Compagnie Käfig

What Compagnie Käfig does

Compagnie Käfig is a French nonprofit (loi 1901) contemporary dance company founded in 1996 by choreographer Mourad Merzouki and headquartered at the Centre chorégraphique Pôle Pik in Bron, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Its core product is the creation, production, and international touring of contemporary dance works — more than 30 productions in active repertoire — that fuse hip-hop vocabulary with other movement and theatrical disciplines. Over three decades the company has delivered more than 2,800 performances in nearly 60 countries, establishing a global touring circuit alongside long-running repertoire-transmission partnerships with cultural institutions in China, India, Colombia, Chile, and Egypt.

The business model is a publicly funded cultural-nonprofit model. Operating revenue is assembled from multi-year subsidies granted by the French Ministry of Culture, the Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and host municipalities, supplemented by co-production contributions from international presenters, touring fees from festivals and venues, and ancillary income from transmission/pedagogical programs. Distribution occurs through live international touring, festival presentation (notably the company's own Festival Kalypso launched in 2024), and digital channels including MOOC and streaming platforms; digital-arts integration is exemplified by productions such as 'Pixel'. In 2024 the company ended a 13-year residency at the CCN de Créteil to operate independently from Pôle Pik, while continuing to commission new works through 2026 and expanding its curatorial footprint via Festival Kalypso.

Name

Compagnie Käfig

Legal name

Compagnie Käfig

Website

https://kafig.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Compagnie Käfig is a French nonprofit contemporary dance company, founded in 1996 by Mourad Merzouki, that creates and internationally tours more than 30 productions fusing hip-hop and other disciplines, funded by the French Ministry of Culture, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, and touring partners across nearly 60 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts — Contemporary Dance

NAICS

Dance Companies (71112)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Contemporary dance performances
• Hip-hop choreography
• Live dance productions
• Choreographic festival programming
• Outreach dance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bron, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Performance Revenue: Revenue from ticket sales for live performances at theaters, festivals, and cultural venues across France and internationally
2. Public Funding: Sustained support from Ministry of Culture, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, and other public institutions
3. International Transmission Services: Teaching and licensing of repertoire pieces to international dance companies in China, India, Colombia, Chile, and Egypt
4. Co-productions: Partnership productions with theaters and cultural institutions that provide financial and logistical support for new creations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Compagnie Käfig creates, produces, and tours original contemporary dance productions that fuse hip-hop with classical/baroque music, circus arts, vertical/aerial dance, and digital media. Beyond its portfolio of 30+ live shows, the company operates cultural services including the annual Festival Kalypso hip-hop festival, the Concours Dialogues choreographic competition, amateur dance programs, international repertoire transmission, and a MOOC Hip-Hop educational platform, all under the artistic direction of Mourad Merzouki.

