Danceplace Digital Inc.

What Danceplace Digital Inc. does

Danceplace Digital Inc. is a Toronto-headquartered vertical SaaS platform and marketplace purpose-built for the global dance industry. Founded in 2010 by Darius Zi, the platform combines an event-and-school marketplace (8,521 events, 3,381 schools, 455 socials, 321 classes across 96 countries, 66 dance genres, and 11 currencies) with operational software for dance-event organizers, schools, and competition coordinators. Core products include dance event registration and ticketing with role-balance (Leader/Follower) controllers, dance event management, dance school management, dance social management, and dance competition scoring — the last of which integrates with sanctioned governing bodies (Brazilian Zouk Dance Council since 2014, Lambada World Dance Council since 2024) to maintain official points registries.

The underlying technology is a cloud-based SaaS platform hosted on Amazon Web Services with SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and PCI-DSS Level 1 certified infrastructure; payments are processed exclusively through Stripe with no raw card data stored by Danceplace. Supporting modules include communication software, program scheduling, staff management, PicFrame photo overlay, Room Share and Ride Share community boards, a mobile app for iOS and Android with on-site Tap-to-Pay POS, an Academy learning platform, and the Competition Coordinator Certificate Program.

Revenue is generated through a freemium-to-paid funnel: a free Promoter tier, a 2% transaction fee on the Organizer tier (capped, with cashback rewards above $50,000 in monthly ticket volume), usage-based Print Scoring ($1.00 CAD) and Digital Scoring ($2.00 CAD) fees per registration slot invoiced Net-30, and an annual Elite subscription unlocking advanced features. Distribution is primarily product-led and community-led through self-serve web and mobile, supplemented by enterprise field sales for large event organizers and governing-body partnerships.

Name

Danceplace Digital Inc.

Legal name

Danceplace Digital Inc.

Website

https://danceplace.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Danceplace Digital Inc. is a Toronto-based vertical SaaS platform and marketplace that provides event registration, ticketing, competition scoring, and school management software exclusively for the global dance industry across 96 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dance Event Management Software

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Ticketing, Registration & Event Technology (Badging, Apps) (BPAFAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Competitions & Showcases (Non-Esports) (MPAGADAH), Dance Performances (THAJAFAD), Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Event Production & Technical Services (AV/Lighting/Staging) (MPAAAGAB)

Keywords

• Dance event management
• Competition scoring software
• Dance marketplace platform
• Event registration software
• Dance school management

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Transaction Fees: Danceplace charges a 2% platform fee on ticket sales and transactions processed through the marketplace. This fee is capped and can be offset by cashback rewards for high-volume sellers.
2. Subscription Plans: Annual subscription plans (Elite tier) providing access to advanced software features including unlimited PicFrame configurations, enhanced communication tools, and staff management capabilities. Subscriptions are billed annually and are non-refundable.
3. Competition Scoring Fees: Fees assessed dynamically based on scoring format deployed during events. Print Scoring Tier at $1.00 CAD per registration slot and Digital Scoring Tier at $2.00 CAD per registration slot. Invoiced post-event with Net-30 payment terms.
4. Freemium Model: Free tier with basic features including marketplace listing, limited PicFrame frames with watermark, basic communication tools, and limited staff contracts. Paid upgrades unlock advanced features and remove limitations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Danceplace Digital Inc. operates a specialized vertical SaaS platform and global marketplace for the dance industry, providing dance event registration, event management, school management, social management, and competition scoring software to event organizers, schools, and dance councils. The platform combines ticketing, role-balance management, digital and print competition scoring, staff logistics, and a points registry system integrated with sanctioned governing bodies (BZDC, LWDC, CSDC, WCS), supported by mobile apps on iOS and Android.

Product overview

Danceplace is a specialized vertical SaaS platform and marketplace for the dance industry, operating as a multi-product ecosystem with core event management software plus modular add-on tools. The platform comprises Dance Event Registration Software (ticketing and class registration), Dance Event Management Software (scheduling and logistics), Dance School Management Software, Dance Social Management Software, and Dance Competition Scoring Software as core products. Supporting modules include Dance Event Communication Software, Program Scheduling, Staff Management, PicFrame photo overlay tool, Room Share Board, Ride Share Board, and the Tap to Pay App. The Dance Business Marketplace provides a global directory for dance businesses, events, schools, and artists. The Danceplace Academy delivers educational content and certification programs including the Competition Coordinator Certificate. Points Registry Systems integrate with dance councils (BZDC, LWDC, CSDC, WCS) for competition ranking tracking. The platform also hosts The Dancing Grapevine blog community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Danceplace: The primary platform brand for dance events, schools, and management software.
• The Dancing Grapevine
• Danceplace Academy
• Danceplace Competition Coordinator Certificate Program

