Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers

What Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers does

Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers (WCD) is a Canadian non-profit performing-arts organization and registered charity founded in 1964 by Rachel Browne, recognized as Canada's longest-running contemporary dance company. Headquartered at 204-211 Bannatyne Avenue in Winnipeg's Exchange District, WCD operates the 125-seat Rachel Browne Theatre, which serves as both its performance home since 2002 and a rental venue for the broader dance, theatre, music, and independent-artist community.

WCD's core programmatic offerings include an annual subscription series of three-to-four mainstage contemporary dance productions, the Emerging Artist Initiative (a submission-based showcase), a Guest Artist in Residence program providing studio space and artist fees, and professional-level dance classes (both in-person and the online 'Class at Home' format). Its repertoire is anchored by Artistic Director Jolene Bailie's creations (14 full-length works and 30+ shorter works since her 2019 appointment), supplemented by curated guest artists such as Ralph Escamillan and Freya Olafson. Operations are supported by a small core team of three professionals, plus seasonal staff and independent contractors, and an active volunteer program.

WCD's revenue model is a multi-stream non-profit mix: earned revenue from ticket sales (Eventbrite and box office, ~$22–$30 per ticket) and theatre rentals; charitable donations including individual, corporate, and legacy giving (notably the Rachel Browne Legacy Campaign targeting $60,000); merchandise sales (a published book and a designer necklace); and government grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council, and Winnipeg Foundation. The organization is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors chaired by Sheena Stemler and partners with the School of Contemporary Dancers on artist development, NAfro Dance Productions on festival cross-pollination, and Funding Change on 50/50 raffle fundraising.

Name

Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers

Legal name

Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers

Website

https://winnipegscontemporarydancers.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers is Canada's longest-running contemporary dance company, producing an annual subscription series, an Emerging Artist Initiative, and professional classes, while operating the 125-seat Rachel Browne Theatre as a rental venue for the Winnipeg arts community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

Dance Companies (711120), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance) (EDAAAGAD), Dance Theatre (Narrative/Experimental) (MPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Contemporary dance performance
• Performing arts venue rental
• Professional dance training
• Subscription dance series
• Arts education programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual show tickets and subscription series passes sold through Eventbrite and box office (phone and in-person). Subscription series provides recurring customer base with multiple shows per season.
2. Theatre Rentals: The Rachel Browne Theatre (125-seat venue) is rented to dance, theatre, music and independent artists for creation, research, learning and performance. Manages rental agreements and relationships with renters.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations including the Rachel Browne Legacy Campaign targeting $60,000 by end of 2025-2026 season. 50/50 raffle partnerships with Funding Change. Individual and corporate donations.
4. Annual Reports: Annual Reports available for 2020-2025 documenting organizational activities and finances
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of merchandise including books (Rachel Browne: Dancing Toward the Light by Carol Anderson) and jewelry (Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers Necklace by Outside the Box/Hilary Druxman Design)
6. Seat Naming Program: Donor program allowing individuals to name seats in the Rachel Browne Theatre for $500 per seat or $2,000 for block of 5 seats, with plaque engraved for 10 years. Generates charitable tax receipts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers creates, produces, and presents contemporary dance performances through an annual three-show subscription series at its operated Rachel Browne Theatre (125-seat venue). The organization supports artists via an Emerging Artist Initiative and Guest Artist in Residence program, offers professional-level dance classes, and rents its theatre space to dance, theatre, music and independent artists.

Product overview

Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers is Canada’s longest-running contemporary dance company, offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services. The core offering consists of an annual three-show subscription series featuring original contemporary dance works, complemented by the Emerging Artist Initiative which provides performance opportunities for emerging artists. The Guest Artist in Residence program supports choreographers with studio space and artist fees, while professional dance classes (both in-person and the online 'Class at Home' program) serve the professional dance community. WCD operates the 125-seat Rachel Browne Theatre as a rental venue for the broader arts community. Merchandise includes the book 'Rachel Browne: Dancing Toward the Light' and designer necklaces, with proceeds supporting the organization's operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Subscription Series An annual three-show subscription series featuring contemporary dance performances by company dancers and guest artists at the Rachel Browne Theatre. Subscription holders receive voting rights at Annual General Meetings.
• Emerging Artist Initiative