Product overview

Compagnie Käfig is a French dance and choreography company directed by Mourad Merzouki, serving as a National Choreographic Center (CCN) in Créteil and Val-de-Marne with its headquarters at Centre chorégraphique Pôle Pik in Bron, France. The company operates as a portfolio of dance productions and cultural services rather than a unified software platform. The core portfolio includes over 30 original dance productions spanning from the signature piece Récital (1998) to upcoming creations in 2026, featuring works like Pixel (digital arts integration), Vertikal (vertical dance), Zéphyr, FOLIA (baroque music fusion), and the latest 2024-2026 creations (Babel, Catwalk, Beauséjour, La Couleur de la grenade, Mosaïk, Peau d'âme, Récital 2026). Supporting services include Festival Kalypso (annual hip-hop festival), Jour de Fête (amateur dance celebration), the Choreographic Competition Dialogues, international transmission programs for Récital repertoire, a Hip-Hop MOOC, and documentary productions. The company also engages in artistic residencies, outreach activities (140+ projects annually), and cultural projects in museums. After 13 years at CCN Créteil, the company continues developing its artistic project independently while maintaining openness to diverse choreographic languages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 2800+ performances in nearly 60 countries over 20 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Teatro del Lago (Chile)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Three-year partnership initiated in 2019 combining programming, transmission, and cultural exchanges, supported by the Mustakis Foundation.
• Académie FratellinimajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partnership for Terrain Vague re-creation in the grand chapiteau and circus-dance fusion projects, including annual Christmas show.
• Festival Kalypso Partners (40+ venues)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2012Festival Kalypso, founded by CCN de Créteil, has grown to include over 40 partner venues across Île-de-France, attracting 50,000+ spectators annually with 50+ companies programmed.
• Centre Chorégraphique National de Créteil et du Val-de-MarnecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2009Mourad Merzouki was appointed director of the CCN de Créteil et du Val-de-Marne in June 2009, serving until 2019. This national choreographic center became the base for extensive programming, community outreach, and the Festival Kalypso.
• Centre Chorégraphique Pôle PikcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2009Mourad Merzouki's company relocated from Saint-Priest to the new Centre Chorégraphique Pôle Pik in Bron in April 2009, a space dedicated to hip-hop dance and the first of its kind in the region. The facility has hosted nearly 100 companies for residences since its inauguration.
• Biennale de la Danse (Lyon)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Long-standing relationship with Guy Darmet and the Biennale de la Danse. Mourad Merzouki co-directed the 2012 Défilé with Dominique Hervieu, presenting Récital with 40 dancers at Place Bellecour.
• Théâtre Théo Argence - Ville de Saint-PriestmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe company maintains an artistic residence at Théâtre Théo Argence in Saint-Priest, continuing a long-standing relationship from the early days of the company.
• Pôle en ScènesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting the activities of the choreographic center in the Rhône-Alpes region.
• Institut Français d'ÉgyptemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with CCN de la Rochelle and Rezodanse centre to support emerging hip-hop talents in Egypt through workshop sessions.
• CCN de la RochelleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for professionalization program supporting hip-hop scene development in Egypt.
• Rezodanse Centre (Egypt)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for hip-hop professionalization workshops in Egypt.
• Concert de l'Hostel DieumajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for FOLIA creation, performing baroque music live on stage and blending hip-hop with classical repertoire.
• Compagnie RetouramontmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVertical dance company providing aerial scenic space for Vertikal creation, merging hip-hop with vertical dance.
• Espace Albert Camus (Bron)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing venue partnership since the company's founding, hosting all Käfig performances in Bron and launching the Karavel festival.
• La VillettemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Paris venue hosting Phénix, Zéphyr, and other company productions.
• Maison de la Danse (Lyon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric venue that first opened its doors to hip-hop dance and supported Mourad Merzouki's early work, continuing partnership for 30 years.
• Nuits de FourvièremajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor festival where FOLIA premiered in 2018, opening the festival with hip-hop and baroque music fusion.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Compagnie Maguy Marin: French contemporary dance company with a National Choreographic Center, comparable public funding, international touring repertoire, and signature long-running productions. Operates in the same French dance ecosystem.
• Ballet Preljocaj: Major French contemporary ballet company with similar touring scale, public-subsidy funding base, interdisciplinary productions, and international co-productions. Closely comparable in size, mission, and operating model.
• Centre Chorégraphique National de Rillieux-la-Pape (Direction Yuval Pick): Another French National Choreographic Center with comparable structure, public funding model, touring repertoire, and educational mission. Direct institutional and operational peer to Käfig.
• Compagnie Chicos Mambo: French hip-hop dance company with comparable touring productions, festival circuit presence, and public funding base. Closely comparable in scale and target audience.
• Compagnie Accrorap: Hip-hop dance company founded by Mourad Merzouki in 1989 (predecessor to Käfig), still active with its own repertoire and touring. Direct genre peer and historically linked to the subject company.

Broad incumbents

• La Villette: Major Parisian cultural venue and producer hosting Käfig productions (Phénix, Zéphyr). Comparable as a programming entity and long-standing venue partner rather than direct dance-company competitor.
• Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch: Iconic international contemporary dance company with a large touring repertoire and institutional funding. Larger in scale but comparable as a benchmark for global touring dance production and brand-led programming.
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Established American modern/hip-hop-rooted dance company with international touring, educational outreach, and signature repertoire. Comparable scale, mission, and touring business model.
• Festival d'Avignon: France's largest performing arts festival with comparable public funding base, large-scale programming, and international co-production network. Comparable as a flagship cultural institution in the same ecosystem.

Regional players

• Nuits de Fourvière: Major Lyon-based performing arts festival where Käfig's FOLIA premiered. Functions as both venue partner and comparable large-scale French summer festival with overlapping programming and audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CieKafig
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cie-kafig

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 Compagnie Käfig