What Indie Media Studio does

Indie Media Studio is a privately held, bootstrapped dance and model studio headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, operating two physical locations at 5553 W Belmont Ave (headquarters) and 3148 N Central Ave (Central Studio). Founded approximately in 2019, the company offers choreography classes in Heels, Hip Hop, Reggaeton, Sensual Movement, and other styles taught by rotating professional instructors, with a weekend Beginner Dance Academy and a four-week Model Academy program that bundles classes with professional photoshoots. Revenue is generated across eight streams: drop-in classes ($16 online / $17 at door), class credit bundles (Class Pass), three subscription membership tiers ($60, $70, $120/month), hourly studio and event room rentals, 1-hour photoshoots ($200), private 1:1 lessons ($60/session), on-demand merchandise, and digital gift cards.

The studio's technology surface is a Wix-based website (indiemediastudio.com) with integrated self-serve booking, scheduling calendars, and payment collection; it also accepts Zelle, Venmo, CashApp, and PayPal. Distribution is overwhelmingly direct-to-consumer through the website, supplemented by strong organic social media presence on Instagram (@indiemedia), TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest, plus an email newsletter. Filmed class content serves both as marketing and as a member benefit.

The business is founder-controlled with no disclosed external investors, no parent company, and no public filings. Customer concentration is dispersed across individual hobbyist dancers, intermediate dancers, aspiring models, independent dancers needing rehearsal space, and private event hosts. The competitive positioning is anchored in a community-led and event-driven go-to-market, anchored by the annual Indie Showcase (now Vol 5) held at external venue partner Distro Music Hall.

Name

Indie Media Studio

Legal name

Indie Media Studios

Website

https://indiemediastudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Indie Media Studio is a Chicago-based dance and model studio offering group choreography classes, a four-week Model Academy, studio rentals, photoshoots, private lessons, and memberships across two city locations, serving hobbyist dancers, aspiring models, and independent creatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dance Studio Services

NAICS

Dance Companies (71112)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Rehearsal & Pre-Production Studios (Rehearsal Rooms, Backline) (MPAIAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Music Production & Composition (Songwriting, Recording, DJing) (EDAMAAAF)

Keywords

• Dance studio services
• Choreography classes
• Modeling training programs
• Studio rental space
• Private dance lessons

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Dance Classes: Single-class drop-in fees ranging from $16-20 per person depending on class type and booking method. Additional revenue from Class Pass bundles offering 5, 10, or 20 class credits at discounted rates.
2. Membership Subscriptions: Three-tier monthly membership model: Indie Membership at $60/month (6 weekend academy classes + free studio space), Indie Plus at $70/month (same plus guest privileges), and Unlimited at $120/month (all classes). Cancel anytime.
3. Studio Rentals: Hourly and package-based studio space rentals. Small Studios $27/hr, Big Studios $35/hr, Pole Room $25/hr, Central Studio $50/hr. Package discounts available for 5, 10, and 20 hour blocks. Event room rental starting at $200 for private gatherings.
4. Photoshoots: 1-hour professional photoshoots at $200 with backdrop color options.
5. Private Dance Instruction: One-on-one private dance lessons with professional choreographers at $60 per session.
6. Merchandise Sales: E-commerce sales of branded merchandise including t-shirts ($20-26), hoodies ($38), and hats ($30-35). On-demand production model reduces inventory costs.
7. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards available in $25, $50, $100, $150, $200 denominations plus custom amounts for classes.
8. Model Academy: 4-week modeling program combining classes and photoshoots, priced as a single package.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Indie Media Studio is a Chicago-based dance and model studio that sells in-person choreography classes in styles such as Heels, Hip Hop, Reggaeton, and Sensual Movement, a 4-week Model Academy program combining classes and photoshoots, hourly studio rentals, private one-on-one dance lessons, and professional photoshoot sessions. The studio runs two physical locations and supports its offerings with monthly subscription memberships, class-credit bundles, gift cards, and branded merchandise.

Product overview

Indie Media Studio is a Chicago-based dance and model studio offering a comprehensive ecosystem of creative education and studio services. The core offerings include the Beginner Dance Academy (weekend choreography classes in Heels, Hip Hop/Reggaeton, and Sensual Movement) and the Model Academy (4-week modeling program with photoshoots). The studio provides dance classes throughout the week for various skill levels, 1-hour professional photoshoots with multiple backdrop options, and private dance lessons at $60 per session. Studio facilities include Small Studios, Big Studios, Pole Room, Central Studio, and Event Room for rentals. Membership options (Indie, Indie Plus, and Unlimited Class) provide recurring access to classes, while Class Passes offer prepaid credit bundles. Additional offerings include annual showcase events, branded merchandise (apparel and accessories), and free digital guides for artists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beginner Dance Academy: A series of beginner-friendly choreography classes including Heels, Hip Hop, Reggaeton, and Sensual Movement taught every weekend
• Model Academy
• Indie Showcase

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Distro Music HallminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2025Venue partner for Indie Showcase Vol 5 event. The showcase is a performance event for local dance teams and singers to perform during their off-season, held at this professional music venue. The venue provides stage, professional video production, and event space.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• STEPS on Broadway: Established New York dance studio offering daily classes, intensives, and rentals across many styles. Comparable in offering drop-in and membership-based dance instruction plus studio rental services, though with greater brand legacy and scale.
• Peridance Capezio Center: Long-running New York dance studio and school with daily open classes, membership packages, and rental space. Comparable because it monetizes both class instruction and facility rentals to professional and hobbyist dancers, similar to Indie Media Studio's dual-use model.
• Broadway Dance Center: Large multi-room New York dance studio offering daily drop-in classes, intensive programs, and studio rentals across many styles. Comparable in product mix (drop-in classes, rental space, multi-instructor rotation) but operates at significantly greater scale.
• Millennium Dance Complex: Major dance studio chain with flagship locations in Los Angeles and other cities, offering drop-in classes, memberships, and merchandise. Comparable business model across instruction, memberships, and merchandise, though at national rather than single-metro scale.
• Joffrey Academy of Dance: Official training academy of the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago, offering dance instruction across multiple styles. Comparable because it serves the same Chicago dance student base with tiered class and membership offerings, though at a larger institutional scale with broader brand recognition.

Direct peers

• Visceral Dance Center: Chicago dance center hosting open classes, workshops, and rehearsals for adults. Highly comparable in that it offers drop-in and membership-based dance instruction in a multi-room studio environment in the same Chicago market.
• Deeply Rooted Dance Theater: Chicago-based dance company that operates educational and community programs alongside performance work. Comparable because it offers dance classes and community engagement programming targeting Chicago dancers, including adult and youth tracks.
• Lou Conte Dance Studio (Hubbard Street Dance Chicago): Chicago dance studio offering open and drop-in classes in multiple styles with rotating instructors. Highly comparable as a Chicago-based, multi-style dance instruction venue competing for the same hobbyist and pre-professional dancer segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/indiemediacompany
• Facebookfacebook.com/indiemediacompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/indiemedia
• TikTokvm.tiktok.com/TF6hDB
• Pinterestpinterest.com/indiemediapins/boards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/indie-media-studio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Indie Media Studio