What Studio T Arts and Entertainment does

Studio T Arts and Entertainment (STAE) is a Sacramento-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 by Tamaira "Miss Tee" Sandifer that delivers performing arts, media production, entrepreneurship, and wellness education to youth and families, with an explicit focus on underserved and BIPOC communities. The organization operates an integrated program stack anchored by the 36,000-45,000 sq. ft. Innovation Factory creative campus (opened October 2024) and the PassToClass.com digital learning platform, which has logged more than 1.8 million engagements. Programs include Studio T Urban Dance Academy, Music & Audio Production Lab, Creative Workforce Academy, Side Hustle Academy, Take Control wellness, content-creation camps, after-school clubs, and statewide event series such as California's Day of Dance, SacTown Showdown, and 90s Fresh concerts. Reported program outcomes (84% mental health improvement, 88% sense of belonging, 75% workforce readiness improvement, 63% of alumni outearning parents within 5 years) claim 2-7x national benchmark performance.

The organization monetizes through a hybrid nonprofit model: tax-deductible donations ($25-$1,500 one-time, $25-$100/month), recurring memberships and class bundles ($15-$150/month), summer camps ($125/week), private lessons ($100+/session), PassToClass.com subscriptions ($10 individual, $100 teacher), event and office space rentals at the Innovation Factory ($50+/hour with deposits of $75-$350), corporate retreats, and 100%-to-mission creative and production services. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer enrollment on studiotarts.org with school-district channel partnerships, plus the PassToClass.com self-serve subscription platform. Marquee underwriters include National Geographic, The Home Depot, Disney, Gensler, BEHR Paints, the State of California, the City of Sacramento, and SMUD, who collectively supported the $15 million Innovation Factory capital campaign and recurring programs.

STAE serves a multi-segment base spanning youth and families, K-12 schools and districts (Sacramento City Unified, Sacramento County Office of Education, Guilford County Schools in North Carolina, Los Angeles City College), government partners (City of Sacramento Arts and Culture, Juvenile Hall School), and corporate clients, with the founder also chairing the Americans for the Arts Education Council. The organization employs 11-50 staff, operates a secondary production studio at 2410 Fair Oaks Blvd in Sacramento, and reaches 322 schools across six states with 14,800 youth/families served annually in California alone.

Name

Studio T Arts and Entertainment

Legal name

Studio T Arts and Entertainment

Website

https://studiotarts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sacramento-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that delivers performing arts, media production, entrepreneurship, and wellness education to youth and families through the Innovation Factory campus and PassToClass.com digital platform, reaching 322 schools across six states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Arts & Creative Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Dance Companies (711120), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Visual Arts & Media Arts Programs (Art Club, Photography, Film) (EDAJAJAF), Digital Arts & Design (Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation) (EDAMAAAB), Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC), Corporate/L&D Course Licensing from Creators (B2B Upskilling) (MPACALAH)

Keywords

• Youth arts education
• Workforce development programs
• Creative entrepreneurship training
• Performing arts education
• Nonprofit community programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations & Charitable Contributions: STAE is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations from individuals and corporations fund programs. Donation tiers range from $25 one-time to $1,500, with monthly giving options at $25, $50, or $100/month. All donations are tax-deductible.
2. Event Space Rental: The Innovation Factory offers various spaces for rent including Black Box Theater, dance rooms, media labs, banquet halls, outdoor plazas. Rental deposits range from $75-$350, with hourly rates starting at $50/hour.
3. Classes, Camps & Memberships: Recurring revenue from club memberships ($15-45/month), class bundles ($50-150/month), summer camps ($125/week), and private lessons ($100/session).
4. Creative Services: Professional media services including video production, photography, podcasting, performances, choreography, design, branding, and web services. 100% of proceeds fund nonprofit programs.
5. Corporate Retreats: Customized corporate innovation experiences at the Innovation Factory for team building, leadership development, and culture-building activations.
6. Side Hustle Academy: Entrepreneurship training for youth and adults. Weekly payment $65 or monthly $250. Features celebrity side hustlers, investors, and industry giants with pitch contests offering $5,000 prizes.
7. In-School Programs: Revenue from bringing STAE programs to school campuses including assemblies, residencies, after-school programs, and workforce-connected learning experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Studio T Arts and Entertainment (STAE) is a Sacramento-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers youth arts education, workforce development, and wellness programming through in-person classes, camps, clubs, and after-school programs at its 36,000-45,000 sq. ft. Innovation Factory campus, plus the PassToClass.com digital learning platform. Programs span dance, music/audio production, media production (podcast, photography, video), entrepreneurship (Side Hustle Academy, Creative Workforce Academy), and life-skills (Take Control), with subscription, membership, and donation-based revenue supporting tuition, venue rentals, and creative services for corporate clients.

