Tanzhaus Zürich

What Tanzhaus Zürich does

Tanzhaus Zürich is a nonprofit cultural association (Verein) founded in 1996 in Zürich, Switzerland, and operates the city's leading production house for contemporary choreographic work. The organization supports dancers and choreographers across the full lifecycle of a production — thinking, rehearsing, producing, showing — and is described as the most important contemporary dance production house in Zurich and one of the most significant in Switzerland. Its core product portfolio includes live events/performances, multi-week trainings and courses, participatory workshops, artist residencies, the Show-Off platform for emerging choreographers, the Kompliz:innen (Accomplice) long-term artist partnership program selecting 2-5 artists per season, mediation/outreach into schools and neighborhoods, the Tanzhaus young youth and children's programming, and studio/venue rental. The venue is located at Wasserwerkstrasse 127a in Zürich and also houses the Café/Bar Nude gastronomy operation run by Sheila Lopardo. The GTM motion is event-driven, centered on presenting productions and engaging the local Zurich community through performances, open trainings, introductions, post-show talks and outreach.

The business model blends public cultural subsidies with diversified earned revenue. Primary funding flows from Stadt Zürich Kultur, Fachstelle Kultur Kanton Zürich, and Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Council), complemented by a confirmed four-year City of Zurich funding commitment for the Criptonite program covering 2024-2028. Earned revenue streams include ticket sales on a three-tier solidarity pricing model (CHF 35 / CHF 25 / CHF 15), seasonal subscriptions (CHF 350 / CHF 250 / CHF 150), studio rental to external artists, pay-what-you-want workshops, and on-site gastronomy. Distribution is omnichannel: online ticket sales via Eventfrog, on-site box office, school partnerships (schule&kultur, Stadt Zürich Schulkultur), newsletters in German and English, and Instagram/LinkedIn for audience engagement. Pricing features extensive accessibility provisions including free tickets for companions of visitors with disability, permit N/F/S holders, and discounts for students, KulturLegi and IV-Ausweis holders.

The organization is led by co-directors Lisa Letnansky and Guillaume Guilherme since the 2026/2027 season, succeeding Catja Loepfe who developed the Accomplice model in 2024. A board composed of representatives from culture, politics and business — co-presided by Sonja Hägeli and Thomas Grünebler — sets strategic direction. Headcount is approximately 11 per firmographics (with a broader named team of around 17), spanning production management, technical direction, curation, mediation, communication, administration, dance education, and maintenance. Strategic partnerships span Swiss academic institutions (ZHdK, Manufacture Lausanne), national networks (Reso Tanznetzwerk Schweiz, Pro Helvetia, Migros-Kulturprozent Steps, ZÜRICH TANZT), accessibility advisors (Pro Infirmis, Apfelschule, ZAK), and European dance networks (Aerowaves, EDN). The organization has no parent company, no subsidiaries, no funding rounds, and is not publicly traded; ownership is community-oriented with no private shareholders.

Name

Tanzhaus Zürich

Legal name

Tanzhaus Zürich

Website

https://tanzhaus-zuerich.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tanzhaus Zürich is a nonprofit production house founded in 1996 in Zürich, Switzerland, that presents contemporary dance performances, residencies, workshops, and community programs for local audiences, dancers, and choreographers, funded primarily by Swiss public cultural subsidies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Contemporary Dance Production

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Dance Theatre (Narrative/Experimental) (MPAGADAC), Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Contemporary dance production
• Performing arts venue
• Dance education
• Artist residencies
• Community dance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from selling tickets for performances, workshops, and events. Three-tier pricing model: Solidarity (CHF 35), Regular (CHF 25), Budget (CHF 15).
2. Public Funding: Supported by City of Zurich Kultur, Canton of Zurich Fachstelle Kultur, Pro Helvetia, and other public cultural foundations.
3. Gastronomy: Café/Bar Nude operated by Sheila Lopardo, providing food and beverage service.
4. Studio Rental: Rental of studios and studio time to artists and groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Tanzhaus Zürich is a production house for contemporary dance that supports dancers and choreographers through all phases of their work — thinking, rehearsing, producing, showing, and moving forward. It presents live contemporary dance performances, runs multi-week trainings and participatory workshops, hosts artist residencies, operates the Show-Off platform for emerging choreographers, and runs the Accomplices (Kompliz:innen) long-term partnership model alongside youth/children's programs, school outreach, and inclusive DanceAbility workshops.

