Step Change Studios

What Step Change Studios does

Step Change Studios is a London-based Community Interest Company (CIC) founded in 2017 by Rashmi Becker that delivers inclusive dance programmes for disabled children and adults, people with sight loss, older people including those with dementia, and underserved communities. The company operates a portfolio spanning in-person weekly classes (Sunday classes for disabled young people at £3 per session in Queensway, Blind Ballroom in Westminster), free online and telephone-delivered programmes (Sense Saturdays on Zoom, Seated Audio Dance by phone, Dance Dosti multilingual pre-recorded sessions in English, Bengali, Gujarati, and Hindi), wheelchair dance and sight loss programmes, inclusive training for dance and fitness professionals, and bespoke dance projects and consultancy for institutional clients. Step Change Studios also produces professional dance productions, including 'Fusion' and 'FairyTales' at Sadler's Wells, 'Breaking Ballroom' selected at international film festivals, and 'Forward Motion' as a US-UK international collaboration, alongside editorial content through the Conversations with Carers project.

The company generates revenue through a hybrid model combining low-priced pay-as-you-go community classes (£3 per session for Sunday classes), quote-based private lessons for individuals and groups, and professional services fees for bespoke dance projects and inclusion consultancy. A substantial portion of operating capacity appears to be grant-funded, with Arts Council England, National Lottery, Sport England, the Greater London Authority, Vision Foundation, and Thomas Pocklington Trust identified as financial supporters of community and artistic programming. Delivery is conducted through an ecosystem of institutional partners — local authorities, NHS hospitals, care homes, schools, libraries, Sadler's Wells, National Theatre, Sense, Metro Blind Sport, Active Westminster, and sector bodies including One Dance UK and Activity Alliance. The organisation has approximately 10 employees and operates primarily in the UK with nascent international reach via US festival participation.

Business model mechanics centre on a community-led go-to-market approach: Step Change Studios acquires participants through local authority, healthcare, and arts partnerships, then converts engagement into a mix of paid classes, private bookings, and grant-funded free programming. Marketing channels combine organic social media (Instagram, YouTube), earned media coverage from BBC, The Guardian, and Dance Spirit, partner referrals, and public fundraising (GoFundMe, easyfundraising.org.uk). Awards (18 entries across 2018-2024, including Sport and Recreation Alliance Diversity and Inclusion, One Dance UK Innovation and Community Champion, London Sport Health and Wellbeing, and Active Westminster Inclusion) and personal recognition of the founder (Anna Kennedy Lifetime Achievement 2023, Points of Light Award from the UK Prime Minister 2023) reinforce the company's positioning as a sector leader in inclusive dance.

Name

Step Change Studios

Legal name

Step Change Studios

Website

https://stepchangestudios.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inclusive Dance Services

NAICS

Dance Companies (71112), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI), Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance) (EDAAAGAD)

Keywords

• Inclusive dance classes
• Community dance programmes
• Wheelchair dance training
• Accessible dance services
• Professional dance productions

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Community Dance Classes and Programmes: Revenue generated from community dance classes for disabled children and adults, funded through local authority partnerships and participant fees. Classes such as Sunday dance sessions cost £3 per class.
2. Private Dance Lessons: One-to-one and private group dance lessons for individuals, couples, and groups, priced privately. Customers contact the company to enquire and book tailored private sessions.
3. Bespoke Dance Projects and Consultancy: The company creates bespoke dance projects and provides strategic consultancy for organisations wanting to improve diversity and inclusion. Fees are charged for tailored programmes across education, care, arts, sport and leisure settings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Step Change Studios is an inclusive dance company that delivers community dance classes and tailored programmes for disabled children and adults, people with sight loss, older people (including those with dementia) and underserved communities, in settings ranging from local authority and NHS venues to schools, libraries and care homes. It also produces original professional dance performances staged at venues such as Sadler's Wells, offers inclusive training for dance and fitness professionals, runs free online and telephone-based dance sessions (Sense Saturdays, Seated Audio Dance, Dance Dosti), and provides bespoke dance projects and diversity-and-inclusion consultancy for partner organisations.

Product overview

Step Change Studios is an award-winning inclusive dance company offering a comprehensive portfolio of dance programmes and services. The core offering includes in-person and online dance classes for disabled people, people with sight loss, older people, and youth groups across various settings including communities, healthcare, education, and public venues. Key products include Sunday Classes for disabled young people, Blind Ballroom for adults with visual impairments, Wheelchair Dance programmes, Sight Loss Programmes, Seated Audio Dance, and Dance Dosti (multi-language online sessions). The company produces professional dance performances (Fusion, Fairy Tales, Breaking Ballroom, Forward Motion) and delivers the Conversations with Carers initiative featuring podcasts, articles, and dance films. Additional offerings include private lessons, inclusive training for professionals, and consultancy services. The portfolio spans community dance classes, tailored programmes for specific groups, professional performances, and creative projects—all unified by the mission to make dance accessible for everyone.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dance Dosti: Free digital dance programme for people with sight loss providing pre-recorded video and audio sessions in English, Bengali, Gujarati, and Hindi.