Product overview

Studio T Arts & Entertainment (STAE) is a nonprofit youth arts organization offering a comprehensive ecosystem of programs rather than a single product. The core offerings include: the Creative Workforce Academy and Career Pipeline & Apprenticeships for workforce development; Side Hustle Academy for entrepreneurship training; Studio T Urban Dance Academy and Music & Audio Production Lab for arts training; Take Control Wellness & Life Skills Lab for life skills; and After-School Innovation Clubs and Summer Camps for youth. The Innovation Factory serves as the 36,000-45,000 sq. ft. physical campus hub for these programs. Digital platforms include PassToClass.com for online learning and Aunt Tee's Corner for children's edutainment. Event programs include California's Day of Dance, SacTown Showdown, and 90s Fresh concerts. Professional services include Creative Studios (media production), STAE Retreats (corporate team-building), and Sweet Tee LLC consulting. The organization also offers party and event space rentals at the Innovation Factory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PassToClass.com: Digital learning platform offering dance tutorials, warm-ups, cool-downs, master classes, and educational content for children and educators. Has achieved 1.8M+ digital engagements.
• 3 Point 0
• Studio T Urban Dance Academy
• California's Day of Dance
• SacTown Showdown
• 90s Fresh
• Sweet Tee, LLC / Tee Sandi Consulting
• Aunt Tee's Corner
• Take Control
• LVL UP Creative Campaigns For Change

Products and services

• Side Hustle Academy Entrepreneurship and financial literacy training program teaching youth ages 12+ how to monetize creative skills in dance, videography, photography, social media management, graphic design, and branding, with pitch contests offering $5,000 in prizes and 8-week cohorts led by industry celebrities and investors.
• PassToClass.com Digital learning platform providing video-based dance tutorials, warm-ups, cool-downs, brain snacks, teacher intros, celebrity master classes, and educational content for educators and students, with monthly subscription plans ($10/month individual; $100/month Teacher + 1 Class) and 1.8M+ digital engagements to date.
• Creative Workforce Academy Workforce development program equipping youth with real-world monetizable skills in arts, entertainment, media, entrepreneurship, and creative industries through AI-powered training, financial literacy, and pitch competitions with celebrity mentors and industry leaders.
• Career Pipeline & Apprenticeships Hands-on workforce development experience providing practical training in media production, events, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies through direct mentorship and project-based learning in the Pro-Apprentice model that pairs industry veterans with youth interns.
• STAE Creative Studios Full-service youth-powered production company delivering videography, photography, podcast production, content creation, and AI-assisted content services for corporate clients, training the next generation of creators with 100% of proceeds funding STAE's nonprofit programs.
• Take Control - Wellness & Life Skills Lab Life skills and wellness program equipping youth, college students, and families with mental wellness, financial literacy, household management, and personal accountability training.
• Studio T Urban Dance Academy Flagship dance training program offering discipline-driven training in urban dance styles with emphasis on confidence, character development, and career pathways for dancers of all skill levels, producing alumni who have worked with Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, and appeared on major shows.
• Music & Audio Production Lab Hands-on training in vocal performance, music production, DJ skills, beat-making, live mixing, and sound engineering using industry-standard equipment in the Innovation Factory DJ Lab and podcast studios.
• Aunt Tee's Corner Children's edutainment platform for ages 3-10 blending storytelling, music, movement, and play to build confidence, creativity, and essential life skills through culturally relevant content delivered on YouTube and digital channels.
• California's Day of Dance Annual statewide celebration of dance, wellness, and community founded in 2016, uniting thousands across California for mass choreography, live performances, and cultural showcases, preparing for its 10th anniversary in 2026.
• SacTown Showdown Annual youth performing arts competition featuring dancers, musicians, and creators competing in a high-energy, culture-rich event in Sacramento.
• 90s Fresh 90s-themed dance concert series featuring soul train lines, high-fashion retro looks, immersive set design, and surprise celebrity appearances, started in 2015 as the organization's 10-year-anniversary concert.
• STAE Retreats Corporate innovation experiences offering immersive, hands-on team-building programs including media production, design challenges, leadership development, and culture-building activations hosted at the Innovation Factory.
• Sweet Tee LLC / Tee Sandi Consulting Leadership and culture consulting services led by Miss Tee Sandifer offering transformational strategy, high-impact keynotes, executive intensives, and culture redesign for organizations.
• LVL UP Creative Campaigns Social marketing campaign empowering youth to create content around mental wellness, public health, and community pride via social media posts, websites, videos, posters, flyers, yard signs, and t-shirts.
• Party & Event Space Rental Venue rental services at the Innovation Factory including Black Box Theater, Community Co-Lab Space, Media Lab, Debbie Allen Dance Room, Movie Theater, DJ Lab, Podcast Studios, Image Shop, Banquet Hall, Fashion Lab, and Outdoor Plaza for events starting at $50/hour.
• Summer & Break Immersion Camps Dynamic, hands-on camp experiences during school breaks combining dance, music, media, team-based creative projects, and performance opportunities for youth (Y summer camp $125/week; premium packages $900-$1,750/week).
• Content Creators Camp - Next-Gen Media Intensive High-octane immersive camp teaching professional production, platform strategy, and media monetization through three pillars - Production, Platform, and Profit - with advanced participants working on paid projects.
• After-School Innovation Clubs Structured ongoing club opportunities at the Innovation Factory for youth to develop skills in dance, DJ, music production, photography, media, entrepreneurship, finance, and creative arts, offered as monthly memberships at $15-$45 per month.
• Field Trips - Exposure & Experience Lab Creative immersion field trips at the Innovation Factory where students rotate through hands-on labs including media production, podcasting, DJ/music, dance, and creative entrepreneurship, marketed to K-12 schools.
• Innovation Factory 36,000-45,000 sq. ft. creative campus in Sacramento housing production studios, podcast suites, photography labs, editing bays, performance spaces, dance studios, and business incubator spaces for youth workforce development, opened October 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% improved mental health
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, strategic and minor.

