School of Contemporary Dancers

What School of Contemporary Dancers does

The School of Contemporary Dancers (SCD) is a privately held, Manitoba-incorporated professional dance training institution founded in 1972 by Rachel Browne, originally as a division of Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers, and separately incorporated in 1995. Operating from 104-211 Bannatyne Avenue in Winnipeg, the school delivers a tiered portfolio of dance education programs: a four-year Senior Professional Program with auditions and a university-affiliated BA Honours in Dance pathway through the University of Winnipeg; a six-level Junior Professional Program for middle and high school students; Adult and Youth General Programs offering recreational and technical training in a non-competitive environment; and seasonal summer offerings (Kids Summer Dance Camp and Teen Summer Intensive). Its core methodology combines Limon-influenced contemporary technique with NAfro Technique, founded by Casimiro Nhussi of NAfro Dance Productions, supported by a four-year curriculum covering contemporary dance, ballet for contemporary dancers, repertory, composition, partnering, screendance, and Dance Legacy content featuring interviews with Indigenous/Métis and racialized artists.

The school's revenue model is tuition-driven, supplemented by performance ticket sales (Dance Reflections, Exchange Projects, year-end shows), summer program fees, and a meaningful endowment and donation base including the Professional Program Graduation Scholarship Fund, Stephanie Ballard Endowment Fund, and Rachel Browne Endowment Fund. Enrollment is intentionally capped at approximately 34 students in the Senior Professional Program to enable individualized instruction. The institution is funded by Canadian Heritage, the Manitoba Arts Council, the Winnipeg Arts Council, and the Winnipeg Foundation, and holds Designated Learning Institution (DLI) status enabling international student enrollment (with a $2,000 deposit and $1,000/year international tuition premium). Co-Directors Odette Heyn, C.M. and Faye Thomson, C.M., both Order of Canada appointees, have led the Professional Program for over 40 years, with the broader faculty including Artistic Associate Gaile Petursson-Hiley, Artist-in-Residence Stephanie Ballard, and alumni such as School Administrator Thomas Oberlin.

Go-to-market is event-driven and community-rooted: enrollment flows through annual in-person or video auditions, supplemented by public performances, school tours, festivals (Bill Evans Contemporary Dance Festival), and outreach partnerships with Sisler High School and Hugh John MacDonald School targeting Indigenous/Métis and racialized students. Marketing is conducted primarily through the school website, Facebook, Instagram, and word-of-mouth within the Canadian contemporary dance community. The institution collaborates annually with over 50 local, national, and international choreographers and companies, and graduates have performed with organizations including Cirque du Soleil, Toronto Dance Theatre, Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, and Kaeja d'Danse.

Name

School of Contemporary Dancers

Legal name

The School of Contemporary Dancers

Website

https://schoolofcontemporarydancers.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The School of Contemporary Dancers is a Winnipeg-based professional dance training institution founded in 1972, delivering a four-year Senior Professional Program, Junior Professional Program, and Adult/Youth General Programs in Limon-influenced contemporary technique and NAfro Technique, serving aspiring and recreational dancers across Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dance Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Dance Companies (71112), Dance Companies (711120)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance) (EDAAAGAD), Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB), Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI)

Keywords

• Contemporary dance training
• Professional dance programs
• Youth dance classes
• Adult dance workshops
• Summer dance intensive

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Program Fees: Primary revenue from tuition fees for Senior Professional Program, Junior Professional Program, Adult General Program, and Youth General Program. Tuition varies by program level and student citizenship status (Canadian vs. International). Additional fees include audition deposits ($200-$2000) and optional add-ons.
2. Summer Programs: Revenue from summer programming including Kids Summer Dance Camp and Teen Summer Intensive
3. Performance Revenue: Ticket sales for performances including Dance Reflections, Exchange Projects, and Youth/Adult General Program year-end shows
4. Donations and Scholarships: The school accepts donations for various scholarship funds including Professional Program Graduation Scholarship Fund, Stephanie Ballard Endowment Fund, Rachel Browne Endowment Fund, and others. These support student financial aid.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

A private dance training institution offering contemporary dance education across multiple tracks: a multi-year Senior Professional Program, a Junior Professional Program, general recreational programs for youth and adults, and seasonal Kids Summer Dance Camp and Teen Summer Intensive. Instruction is delivered in person at the school for individual students and families seeking either pre-professional training or recreational dance study.

Product overview

The School of Contemporary Dancers offers a comprehensive suite of dance education programs. The core offerings include the Senior Professional Program (4-year pre-professional training), Junior Professional Program (intensive training for middle/high school students), and General Program (recreational classes for all ages). Youth-specific programming includes the Youth General Program with Saturday classes. Seasonal offerings comprise Kids Summer Dance Camp (ages 5-11) and Teen Summer Intensive. The Adult General Program provides evening classes for adults from beginner to advanced levels. All programs emphasize contemporary dance as the core technique while offering training in ballet, jazz, hip hop, and specialized styles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Senior Professional Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 years of continuous operation with consistent leadership
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• University of WinnipegcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Professional Program is affiliated with the University of Winnipeg. Students may receive up to 72 credit hours (13 full courses) for their work in the Program. Upon completion of 42 additional non-dance academic credit hours (7 full courses), students are eligible for a BA Honours Degree in Dance. The program may be completed within four years concurrently.
• Canadian HeritagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school is recognized as a national arts training centre and funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage. Canadian Heritage assessors have praised the program's importance to Canadian contemporary dance.
• Sisler High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCD has established partnership offering in-school workshops and tuition scholarships to Indigenous/Métis and racialized students. Recipients selected by the school.
• Hugh John MacDonald SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCD has established partnership offering in-school workshops and tuition scholarships to Indigenous/Métis and racialized students. Recipients selected by the school.
• Winnipeg's Contemporary DancerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional Program undertakes numerous collaborations with this company annually. Graduate opportunities include Emerging Artist Initiative. Artistic Director: Jolene Bailie.
• NAfro Dance ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on NAfro Technique instruction taught by company members. Graduate performance opportunities. Artistic Director: Casimiro Nhussi.
• Odette Heyn Projects / Winnipeg Symphony OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaborations including performances with Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Artistic Director: Odette Heyn.
• Stephanie Ballard and DancerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular artistic collaborations and repertory work. Stephanie Ballard serves as Artist-in-Residence at SCD.
• Bill Evans Contemporary Dance FestivalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual festival for Junior Professional Program students. Adjudicated by Darryl Tracy. Scholarships awarded to participating dancers.
• Young Lungs Dance ExchangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Winnipeg dance organization. Co-founded by SCD faculty member Johanna Riley.
• New Dance HorizonsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual participation in Stream of Dance Festival and Secret Garden Tour in Regina. Artistic Directors: Robin Poitras & Edward Poitras.
• QDancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional dance company collaborations. Artistic Director: Peter Quanz.
• Drive DancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGaile Petursson-Hiley choreographs for Drive Dance. 'Eclipse' full-length work premiered in 2015.
• Margie Gillis Dance FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStephanie Ballard's Legacy Project work included extensive touring with Foundation through Asia, US, Canada and Europe.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Royal Winnipeg Ballet School: Professional ballet and contemporary dance training school based in Winnipeg, sharing the same geographic market. Directly competes for aspiring professional dancers in the region and offers comparable full-time training programs with audition-based admission.
• Arts Umbrella Dance Program: Canadian pre-professional dance training program in Vancouver offering senior and junior streams with audition-based admission. Comparable as a Canadian dance training institution offering multi-year programs with university credit options and similar mission.
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Ailey School): Renowned American contemporary dance company with affiliated professional training school offering multi-year programs. Comparable as a leading national contemporary dance training center with strong industry placement and scholarship programs.
• Pacific Northwest Ballet School: Professional ballet and contemporary dance training program affiliated with Pacific Northwest Ballet, offering comprehensive multi-year training. Comparable professional dance training institution with similar curriculum depth and performance integration.
• National Ballet School of Canada: Canada's premier professional ballet and contemporary dance training institution, also affiliated with a university pathway. Directly comparable as a Canadian dance training school offering multi-year professional programs with limited enrollment and government recognition.
• London Contemporary Dance School: UK-based specialist contemporary dance training institution at Trinity Laban, offering three-year professional programs. Highly comparable as a dedicated contemporary dance training school with university affiliation and international student recruitment.
• The Ailey School (Fordham University BFA Program): The Ailey School's certificate and BFA programs in partnership with Fordham University offer four-year contemporary dance training with degree pathways. Directly comparable as a contemporary dance training institution with university-affiliated BFA pathway.
• Codarts Rotterdam: Dutch university of professional arts education offering contemporary dance and ballet programs. Comparable as a European professional dance training institution with four-year programs, international faculty, and university degree pathways.

Broad incumbents

• Juilliard School (Dance Division): Elite US performing arts conservatory offering a four-year BFA in Dance. Comparable as a leading professional dance training institution with university degree pathway, though broader in scope (ballet, modern, contemporary) and significantly larger scale.

Regional players

• New Zealand School of Dance: New Zealand's national dance training institution offering three-year contemporary and ballet programs. Comparable as a national-level professional dance training school with limited enrollment and international faculty, though serving a different geographic market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/The-School-of-Contemporary-Dancers-General-Program-100068409993873
• Instagraminstagram.com/scdgeneralprogram/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/school-of-contemporary-dancers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 School of Contemporary Dancers