Products and services

• Dance Event Registration Software Automated ticketing platform enabling dance event organizers to sell passes, automate ticket batches, issue discount codes, manage role balances (Leader/Follower), and handle attendee registrations. Designed for event organizers, promoters, and congress hosts.
• Dance Event Management Software Comprehensive event coordination platform for scheduling, staff hiring, logistics management, and operational workflow automation for dance events.
• Dance School Management Software Software solution for managing dance schools, including class scheduling, instructor coordination, and student registration.
• Dance Social Management Software Platform for managing dance socials, venue coordination, and social dance event administration.
• Dance Competition Scoring Software Digital and print competition scoring system with relative placement calculations, judge panel management, preliminary round callback sheets, and final round ranking data. Integrates with dance councils for points registry. Used by event organizers and competition coordinators.
• Dance Business Marketplace Global directory and marketplace connecting dance businesses (events, schools, instructors, venues, artists, merchants) with consumers. Offers free basic listings with enhanced visibility on paid plans.
• Points Registry System Specialized points tracking for dance councils including BZDC (Brazilian Zouk Dance Council), LWDC (Lambada World Dance Council), CSDC (Country Swing Dance Council), and WCS (West Coast Swing). Automatically assigns unique competitor IDs and tracks competition history.
• Danceplace Mobile App Mobile application for event browsing, digital ticket scanning, and on-site Point-of-Sale transactions. Available on iOS and Android.
• Danceplace Academy Learning and support platform providing Quick Start guides, learning topics, webinars, certification programs, and support resources for dance professionals.
• Competition Coordinator Certificate Program Certification program for managing dance competitions with three levels: Bronze (paper-based JnJ), Silver (digital/paper JnJ), Gold (all competition types). Includes training modules, webinars, and practical evaluation.
• Artist Profile Pages Free listing for dance professionals including instructors, performers, DJs, MCs, judges, musicians, and media specialists. Features include contact info, social links, headshots, video reels, and bio.
• The Dancing Grapevine Blog and community content platform covering dance topics including beginner guides, social dancing, workshops, congresses, performance, and competition content.
• Tap to Pay App Mobile point-of-sale application for on-site credit card processing at dance events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% workflow efficiency increase for large competition divisions
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• BachaZoukflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2025Affiliate partnership with BachaZouk organization to grow the BachaZouk dance community by promoting artists, events, and educational content. Partnership enables BachaZouk to leverage Danceplace's specialized platform for ticketing, logistics, and community tools while bringing visibility to the Danceplace ecosystem.
• Lambada World Dance Council (LWDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2024Strategic partnership making Danceplace the official competition management software and points registry for LWDC sanctioned events. LWDC leverages Danceplace's cutting-edge scoring software, certified competition coordinators, and comprehensive points registry system to propel Lambada Jack and Jill competitions globally. LWDC's director describes Danceplace as bringing unparalleled expertise with over 10 years of Jack and Jill event management experience.
• Brazilian Zouk Dance Council (BZDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner10-year technology partnership managing BZDC Jack and Jill competitions since 2014. Danceplace serves as technology partner, facilitator, and enabler for official BZDC sanctioned competitions. The platform tracks over 19,000 dancers across 523 competition divisions in 22 countries for the council.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processing integration partner handling all ticket sales, registrations, and monetary transactions. Stripe processes credit card payments, prevents fraud, issues refunds, and handles invoicing. Danceplace does not collect, view, or store raw credit card numbers; all payment processing flows directly through Stripe's secure infrastructure.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or IntegrationCloud infrastructure hosting partner. Platform, user databases, and system logs are hosted and maintained securely on AWS cloud servers with SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001, and PCI-DSS Level 1 security certifications.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Brushfire: Event registration and ticketing platform with strong penetration in camps, conferences, and competitions. Closely comparable to Danceplace in target customer (camp/event organizers), pricing model (registration + transaction fees), and feature set including custom registration forms and event pages.
• Ticket Tailor: Self-serve event ticketing platform with low transaction fees and freemium tiers. Directly comparable to Danceplace's Organizer and Promoter plans in functionality (ticketing, registration, basic event management) and target audience (small-to-mid event organizers).
• Jackrabbit Dance: Dance studio management software specifically built for dance schools. Directly comparable to Danceplace's Dance School Management Software in serving class registration, scheduling, and student management — a vertical-specialist peer for the school side of Danceplace's business.
• ClassJumper: Online registration and event management software purpose-built for dance studios, competitions, and conventions. Closely comparable to Danceplace in vertical focus (dance), target customers (studios and competition organizers), and core features (registration, ticketing, event pages).

Broad incumbents

• Eventbrite: Public, general-purpose event ticketing and discovery platform. While not dance-specific, Eventbrite competes directly with Danceplace's marketplace and ticketing layer for dance events and schools globally, and is the most commonly cited alternative for organizers evaluating event platforms.
• Cvent: Large, established event management suite for enterprise and association events. Overlaps with Danceplace on registration, ticketing, and event marketing, but operates at a different scale and vertical (B2B conferences) versus consumer dance competitions.
• Mindbody: Wellness business management platform for fitness studios, spas, and salons. Comparable to Danceplace's dance school management software in serving class-based businesses with scheduling, registration, and payments — though Mindbody focuses on broader wellness, not dance specifically.
• Bizzabo: Enterprise event experience platform serving large conferences and corporate events. Comparable in providing registration, ticketing, communication, and analytics for live events, though Bizzabo focuses on enterprise B2B events rather than dance-specific competitions and congresses.
• Active Network / Active: Enterprise platform for sports and activity registration, camps, and event management. Overlaps with Danceplace on competition/league registration and points tracking, though Active serves traditional sports while Danceplace focuses on dance.

Emerging players

• Hubilo: Events platform offering registration, engagement, and analytics for virtual and in-person events. Comparable feature set to Danceplace's event management and communication modules, though Hubilo targets B2B conferences rather than dance competitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/danceplacedigital

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Danceplace Digital Inc.