Products and services

• Sunday Classes 60-minute weekly dance classes for disabled young people aged 11+ held every Sunday in Queensway, London, supported by Active Westminster, at £3 per session.
• Blind Ballroom 65-minute weekly ballroom and Latin dance classes for blind and partially sighted adults in Westminster, supported by trained volunteer dance partners from the community.
• Sense Saturdays Free 45-minute Zoom 'Exercise through Dance' sessions for disabled people every Saturday at 11am, covering styles from Contemporary to Hip-Hop and suitable seated or standing, delivered in partnership with Sense.
• Seated Audio Dance Free 50-minute telephone-based seated dance programme delivered in partnership with Sense, where participants join by phone and learn accessible dance moves to favourite music.
• Dance Dosti: Online Free pre-recorded video and audio dance sessions for people with sight loss available in English, Bengali, Gujarati and Hindi, delivered in partnership with Metro Blind Sport and supported by Vision Foundation.
• Private Lessons Tailored individual, partner and private group dance lessons with professional dancers, priced on enquiry for fun, fitness, skill development and performance.
• Wheelchair Dance Programme Wheelchair dance programmes supporting students of all levels to dance, learn choreography, and perform at local and national arts venues and festivals.
• Sight Loss Programmes Series of dance programmes for people with sight loss in which participants, supported by community volunteers, take dance exams and perform on stage.
• Inclusive Training Practical training for dance and fitness professionals on supporting disabled people's participation, created and delivered with students who share their insight and experience.
• Professional Dance Productions Original, innovative dance performances showcasing diverse, world-class talent, including Fusion, Fairy Tales, Breaking Ballroom and Forward Motion, presented nationally and internationally in partnership with leading arts venues.
• Conversations with Carers Podcast and article series exploring the lived experience of paid and unpaid carers, accompanied by 5 short dance films performed by disabled and non-disabled artists, supported by Arts Council England.
• Bespoke Dance Projects and Consultancy Commissioned bespoke dance projects and diversity-and-inclusion consultancy for organisations in education, care, arts, sport and leisure settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 hours of free dance provided annually for disabled children and adults through local authority partnerships.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• One Dance UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne Dance UK is the national body for dance in England. Step Change Studios is a member and has received multiple awards from One Dance UK, including the Award for Innovation (2018) and Community Champion Award (2024). This membership demonstrates sector leadership and commitment to better practice.
• Activity AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActivity Alliance is the leading voice for disability equality in sport and physical activity. Step Change Studios' membership signals commitment to inclusive practice and provides access to sector networks and resources for improving disabled people's participation.
• Active WestminstermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive Westminster supports Step Change Studios' weekly Sunday inclusive dance classes for disabled young people. The partnership demonstrates local government commitment to inclusive physical activity. Step Change Studios has received the Active Award for Inclusion from Active Westminster in both 2018 and 2020.
• SensemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSense is a charity supporting deafblind and disabled people. Step Change Studios partners with Sense to deliver free Zoom 'Exercise through Dance' sessions (Sense Saturdays) every Saturday and Seated Audio Dance by telephone every Wednesday, providing accessible dance opportunities for disabled people.
• Metro Blind SportmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetro Blind Sport is a charity providing sport and physical activity for blind and partially sighted people. Step Change Studios partners with Metro Blind Sport on the Dance Dosti programme, providing free digital dance sessions for people with sight loss.
• National TheatremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStep Change Studios delivered outdoor mass public workshops for the National Theatre at venues including local parks and the Olympic Park. The partnership brings inclusive dance to public audiences in iconic cultural settings.
• Sadler's WellscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSadler's Wells, London's leading dance venue, has hosted Step Change Studios' professional productions 'Fusion' and 'FairyTales'. These partnerships provide world-class performance platforms for disabled and diverse dance artists.
• Local AuthoritiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStep Change Studios partners with local authorities to provide over 100 hours of free dance annually for disabled children and adults, culminating in community competitions. These partnerships are central to the company's community delivery model.
• Sporting EqualsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSporting Equals promotes race equality in sport and physical activity. Step Change Studios' membership demonstrates commitment to addressing intersectional inequalities in dance and physical activity.
• CIMSPAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity. Step Change Studios' membership signals professional standards in delivering physical activity and supports training and professional development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Candoco Dance Company: The UK's other leading inclusive dance company, creating performance and participation work with disabled and non-disabled dancers. Most directly comparable peer in mission, scale, and UK public-funding base.
• Ballet Black: London-based professional dance company focused on dancers of Black and Asian descent and other underrepresented backgrounds. Closely comparable in mission-driven diversity positioning within UK professional dance.
• Protein Dance: London-based contemporary dance company known for accessible, audience-inclusive work and community engagement. Comparable in scale, London base, and blending of professional touring with participatory community programmes.

Regional players

• StopGap Dance Company: Canada-based inclusive dance company creating integrated work with disabled and non-disabled dancers. Directly comparable in inclusive dance focus but operates outside the UK funding market.
• AXIS Dance Company: US-based pioneer of physically integrated dance combining disabled and non-disabled performers. Comparable in inclusive dance product category and professional touring model, but operates in the US funding ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Rambert: One of the UK's leading contemporary dance companies with national touring, training programmes, and established venue partnerships. Comparable in contemporary dance production scale and UK public funding base, but does not specialise in disability inclusion.
• English National Ballet: Major UK dance company with national reach, learning programmes, and partnerships with healthcare and community organisations. Comparable in dance learning/engagement work but operates at significantly larger scale and broader mission.
• Hofesh Shechter Company: Award-winning UK contemporary dance company with international touring. Comparable in professional production quality and Sadler's Wells-class venue partnerships but does not address disability inclusion.
• Akram Khan Company: Internationally touring UK contemporary dance company producing Sadler's Wells-validated work. Comparable in producing professional contemporary dance productions at leading venues, though much larger and without an explicit disability-inclusion focus.

Others

• Sadler's Wells: London's leading dance venue and a current programming partner for Step Change Studios' professional productions. Comparable as a stakeholder in the UK inclusive dance ecosystem rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Step_Change
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnlFppw3EmCN3nsNctn6PFQ
• Instagraminstagram.com/stepchangestudios

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 Step Change Studios