FLATFOOT

What FLATFOOT does

FLATFOOT Dance Company is a registered South African Non-Profit Organisation (NPO 040/053) founded in 1994 and headquartered in Durban/eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal. The organisation produces professional contemporary dance performances and operates an integrated portfolio of dance development programmes including community engagement in townships (KwaMashu, Umlazi, Clermont), an auditioned Training Company, school touring and workshops, integrated dance initiatives for dancers with intellectual and physical disabilities, and the annual FLATFOOT ACCESS Festival held during Disability Awareness Month.

The company's competitive technology rests on three proprietary methodologies: an African Contemporary release technique fusing rural and urban African dance vocabularies with contemporary practice; a Paulo Freire-derived 'liberation education' pedagogy applied to dance training; and pioneering integrated dance methodologies for dancers with Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, and wheelchair users that FLATFOOT describes as unprecedented in South Africa. Its repertoire draws from a 30-year choreographic library and an international collaborator network spanning choreographers from South Africa, Finland, Madagascar, France, the USA, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Austria, Uganda, and Switzerland.

FLATFOOT's revenue model is a multi-stream non-profit mix: institutional grants from the National Arts Council of South Africa (since July 1994) and international sources such as the Commission de l'Océan Indien; corporate event commissions from clients including MTN, SPAR, VUMA, and INDONI; theatre and festival performance fees; school workshop and master class fees; and a small recurring donor programme called FLATFOOT500 via BackaBuddy. The company employs approximately 7-8 core dancers plus a Company Manager, reaches roughly 600 children and youth annually through community programmes, and accepts 30 new trainees per year into its free Training Company. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors including Chair Sharlene Versveld and Dr Gerard Samuel.

Name

FLATFOOT

Legal name

FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY

Website

https://flatfootdanceco.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Short description

FLATFOOT Dance Company is a Durban-based South African non-profit founded in 1994 that produces professional contemporary dance performances and runs community, school, and integrated dance programmes serving approximately 600 youth annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts - Contemporary Dance

NAICS

Dance Companies (711120), Dance Companies (71112), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Contemporary dance performances
• Dance training programmes
• Community dance outreach
• Integrated dance initiatives
• School dance education

Headquarters

HQ city

Durban

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Performance and Commission Fees: FLATFOOT generates revenue through ticket sales, performance commissions, and fees from dance works performed at theatres, festivals, and events across South Africa and the African continent.
2. Corporate Event Engagements: Bespoke corporate performances and event services for clients including MTN, SPAR, URBAN EDGE PRODUCTIONS, VUMA, INDONI, DURBAN LIVING LEGENDS. Services include custom performance items, routines, and professional musician collaborations.
3. School Workshops and Master Classes: Annual school engagement programs offering workshops and master classes, including Contemporary Dance Technique, African Dance, Laban's principles for choreography, and themed dance/movement programs.
4. FLATFOOT500 Membership Programme: Monthly subscription programme where supporters contribute small amounts to support the company's ongoing operations and artistic work.
5. Grants and Funding: Funding from National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC), and international sources such as Commission de l'Océan Indien for artistic residencies and cultural exchange programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FLATFOOT is a non-profit contemporary dance company that produces original dance performances, delivers professional dance training, and runs community and school-based dance programmes as well as integrated dance initiatives for diverse audiences in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The organization also offers bespoke dance-based experiences for corporate events and private functions.