• National GeographicmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 March 2026National Geographic is presenting sponsor of STAE's 25th Anniversary Gala, supporting the organization's milestone celebration of reaching 800,000+ youth and families.
• The Home DepotmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 March 2026The Home Depot is a presenting sponsor of STAE's 25th Anniversary Gala, supporting youth arts programs and the Innovation Factory.
• GenslercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGensler partnered with STAE to design the Innovation Factory creative campus in Sacramento.
• BEHR PaintscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBEHR Paints partnered with STAE for the Innovation Factory facility development.
• SMUDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District) partnered with STAE for the Innovation Factory facility.
• Sacramento City Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCUSD partners with STAE for in-school programs, after-school enrichment, and PassToClass.com digital learning platform.
• Sacramento County Office of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCOE partners with STAE for PassToClass.com digital learning platform serving 73,000+ students.
• Guilford County Schools (North Carolina)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuilford County Schools in Greensboro, NC partnered with STAE for digital learning through PassToClass.com.
• Los Angeles City CollegestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLACC partners with STAE for PassToClass.com digital learning platform.
• City of Sacramento Arts and CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Sacramento Arts and Culture partners with STAE for California Day of Dance and cultural programming.
• DisneymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDisney partners with STAE through the Dreamers Program where Miss Tee serves as educator and judge, connecting youth with Disney opportunities.
• Popin PetestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerHip-hop legend Popin Pete collaborates with STAE on Legends of Dance workshops and PopinPete.com training platform, connecting youth to dance culture lineage.
• Americans for the ArtsstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTAE is represented on the Arts Education Council as Chair. Miss Tee serves as Board member and Program Committee Chair for Americans for the Arts.
• Pantry OverflowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Side Hustle Academy workshops teaching families how to maximize budgets and buy food.
• Sacramento Helping HandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing financial literacy workshops for STAE families.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Dance Institute: NYC nonprofit founded by Jacques d'Amboise that delivers school-based dance education to tens of thousands of children nationwide through teaching-artist residencies and performances - closely mirrors STAE's in-school residencies, after-school programs, and "dance for all youth" mission.
• Debbie Allen Dance Academy: Founded by Debbie Allen, the academy is a nonprofit youth performing arts organization offering dance training and creative programs for youth and families; STAE even named a "Debbie Allen Dance Room" inside the Innovation Factory, signaling direct category overlap and shared philosophy.
• City Hearts (Kids' Club): LA-area nonprofit providing arts education, creative workforce training, and performance opportunities for underserved youth - similar mission, justice-impacted programming (STAE reports 93% retention in this segment), and donor-supported operating model.
• BAYCAT (Bay Area Youth Creative Arts & Technology): San Francisco nonprofit delivering media production, digital arts, and storytelling training to underserved youth with social-impact outcomes - directly comparable to STAE's Creative Studios, PassToClass.com, and Career Pipeline media-training arm.
• Destiny Arts Center: Oakland-based nonprofit combining dance, martial arts, and youth development for underserved Bay Area/California youth - a direct California-region peer with comparable mission, youth-served model, and tuition-subsidized arts education approach.
• Inner-City Arts: LA-based nonprofit providing arts education to underserved youth, with a dedicated creative campus, in-school programs, and outcome metrics - highly comparable operating model to STAE including facility-based programs, school partnerships, and donor-supported youth arts training.
• Peridance Center (Peridance Capezio Center): NYC studio offering professional-grade dance education with multiple levels, summer intensive programs, and a Capezio sponsorship lineage - comparable to STAE's tiered memberships ($15-$150/mo), multi-discipline arts training, and camp-based revenue programming.

Broad incumbents

• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater / The Ailey School: The Ailey organization runs a flagship professional dance company alongside The Ailey School, providing pre-professional training and AileyCamp community youth programs in NYC - directly comparable to STAE's mix of dance training, youth development programming, and community outreach in Sacramento.
• The Funk Center / Debbie Allen Productions: Debbie Allen's broader production and dance education enterprise, including Kwanzaa Gift Shop-era community programming and the Dance Academy - relevant industry incumbent whose ecosystem overlaps STAE's youth/performing arts positioning.

Emerging players

• Center for the Arts (Eagle Rock / various): Community-based creative arts centers offering multi-discipline classes, camps, and venue rentals - comparable emerging peer in the community arts-education-and-events space, especially the venue-rental/camp revenue model that STAE has scaled at the Innovation Factory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AuntTeesCorner
• Instagraminstagram.com/wecanlvlup
• Facebookfacebook.com/studiotarts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/studio-t-arts-entertainment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Studio T Arts and Entertainment