside Theatres in Parramatta. Tickets priced Adult $38, Concession $28, Livestream $15.
• Sharp Short Dance Annual youth dance festival featuring short works by choreographers and dancers under 21, including live performances and dance film content. Tickets priced Adult $18, Concession/Student $12; Final all tickets $25.
• IDEA (Intensive Dance Education & Arts) Intensive workshop program offering multi-day masterclasses with renowned choreographers including Hofesh Shechter, Crystal Pite, and Vicki Van Hout. Pricing ranges from $300 to $350 per participant depending on workshop length.
• WE ARE HERE Company Western Sydney Youth Dance Company comprising performers aged 20-30 years, providing ongoing dance workshops and performance opportunities for emerging professional dancers.
• Choreographic Workshop HSC dance student workshop delivered in partnership with Sydney Dance Company, developing choreographic skills using Rafael Bonachela's creative process. Pricing at $33-$35 per student with supervising teachers free of charge.
• Dance for Parkinson's One-hour creative dance classes designed specifically for people with Parkinson's, led by trained dance artists in partnership with Dance for Parkinson's Australia. Delivered in-person and via Zoom.
• Together We Dance Screen dance project engaging seniors in dance film creation via Zoom, producing collaborative split-screen format dance films. Engaged 20 women over 65 from Western Sydney.
• ENCOUNTER Large-scale site-specific outdoor dance work exploring youth culture in Western Sydney, performed with live orchestra involving 16 dancers and 48 musicians from Western Sydney Youth Orchestra.
• Learn the Repertoire - See the Show Education program allowing dance students to learn repertoire from Dance Bites works in workshops led by presenting artists, followed by matinee performances and Q&A sessions. Priced Show and Workshop Package $29 per student; Show and Q&A only $23 per student; Double Beat Digital package $200.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sharp Short Dance festival engages over 100 young dancers annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and minor.

• Riverside TheatrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing venue partner for Dance Bites season and education programs. Co-presents performances and manages box office operations for FORM's mainstage productions.
• Sydney Dance CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for Choreographic Workshops for HSC students. Sydney Dance Company teaching artists mentor students using Rafael Bonachela's creative process.
• Sydney FestivalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier partner for ENCOUNTER world premiere and subsequent ENCOUNTER SYDNEY presentation at Sydney Opera House. Major annual showcase.
• Sydney Opera HouseflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium venue partner for ENCOUNTER SYDNEY outdoor performance. Provided Culture Up Late initiative funding.
• Brand X City of Sydney StudiosmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio venue partner for IDEA workshop program, providing space for intensive dance workshops.
• CarriageworksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor venue partner for Luke Murphy Workshop and Development, housing Track 12 studio space.
• Critical PathmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSydney-based dance development organization providing Drill Hall venue for Crystal Pite repertoire workshops.
• Sydney Youth Orchestras (SYO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for ENCOUNTER, providing Western Sydney Youth Orchestra musicians for live orchestral accompaniment.
• FLING Physical TheatremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner for ENCOUNTER development, contributing young performers and co-artistic direction.
• Ausdance NSWmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational dance organization supporting dance development. Partner for workshops, residencies, and professional development programs.
• Sharmill FilmsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFilm distribution partner for Bolshoi Ballet screening program at Riverside.
• Dance for Parkinson's AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partnership delivering specialized dance programs for people with Parkinson's disease.
• Legs on the WallmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSydney-based dance company providing secondment opportunities for Sharp Short Dance winners.
• Brisbane FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrisbane-based arts festival for Luke Murphy development showing.
• Austi Dance and Physical TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance company collaborating on Orígenes performance in twobytwo program.
• Bolshoi BalletminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-renowned Russian ballet company whose performances are screened at Riverside through FORM's programming.
• Spanish EmbassyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner for twobytwo program featuring Daniel Navarro Lorenzo's work.
• DirtyFeetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSydney-based dance organization providing bursary support for Eliza Cooper's Bat Lake development.
• DancehouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMelbourne dance venue where Chris Chua's BeatStorm premiered as part of Emerging Choreographers Program.
• March DanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSydney dance festival supporting development of works including Radical Transparency and Bat Lake.
• Critical PathminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance development organization providing bursary support for Emma Saunders' Radical Transparency development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Ausdance NSW: National dance industry peak body supporting dance development in NSW. Direct programmatic partner with FORM on workshops, residencies, and professional development.

Emerging players

• DirtyFeet: Sydney-based dance organization supporting emerging choreographers through InkS shade program. Comparable in developing emerging dance talent and offering bursaries (e.g., Eliza Cooper's Bat Lake).
• Legs on the Wall: Sydney-based physical theatre and dance company providing secondment opportunities for Sharp Short Dance winners. Comparable in producing physical dance works and developing emerging choreographers in Sydney.
• FLING Physical Theatre: Sydney-based youth dance company that co-produced ENCOUNTER with FORM. Comparable in youth-focused contemporary dance programming and won Australian Dance Awards 2018 for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Dance.

Direct peers

• Australian Dance Theatre: Adelaide-based contemporary dance company producing original works and touring nationally. Directly comparable in producing contemporary dance performances for Australian audiences and grant-funded arts organization structure.
• Sydney Dance Company: Australia's largest contemporary dance company, also partnered with FORM on HSC Choreographic Workshops. Directly comparable in contemporary dance production, education, and Sydney/Western Sydney audience overlap.
• Lucy Guerin Inc: Melbourne-based independent contemporary dance company producing original choreographic works. Comparable in scale and structure as a small Australian contemporary dance producing organization.
• Bangarra Dance Theatre: Australia's leading Indigenous contemporary dance company. Comparable to FORM's Indigenous-led programming (Vicki Van Hout workshops, WE ARE HERE Company) and contemporary dance production in Australia.
• Critical Path: Sydney-based choreographic research and development organization providing residencies and Drill Hall venue. Direct programmatic partner with FORM for IDEA workshop development (Crystal Pite).
• Chunky Move: Melbourne-based contemporary dance company known for innovative physical performance. Comparable in producing contemporary dance works, artist development, and Australian government arts funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FormDanceProjectsParra
• Instagraminstagram.com/formdanceprojects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/form-dance-projects

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 FORM Dance Projects