Product overview

FLATFOOT Dance Company is a contemporary dance organization based in Durban, South Africa, offering a comprehensive portfolio of dance-related products and services. The core offering is professional contemporary dance performances created by resident and guest choreographers. Supporting this are educational and community programmes: the Flatfoot Training Company (auditioned trainee programme), Community Dance Engagement (township-based youth programmes reaching 600 youth annually), Dance in Schools (touring workshops and performances), and Integrated Dance Initiatives (programmes for dancers with disabilities including the Downie Dance Company and Wheelchair Dance Programme). The company also offers Corporate Events services and runs the annual FLATFOOT ACCESS Festival. The portfolio spans professional performance, dance education, community development, and inclusive/integrated dance practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Contemporary Dance Productions Original contemporary dance works choreographed and performed by FLATFOOT, presented to public audiences, arts festivals, and venues in South Africa and internationally.
• Community Dance Programmes Outreach dance workshops, classes, and participatory programmes delivered to communities in and around Durban, with a focus on access to the arts for underserved populations.
• School Dance Programmes Dance education and developmental programmes offered in partnership with schools to introduce learners to contemporary dance as a creative discipline.
• Integrated Dance Initiatives Inclusive dance programmes and performances designed to bring together dancers with disabilities and able-bodied dancers, supporting accessibility and integration in the arts.
• Corporate Dance Events Bespoke dance performances, activations, and choreography commissioned by corporate clients and event organizers for brand activations, conferences, and private functions.
• Professional Dance Training Skills development, technique classes, and intensives for emerging and professional dancers, including rehearsal and performance opportunities with the company.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained approximately 600 children and youth annually in community dance programmes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ITROTRA ART X CONNECTIONcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLATFOOT collaborated with ITROTRA ART X CONNECTION for a South-South sharing between Durban and Madagascar, including a 3-week dance residency with Gaby Saranouffi starting March 2024. Funded by NAC and Commission de l'Océan Indien.
• Compagnie Ex Nihilo (Marseille, France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Festival 2024. Compagnie Ex Nihilo artists Anne Le Batard and Jean-Antoine Bigot worked with FLATFOOT dancers on 'Close by... / La rue d'à-côté' performance.
• Virva Talonen (Finland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinnish choreographer who co-created 'Portable Home Project' with FLATFOOT, exploring concepts of home through contemporary dance. The project visited Japan, Palestine, Finland and South Africa during 2016-2022.
• Gaby Saranouffi (Madagascar/South Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChoreographer who collaborated on 'SORITRA (traces)' and 'the salt on your skin' with Lliane Loots. Works with FLATFOOT on ongoing international exchange projects.
• Vincent Mantsoe (South Africa/France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'CUT (part 2)' where Mantsoe shared his GOBA technique with FLATFOOT's company of 7 dancers, creating a live performance connected to his short film.
• Fana Tshabalala (South Africa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorked with FLATFOOT on 'amaVendors' presented at JOMBA! Festival 2019 and has choreographed works for the company.
• Kevin Iega Jeff (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican choreographer who has partnered with FLATFOOT for artistic collaborations and performances.
• Jurg Koch (Switzerland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntegrated dance artist who has worked with FLATFOOT on disability dance initiatives and ACCESS Festival programmes.
• Unmute Dance Company (South Africa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on integrated dance practices and disability dance work.
• Adriaan Luteijn (Netherlands)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch integrated dance artist who has collaborated with FLATFOOT on inclusive dance practices.
• Joseph Tebandeke (Uganda)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUgandan integrated dance artist who has worked with FLATFOOT on collaborative projects.
• Sydney Erlikh (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago-based choreographer who worked with FLATFOOT and FLATFOOT Downie Dance Company on 'Shield of the Heart' for the first ACCESS Dance Festival in 2022.
• ACE dance and music (Birmingham, UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based dance company where Mthoko Mkhwanazi spent a year in exchange with FLATFOOT beginning in 2022, with the secondment continuing into 2024.
• University of KwaZulu-NatalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLliane Loots is a lecturer at UKZN's Drama and Performance Studies Programme. The university hosts the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience which Loots founded and curates. UKZN provides institutional support for FLATFOOT.
• Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHouses the annual JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience and has awarded Lliane Loots a Lifetime Achievement Award. Provides platform for FLATFOOT performances and international collaborations.
• Hannah Ma Dance CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJabu Siphika is working with German-Chinese choreographer Hannah Ma in an international partnership between FLATFOOT and the Hannah Ma Dance Company.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vuyani Dance Theatre: Founded by Gregory Maqoma, Vuyani Dance Theatre is a leading South African contemporary dance company producing award-winning work and touring internationally. Directly comparable to FLATFOOT as another professional South African contemporary dance company with international touring and community engagement focus.
• Phenduka Dance Theatre: Durban/KwaZulu-Natal-based contemporary dance company that has served as a feeder pipeline for FLATFOOT (multiple current FLATFOOT dancers began training at Phenduka). Comparable as a KZN-rooted contemporary dance organisation producing new choreography and developing professional dancers.
• Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre: KwaZulu-Natal-based contemporary dance company that has shared dancers with FLATFOOT (FLATFOOT's Company Manager Clare Craighead was formerly Stage Manager at Siwela Sonke). Comparable as a contemporary dance organisation anchored in KZN with similar scope of community and performance work.
• The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative: Mpumalanga-based South African contemporary dance and physical theatre company producing artistically and socially engaged work. Comparable to FLATFOOT as a regional South African contemporary dance company combining professional performance with community development and international artist residencies.

Broad incumbents

• Cape Dance Company: Larger Western Cape-based professional contemporary dance company with a permanent troupe and broader producing scale. Comparable to FLATFOOT as a South African professional contemporary dance company, though operating at a larger scale and without FLATFOOT's integrated dance specialisation.
• Joburg Ballet: Major South African dance institution based in Johannesburg producing a wider portfolio of ballet and contemporary work. Comparable as a South African professional dance company, though broader in scope and more established than FLATFOOT's contemporary-only focus.

Emerging players

• Unmute Dance Company: South African integrated dance company that has collaborated with FLATFOOT on inclusive dance practice. Comparable as a South African integrated dance organisation working with disabled dancers and sharing artistic exchange with FLATFOOT's Downie and Wheelchair programmes.
• SIBIKWA: Benoni-based South African arts centre running the Body Moves Festival, which has hosted FLATFOOT's Wheelchair Dance Programme. Comparable as a South African community-focused dance organisation with overlap in disability dance development and community engagement.
• ACE dance and music: UK-based dance company that has hosted FLATFOOT dancer Mthoko Mkhwanazi on a year-long artistic exchange. Comparable to FLATFOOT as a mid-sized contemporary dance company with strong community and educational programming and international collaboration footprint.
• Compagnie Ex Nihilo: Marseille-based French contemporary dance company that co-created 'Close by... / La rue d'à-côté' with FLATFOOT dancers for JOMBA! 2024. Comparable as a contemporary dance company engaging in international co-productions with FLATFOOT on its African continent partnership slate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@flatfootdanceco
• Facebookfacebook.com/flatfootdancecompany
• Xx.com/FlatfootDanceCo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 FLATFOOT