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Funding ChangeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for 50/50 raffle fundraising. WCD teams up with Funding Change for a Manitoba tradition raffle where winner receives half and WCD receives half to support contemporary dance creation, production, teaching, and presentation.
• School of Contemporary Dancers (SCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCD's Emerging Artist Initiative is in partnership with the School of Contemporary Dancers. SCD provides training and bridging funds for dancers. WCD provides performance and professional development opportunities. Graduate of SCD's Senior Professional Program receive bridging funds to participate with WCD.
• NAfro Dance ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCD dancers also perform with NAfro Dance Productions. Some WCD performances appear at NAfro's Moving Inspirations Festival. Cross-pollination of dance artists between organizations.
• FakeKnotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFakeKnot is Ralph Escamillan's dance company. WCD presents expanded versions of FakeKnot works including Croquis. Collaborative relationship bringing Escamillan's work to Winnipeg audiences.
• Access Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOpening Night Sponsor for signals to segue performance in May 2024. Corporate sponsorship supporting WCD's performance programming.
• Access Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOpening Night Sponsor for signals to segue. Financial and promotional support for opening night of the production.
• Video Pool Media Arts CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreya Olafson's video work is distributed by Video Pool Media Arts Centre. WCD collaborates with Olafson on performances.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Le Groupe Dance Lab: Ottawa-based contemporary dance company producing innovative new works and fostering choreographic development. Comparable to WCD as a Canadian not-for-profit contemporary dance organization with a subscription/seasonal programming model and similar scale.
• Ballet BC: Vancouver-based contemporary dance company performing at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Like WCD, it is a Canadian not-for-profit dance company that creates and presents contemporary choreography, depends on Canada Council funding, and operates a subscription series.
• Citadel + Compagnie: Toronto-based contemporary dance company presenting mainstage works, operating a dedicated dance venue, and developing emerging choreographers. Comparable in scale, mission, and contemporary dance focus to WCD, with a similar nonprofit/charity model and touring cadence.
• Compagnie Marie Chouinard: Montreal-based contemporary dance company founded by choreographer Marie Chouinard, producing original works and touring internationally. Comparable to WCD as a Canadian contemporary dance company that creates and presents original choreography, with a similar artist-driven organizational model.
• Dancers of Damelahamid: Indigenous-owned and operated dance company based in British Columbia producing contemporary Indigenous dance works. Comparable to WCD as a small Canadian contemporary dance company with a focus on presenting culturally distinctive works and developing Indigenous/emerging choreographers.

Others

• School of Contemporary Dancers: Winnipeg-based professional dance training institution and WCD's strategic partner. Directly comparable as both share the same building ecosystem and feeder pipeline; SCD produces trained dancers who bridge into WCD's professional programming.
• Towne Park Community Centre: Winnipeg-based rental venue and community space. Comparable tangentially as another small Winnipeg venue that hosts cultural programming and competes with Rachel Browne Theatre for event rental bookings.

Emerging players

• NAfro Dance Productions: Winnipeg-based contemporary dance company that runs the Moving Inspirations Festival and shares artists with WCD. Comparable as a regional contemporary dance peer with cross-pollination of performers, though smaller scale and festival-focused.

Regional players

• Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Canada's oldest ballet company and another Winnipeg-based dance institution. While it focuses on classical ballet rather than contemporary dance, it shares WCD's Prairie-region market, donor base, and dependence on the same municipal/provincial arts funding pools, making it a relevant regional comparable for funding competition and audience overlap.
• Alberta Ballet: Calgary-based dance company with a significant contemporary repertoire alongside classical works. Comparable to WCD as a Western Canadian non-profit dance company competing for shared provincial/federal arts funding and Prairie-region audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/WpgContemps
• YouTubevimeo.com/wpgcontemps
• Facebookfacebook.com/WpgContemps
• Instagraminstagram.com/wpgcontemps

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers