The Dancing Horses Theatre
The Dancing Horses Theatre is a privately held, family-owned entertainment venue in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, operating since ~2004 that presents Vegas-style Arabian horse performances in a 300-seat theater alongside a seasonal 40-acre petting zoo, group dinner packages, field trips, and holiday shows for families, tourists, schools, and group event organizers in the regional Midwest market.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersDelavan, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Dancing Horses Theatre does
The Dancing Horses Theatre is a privately held, family-owned live entertainment venue operating since approximately 2004 on a 40-acre property in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (with Delavan listed as a related city). Founded by Dana Montana and now co-produced with her daughters Danette and Danelle, the company presents a Vegas-style equestrian show featuring Arabian horses alongside professional trainers and performers, staged in a state-of-the-art 300-seat, climate-controlled, wheelchair-accessible theater. The roster of performers includes individuals with prior experience at All The Kings Horses, Arabian Nights, Ringling Bros., Universal Orlando, and Walt Disney World.
The company monetizes through a portfolio of direct-to-consumer products. Primary revenue comes from horse show tickets priced at $35 (children 3-12) and $50 (adult), with discounted Saturday-evening showings at $30/$40 and free admission for children under two. Complementary products include the seasonal Animal Gardens Petting Zoo ($20 admission, May-October) featuring 16+ exotic species and over 40 hay-eating animals with train rides and King Kong playgrounds, a $50 Ultimate Experience bundle, backstage tours, gift certificates, and structured group/dinner packages ($60-$85 per person for groups of 20-40+). A Field Trip program at $20 per student targets schools, camps, and daycares within a 50-mile radius during the May-October window. The Holiday Show tradition runs annually for over 20 years. Headcount is reported in the 11-50 range, including professional trainers, performers, interns, veterinary professionals, and farriers.
Distribution is regional and direct: the company sells primarily through its own website (thedancinghorses.com), on-site box office, group sales team, and field trip inquiries, with supplemental visibility via Trip Advisor (consistent Travelers' Choice Award recipient), Instagram, Facebook, and organic search. The technology stack is non-proprietary (standard e-commerce and social channels); there is no app, no AI/ML capability, and no API surface. The company is not venture-backed, has no disclosed parent company, has completed no funding rounds or M&A, and operates as a single-site regional attraction in the Southeast Wisconsin/Midwest US tourism corridor.
The Dancing Horses Theatre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Dancing Horses Theatre
- Legal name
- The Dancing Horses Theatre
- Website
- https://thedancinghorses.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Dancing Horses Theatre is a privately held, family-owned entertainment venue in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, operating since ~2004 that presents Vegas-style Arabian horse performances in a 300-seat theater alongside a seasonal 40-acre petting zoo, group dinner packages, field trips, and holiday shows for families, tourists, schools, and group event organizers in the regional Midwest market.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Dancing Horses Theatre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Equestrian Entertainment
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dance Performances (THAJAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sport/Show Horse Training & Performance Programs (AFAEAGAF), Equestrian & Rodeo Facilities (MPAKAEAM)
Keywords
Where The Dancing Horses Theatre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Delavan
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Dancing Horses Theatre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Horse Show Tickets: Primary revenue from ticket sales for Vegas-style horse performances. Adult tickets priced at $50, children's tickets at $35, with discounted Saturday evening shows at $40/$30. Season runs year-round with holiday specials.
- Animal Gardens Petting Zoo: Revenue from petting zoo admissions at $20 per person (ages 3+), open May through October. Includes animal encounters, train rides, and pony rides for children.
- Gift Certificates: Sale of gift certificates for show experiences, allowing customers to purchase flexible admission tickets as gifts.
- Group Sales and Packages: Group ticket sales at $45 per person (20+), with dinner packages ranging from $60-$85 per person depending on menu selection. Field trip packages at $20 per student.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Regular Horse Show - Adults |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Regular Horse Show - Children |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Saturday Night 7pm Show |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Holiday Show - General Admission |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Petting Zoo Admission |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ultimate Experience Package |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Group Sales (20+) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Package A - Dinner + Show (40+) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Package B - Dinner + Show (40+) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Package C - Box Lunch + Show (20+) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Field Trip Package |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Father's Day Special |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Veterans Appreciation Day |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Dancing Horses Theatre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Dancing Horses Theatre operates a 300-seat theater presenting Vegas-style equestrian performances featuring Arabian horses alongside professional trainers and performers, blending music, dancing, gymnastics, and dressage. It complements the show with the Animal Gardens Petting Zoo on a 40-acre property offering animal encounters, pony rides, and train rides. The venue also sells group dinner packages, field trip programs, backstage tours, seasonal holiday shows, and gift certificates.
Product overview
The Dancing Horses Theatre is a family entertainment venue offering a unified portfolio of equestrian and animal-based attractions. The core offering is the Dancing Horses Show, a Vegas-style equestrian performance featuring Arabian horses and professional trainers in a 300-seat theater. This is complemented by the Animal Gardens Petting Zoo, a 40-acre outdoor park with exotic animals and interactive experiences. Seasonal offerings include Family Holiday Shows and Christmas performances. Additional revenue streams include group sales dinner packages, field trip programs, backstage tours, and gift certificates. The company operates on an annual basis with seasonal variations in pricing and package offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Animal Gardens Petting Zoo: A 40-acre venue featuring 16 species of exotic animals and over 40 hay-eating animals, offering interactive petting zoo experiences, pony rides, train rides, and King Kong Playgrounds. Located between Delavan and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, open May through October.
Products and services
- Dancing Horses Show The flagship Vegas-style equestrian performance featuring Arabian horses alongside professional trainers, showcasing dancing, dressage, gymnastics, and theatrical acts in a 300-seat climate-controlled theater for families, tourists, and groups.
- Animal Gardens Petting Zoo A 40-acre outdoor animal park featuring 16 species of exotics and over 40 hay-eating animals with interactive petting areas, train rides, pony rides, and King Kong Playgrounds, open seasonally May through October.
- Family Holiday Show A festive holiday-themed equestrian performance celebrating Christmas with all-new music, effects, horse tricks, acrobatics, and seasonal decorations for families and groups.
- Backstage Tour Behind-the-scenes experience allowing guests to discover horse training methods, visit horses backstage, and meet the head trainer, available as part of show ticket or Ultimate Experience Package.
- Group Sales Packages Group dining and entertainment packages for parties of 20+, including Package A ($85 dinner with two entrées), Package B ($70 dinner with one entrée), Package C ($60 box lunch), plus $45 per-person show tickets with backstage passes.
- Field Trip Program Educational field trip program for schools, camps, and daycares within a 50-mile radius, at $20 per student, including train ride, petting zoo, 90-minute horse show, and King Kong playground access, available May through October.
- Gift Certificates Personalized gift certificates available for purchase to give as gifts for the horse show and related venue experiences.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90-minute show duration delivering comprehensive entertainment experience
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Dancing Horses Theatre
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Dancing Horses Theatre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Dancing Horses Theatre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Dancing Horses Theatre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Arabian Nights (historical reference): Former Orlando dinner theater built entirely around Arabian-horse performances; closed in 2013 but historically the closest direct format analog to The Dancing Horses. Useful benchmark for the equestrian dinner-theater model, though no longer operating.
Broad incumbents
- Walt Disney World (Disney Parks): Theme park resort where several Dancing Horses performers previously worked; offers equestrian-adjacent entertainment (e.g., Festival of the Lion King, horse-drawn carriage experiences) and family vacation entertainment. Comparable on theatrical production quality and family-tourist demand; far broader portfolio.
- Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: Historic American circus featuring large-scale variety acts including equestrian performance, acrobatics, and theatrical staging. Comparable on the variety-show-with-horses format; broader portfolio and far larger scale make it a broad incumbent rather than a direct niche peer.
- Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Theme park combining thrill rides with animal exhibits and live entertainment shows. Comparable on family entertainment bundle combining animal attractions, theatrical performances, and ticketed admissions.
- Cirque du Soleil: Global live-entertainment producer of acrobatic/variety shows including equestrian-themed productions (e.g., Cavalia-adjacent formats). Comparable on Vegas-style theatrical variety, premium ticketing, and family tourist customer; broader portfolio at much larger scale.
- SeaWorld Parks: Theme park operator combining animal exhibits, live animal shows, and theatrical performances with bundled ticketing. Comparable on animal-meets-theater programming, family/tourist customer, and bundled experience packaging.
Direct peers
- Medieval Times: Multi-location dinner theater built around choreographed horse performances, tournament-style shows, and prix-fixe group packages. Most directly comparable to The Dancing Horses on format (theater + horses + dinner bundle), pricing model, and family/group target customer.
- Dolly Parton's Stampede: Dinner-theater attraction featuring trick riding, barrel racing, and equestrian spectacle with a pre-set family meal. Comparable on the equestrian-plus-dinner bundle, regional U.S. tourism positioning, and family-tourist target segment.
- Cavalia: Touring large-format equestrian show combining live horses, acrobats, dancers, and theatrical staging under a big-top tent. Comparable on the Vegas-style variety-meets-equestrian concept, premium ticket pricing, and theatrical showmanship.
- Lipizzaner Stallions Show: Touring classical dressage/liberty performance featuring white Lipizzaner stallions performing choreographed routines. Comparable on equestrian live-show format, family audience, and traveling/show-format distribution.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Dancing Horses Theatre social profiles
Digital presenceThe Dancing Horses Theatre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Dancing Horses Theatre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
The Dancing Horses Theatre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Dancing Horses Theatre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Dancing Horses Theatre
What does The Dancing Horses Theatre do?
The Dancing Horses Theatre operates a 300-seat theater presenting Vegas-style equestrian performances featuring Arabian horses alongside professional trainers and performers, blending music, dancing, gymnastics, and dressage. It complements the show with the Animal Gardens Petting Zoo on a 40-acre property offering animal encounters, pony rides, and train rides. The venue also sells group dinner packages, field trip programs, backstage tours, seasonal holiday shows, and gift certificates.
Is The Dancing Horses Theatre a public or private company?
The Dancing Horses Theatre is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was The Dancing Horses Theatre founded?
The Dancing Horses Theatre was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Dancing Horses Theatre based?
The Dancing Horses Theatre is headquartered in Delavan, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Dancing Horses Theatre make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Horse Show Tickets are the primary driver. The others are animal Gardens Petting Zoo, gift Certificates and group Sales and Packages.
Who are The Dancing Horses Theatre's main competitors?
Arabian Nights (historical reference) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Walt Disney World (Disney Parks), Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Cirque du Soleil and SeaWorld Parks. Direct peers are Medieval Times, Dolly Parton's Stampede, Cavalia and Lipizzaner Stallions Show.
Does The Dancing Horses Theatre have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Dancing Horses Theatre.
What industry is The Dancing Horses Theatre in?
The Dancing Horses Theatre's product category is Live Equestrian Entertainment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAFAD, Dance Performances, with a secondary code of AFAEAGAF, Sport/Show Horse Training & Performance Programs. Its NAICS code is 711110 and its SIC code is 7900.