What Pôle Sud does

Pôle Sud is a French non-profit cultural institution designated as a Centre de Développement Chorégraphique National (CDCN), based at 1 rue de Bourgogne, Strasbourg. Founded in 1990, it operates as a national reference center for contemporary dance, hosting productions, choreographic residencies, and educational programming. Its physical infrastructure comprises a main performance hall (plateau), two studios, a bar, a garden, and the Danse-othèque — a dedicated dance resource library — and it runs an affiliated music school (École de Musique).

The institution serves multiple audience segments: general public attending ticketed performances, amateur dancers enrolled in workshops, university students, professional choreographers in residency, and social-mediator organizations (DASCA, GEM Aspie, Maison des Femmes) engaged for accessibility-oriented programming. Its revenue model is dominated by recurring public subsidies from the French Ministry of Culture, DRAC Grand Est, and the City and Eurométropole of Strasbourg, supplemented by ancillary ticket and workshop income priced between €3 and €10 per unit, with reduced rates for accessibility-eligible attendees.

Pôle Sud maintains a dense international co-production and co-presentation network, partnering with TJP CDN Strasbourg, Le Maillon, Festival Musica, Université de Strasbourg, Fondation d'entreprise Hermès, and Belgian and Italian theaters including Théâtre de Liège and Festival Aperto. Notable recent initiatives include the 3D sensory maquette "Les Mains dans la Neige" co-designed with La Cybergrange for visually impaired audiences, multi-year artist-association companionships with choreographers such as Lara Barsacq (2024–2028), and the SAISON 26-27 programming cycle anchored by the festival "L'Année Commence Avec Elles."

Name

Pôle Sud

Legal name

POLE-SUD CDCN (Centre de Développement Chorégraphique National)

Website

https://pole-sud.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pôle Sud is a French non-profit Centre de Développement Chorégraphique National (CDCN) in Strasbourg, founded in 1990, that produces contemporary dance performances, hosts choreographic residencies, and runs workshops and accessibility programs for the general public, amateur dancers, and professional artists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Dance Companies (711120), Dance Companies (71112), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance) (EDAAAGAD)

Keywords

• Contemporary dance performances
• Choreographic development center
• Artist residencies studios
• Dance education programs
• Performing arts venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Strasbourg

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pôle Sud is the Centre de Développement Chorégraphique National (CDCN) of Strasbourg, France, a publicly funded performing arts venue dedicated to contemporary dance. It produces and hosts a seasonal program of contemporary dance performances, supports choreographic creation through artist residencies, studio rentals, and co-productions, and runs an extensive education and outreach program spanning preschool, primary, secondary, higher education, social-sector audiences, and a dedicated dance resource library.