Product overview

Tanzhaus Zürich is a production house for contemporary choreographic work offering a portfolio of interconnected programmes: live events and performances showcasing dance productions; regular trainings and courses for skill development; participatory workshops; artist residencies; the Show-Off platform for emerging choreographers; the Accomplices Model for long-term artist partnerships; mediation/outreach into schools and communities; Tanzhaus young for youth and children's programming; and venue rental services. The venue also houses Café/Bar Nude for on-site gastronomy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Events/Performances (Veranstaltungen) Contemporary dance performances and theatrical productions presented at Tanzhaus Zürich, featuring local and international choreographers and dance companies. Open to the general public as ticketed performances.
• Trainings & Courses (Trainings & Kurse) Regular dance classes and training sessions spanning multiple weeks or semesters, offering instruction in various contemporary dance techniques for all skill levels, for dancers and the general public.
• Workshops & On Top (Workshops & Zugaben) Participatory workshops led by artists, offering opportunities to try new movements and working methods, including the 'On Top' label for events surrounding the main programme. Available to the general public and dancers.
• Residencies Artist residencies where choreographers work at Tanzhaus Zürich for several days or weeks developing new ideas or pieces, with work shared at the end through sharings. For professional and emerging dance artists.
• Show-Off Platform Show-Off is Tanzhaus Zürich's platform for emerging talent, where young choreographers develop new short pieces over three weeks and present their work to an audience for the first time. For emerging choreographers.
• Accomplices Model (Kompliz:innen-Modell) Long-term partnership programme where artists accompany and help shape Tanzhaus Zürich over extended periods (2 to 5 artists/groups selected per season), developing projects together and bringing their ideas into the house. For professional and emerging dance artists.
• Mediation (Vermittlung) Outreach programme bringing dance from Tanzhaus Zürich into schools, neighborhoods and community spaces, creating encounters with dance beyond the venue. For schools, neighborhood groups, and community partners.
• Tanzhaus Young Programme for children, youth and school classes including performances, courses and projects where young people discover and experience dance. Includes the COOL-Tur holiday program for children ages 7-12.
• Venue Rental (Vermietung und Studiozeit) Rental of studios and rehearsal spaces for external artists and companies, supporting the broader dance community. Also includes residency apartment rentals. For dance artists and groups.
• Café/Bar Nude On-site gastronomy operated by Sheila Lopardo and team, offering drinks, snacks and seasonal menu, located by the Limmat river adjacent to the main venue. Open to venue visitors and the public.
• DanceAbility Workshop Inclusive dance workshops using the DanceAbility method, accessible to everyone regardless of ability. Led by Manuela Runge, Corina Arbenz, and Jeanine Elsener. Suggested price CHF 20 (pay-what-you-want), payment on site.
• COOL-Tur Holiday Program Holiday program for children offered as part of Tanzhaus young, with tiered pricing (CHF 350 / CHF 70 per day regular; CHF 120 with KulturLegi; CHF 20 solidarity for financially disadvantaged).

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

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

• Reso – Tanznetzwerk SchweizcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Dance Network providing artistic support, touring circuits, and RESO label for productions.
• Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (ZHdK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Zurich University of the Arts for student programs and artistic collaboration.
• Manufacture LausannemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with La Manufacture performing arts school for education and artist development.
• BlickfelderminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural event collaboration.
• Breakthrough International Breakdance FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational breakdance festival partnership.
• Fabriktheater Rote FabrikminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Rote Fabrik cultural center.
• Gessnerallee ZürichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater venue collaboration.
• Migros-Kulturprozent Tanzfestival StepsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Migros percentage for culture supporting Steps dance festival.
• ZÜRICH TANZTmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Zurich dance festival collaboration.
• Zürcher Theater SpektakelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater festival collaboration.
• AerowavesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean dance network for emerging artists.
• ASSITEJ SchweizminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss association for children's and young people's theatre.
• EDN European Dance Development NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network for dance development.
• TanzPlan OstmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated artist program for Eastern Switzerland.
• NudemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCafé/Bar Nude operated by Sheila Lopardo providing on-site gastronomy. Partnership for hospitality services to venue visitors.
• One Planet LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability initiative collaboration.
• Pro InfirmisminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccessibility consulting partner providing translations into Easy Language (Leichte Sprache), level A2/B1.
• Apfelschule & ZAKminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccessibility advisors for website redesign: Apfelschule and Zurich Accessibility Kultur (ZAK).
• Musée VisionnaireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum collaboration for COOL-Tur holiday program about Harald Naegeli.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fabriktheater Rote Fabrik: Zurich cultural center hosting contemporary performance, dance, and theater alongside music programming. Listed as a direct collaboration partner of Tanzhaus Zürich and operates within the same city's independent performing arts ecosystem.
• Gessnerallee Zürich: Zurich-based performing arts venue presenting contemporary dance, theater, and performance. Listed as a direct collaboration partner of Tanzhaus Zürich and operates a similar venue-based production model in the same city and category.
• Kaserne Basel: Performing arts venue in Basel hosting contemporary dance, theater, and music productions with resident companies and international touring acts. Shares the venue-based production and residency model used by Tanzhaus Zürich.
• Südpol Luzern: Swiss venue in Lucerne dedicated to contemporary dance, theater, and performance. Operates a comparable program structure with residencies, productions, and community engagement, making it one of the closest direct peers within Switzerland.
• PACT Zollverein: Essen-based venue for contemporary dance, performance, and visual arts with international residencies and co-productions. Closely parallels Tanzhaus Zürich's combination of production house, residency apartments, and community-focused programming.
• Dampfzentrale Bern: Cultural venue in Bern presenting contemporary dance, theater, and performance alongside festivals. Comparable venue-based model with public funding and a multi-disciplinary performing arts mandate.
• Théâtre Sévelin 36: Lausanne-based venue dedicated to contemporary dance and emerging choreographic work. Closely comparable in scope to Tanzhaus Zürich, serving the French-speaking Swiss dance ecosystem with productions and residencies.
• Kampnagel Hamburg: International performing arts venue in Hamburg with a strong contemporary dance and performance program, residencies, and community mediation work. Operates a comparable integrated production/residency/outreach model to Tanzhaus Zürich at larger European scale.

Broad incumbents

• Sadler's Wells: London's flagship dance venue presenting contemporary dance at significantly larger scale with international touring, co-productions, and digital distribution. Represents the broader incumbent reference point for dance venue programming models.

Regional players

• ADC — Association Danse Création: Geneva-based dance association and production platform supporting contemporary choreographers with residencies, productions, and touring. Comparable to Tanzhaus Zürich's function for the French-speaking Swiss dance scene, but operates in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tanzhaus-z%C3%BCrich
• Instagraminstagram.com/tanzhauszuerich

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Tanzhaus Zürich