Product overview

Pôle Sud is a National Choreographic Development Center (CDCN) located in Strasbourg, France. It operates as a performing arts venue offering seasonal programming of contemporary dance performances, workshops, artist residencies, and an affiliated music school. The center does not offer a unified software product or platform, but rather provides live cultural events and educational services through its physical venue and related programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Contemporary dance season programming Annual programming of contemporary dance performances presented at Pôle Sud's main hall (Grande Salle, 420 seats) and studios, featuring French and international choreographers and dance companies across multiple shows and themes; open to the general public, subscription holders (Pass 3 spectacles), and group reservations.
• École au spectacle (scolaire programming) Educational programming of contemporary dance performances for school groups from maternelle through lycée and higher education (HEAR, université). Shows are adapted to age groups and integrated with pedagogical objectives (sensibilisation aux arts).
• Artist residencies and studio rentals Paid studio residencies at Pôle Sud's four creation studios for choreographers and dance companies during the writing, development, and production phases of new works, accompanied by co-production support and artist fees (cachets). Includes one sortie de résidence per project.
• Ateliers chorégraphiques et workshops Practice-based workshops (ateliers) and dance classes for participants of various levels, including dedicated youth ('ateliers pour les enfants') and adult sessions, scheduled in coordination with the season's performances and residences.
• Danse-othèque — dance resource library On-site dance resource library offering reference, media, and research materials related to contemporary dance and choreographic practice, accessible to artists, students, and researchers.
• Co-productions and touring support Co-production of new dance works with French and international companies (e.g., Rachid Boukali, Antoine Arbeit, Alexandre Roccoli, Le Myrmidon, projects developed in cooperation with Atelier de Paris/CDCN, Ballet national de Marseille, La Manufacture CDCN, and Swiss/Belgian partners), including touring support.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TJP CDN StrasbourgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of performances including Radhouane El Meddeb's Amour-S. Regular partnership for joint programming and audience development in the Strasbourg cultural ecosystem.
• Le MailloncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter with Le Maillon theater, particularly for performances like Kassia Undead by Lara Barsacq. Joint programming partner in the Strasbourg region.
• Festival MusicaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for presenting Kassia Undead by Lara Barsacq, linking choreographic work with the contemporary music festival.
• Cinemas StarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for film projections complementary to live performances, such as the screening of Leyla Bouzid's film in connection with Amour-S.
• Université de StrasbourgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership including Fanny de Chaillé's artistic residence 'petite histoire, grande histoire' at the university, with support from Fondation d'entreprise Hermès. Also hosts conferences and educational events.
• Orchestre Philharmonique de StrasbourgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoan of vibrating vests (gilets vibrants) for accessible performances, allowing deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences to experience music through vibration.
• Espace DjangominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for provision of vibrating vests during accessible performances, supporting inclusive audience experiences.
• DASCA (Dispositif d'Accompagnement et de Soin pour l'Autisme)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on sensory kits and accessibility programs for audiences with cognitive disabilities and autism.
• GEM Aspie et cieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing sensory kits and accessibility resources for neurodiverse audiences.
• LAPES de la MeinauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating organization in developing sensory kits and accessibility programs for audiences.
• La CybergrangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital third-place organization at Neuhof that co-designed the 3D sensory maquette of Pole-Sud's interior spaces.
• Charleroi danse – Centre Chorégraphique de la Fédération Wallonie-BruxellescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Lara Barsacq's Kassia Undead. Belgian choreographic center with international co-production partnerships.
• Théâtre de LiègecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Kassia Undead and host of Lara Barsacq in artistic companionship (compagnonnage) 2024-2028. Belgian theater with strong dance programming.
• Les BrigittinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Kassia Undead. Brussels-based venue for contemporary dance.
• December Dance (Concertgebouw Brugge & CC Brugge)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Kassia Undead. Belgian contemporary dance festival and venue.
• Cité musicale-MetzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer and host of Lara Barsacq in residence 2024-2026. Partner in choreographic development across the Grand Est region.
• La Briqueterie CDCNminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Kassia Undead. Another CDCN (Centre de Développement Chorégraphique National) in the French network.
• Grand Studio (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative residency partner for Kassia Undead and supported by Grand Studio as an artistic development organization.
• DC&J Création (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Kassia Undead. Belgian production company.
• CSC – Centro per la scena contemporanea (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative residency partner for Kassia Undead. Italian center for contemporary scene.
• Fédération Wallonie-BruxellesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial support and funding body for Kassia Undead, providing institutional backing for the Belgian artistic collaboration.
• Wallonie-Bruxelles InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational support for Kassia Undead, supporting the international dimension of the Belgian-French artistic collaboration.
• Fondation d'entreprise HermèsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation providing support for Fanny de Chaillé's artistic residence at Université de Strasbourg.
• Eurométropole de StrasbourgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government authority providing on-demand transportation services (mobistras) for people with reduced mobility, supporting accessibility.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TJP CDN Strasbourg: Strasbourg-based Centre Dramatique National with strong dance-adjacent programming; co-presents performances with Pôle Sud (e.g., Radhouane El Meddeb's Amour-S). Operates in the same city and shares audience pool.
• Charleroi danse: Belgium's Centre Chorégraphique de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, one of the major Belgian choreographic presenting and co-producing centers. Listed co-producer of Kassia Undead with Pôle Sud; analogous role in the Belgian national network.
• La Briqueterie CDCN Val-de-Marne: Already listed above; included to note La Briqueterie explicitly as the most directly comparable national-network CDCN peer serving as a sibling institution in the French CDCN system.
• Concertgebouw Brugge / December Dance: Belgian contemporary dance festival and venue (December Dance at Concertgebouw Brugge & CC Brugge). Co-producer of Kassia Undead; comparable in scale and mission as a curated dance presenting house.
• Le Maillon (Théâtre de Strasbourg): Strasbourg theater with contemporary performance and European co-production focus, co-presenting works like Kassia Undead with Pôle Sud. Direct programming partner and geographic peer in the Strasbourg cultural ecosystem.
• La Briqueterie CDCN: Another French Centre de Développement Chorégraphique National, part of the same national CDCN network as Pôle Sud. Operates residencies, co-productions, and contemporary dance programming. Directly comparable as a peer CDCN with co-production credits on the same Kassia Undead work.
• Théâtre de Liège: Belgian theater hosting Lara Barsacq's artistic companionship 2024-2028 and co-producing Kassia Undead. Strong contemporary dance and performance focus comparable to Pôle Sud's programming.
• Les Brigittines: Brussels venue dedicated to contemporary dance and performance. Co-producer of Kassia Undead with Pôle Sud; comparable as a curated contemporary dance presenting house.
• Maison de la Danse de Lyon: A major French contemporary dance presenting venue with residency, co-production, and educational programming similar to Pôle Sud. Comparable as a regional CDCN-style presenting house focused on contemporary dance production and dissemination.

Broad incumbents

• Centre National de la Danse (CND): The national resource center for dance in France, based in Paris. Functions as a broader incumbent in the same choreographic ecosystem, providing documentation, training, and programming at national scale. Comparable in mission (dance development) but broader in scope than a single regional CDCN.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/polesud.strasbourg
• Instagraminstagram.com/polesudstrasbourg
• Xx.com/cdcnpolesud
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/p-le-sud-strasbourg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pôle Sud