Carolina Dance Collaborative

What Carolina Dance Collaborative does

Dance Collaborative (DBA Carolina Dance Collaborative) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in spring 2015 by Kelsey Crum and Alyson Dixon that delivers mobile, inclusive dance education across the North Carolina Triangle and South Carolina Upstate regions. Rather than operating a fixed studio, the organization brings instruction directly to YMCA branches, schools, community centers, and parks & recreation facilities, serving children, adults, seniors, and individuals with disabilities through preschool creative movement, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, modern, cultural dance, tap, adaptive dance, summer camps, and workshops/birthday parties. Since inception it has reached over 15,000 participants. The core technology is a mobile program delivery model with adaptive programming capabilities, supported by the Studio Pro digital registration platform and a curriculum framework integrating dance elements, National Core Arts Standards, and Bloom's Taxonomy.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix: quarterly program tuition at YMCA branches ($115-$165 per quarter, plus a $30 annual registration fee), summer camp fees ($145-$160), an M4 monthly membership at $15/month, individual donations (tiered from $25 one-time to $195/month recurring pledges), corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants from the Barbara Stone Foundation, Bank of America, Kroc Center Greenville, South Carolina Arts Commission, MAC Charitable Foundation, and Trademarked Cow. Scholarships and subsidized rates funded through grants ensure access for underserved families. The go-to-market combines community-led partnerships, event-driven seasonal acquisition (Back to Dance kick-offs), and direct-to-consumer online registration. Customer segments span children/youth (ages 2-18, primary), individuals with disabilities, partner schools and community centers, and YMCA/Parks & Rec departments. Operations are led by Executive Director Stephanie Cureton with a small team of approximately 10 staff across both regions, governed by a Board of Directors and operating without external institutional investment or equity backing.

Name

Carolina Dance Collaborative

Legal name

Dance Collaborative

Website

https://carolinadancecollaborative.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dance Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) non-profit mobile dance education organization that delivers inclusive dance instruction across the North Carolina Triangle and South Carolina Upstate through YMCA, school, and community center partnerships, serving over 15,000 children, adults, and seniors since 2015.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dance Education Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Dance Companies (71112)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI), Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance) (EDAAAGAD), Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI)

Keywords

• Dance education programs
• Adaptive dance classes
• Mobile dance instruction
• Community dance outreach
• Youth dance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Tuition and Class Fees: Quarterly class registration fees and tuition for dance classes at YMCA branches, community centers, and schools. Registration fees are charged annually per child, with tuition varying by class length and quarter.
2. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual supporters, with tiered giving levels from $25 one-time to monthly pledges up to $195.
3. M4 Monthly Membership Program: $15/month family membership program (Members Making Movement Matter) offering exclusive benefits to recurring supporters.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship partnerships where businesses support the organization in exchange for recognition and association with the mission.
5. Foundation Grants: Grant funding from foundations including Barbara Stone Foundation, Bank of America, Kroc Center, and others to support operations and specific programs like adaptive dance.
6. Scholarship and Subsidy Programs: Individual scholarships and subsidized programs funded by grants and donations, enabling underserved families to participate regardless of financial circumstances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Carolina Dance Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that delivers mobile, inclusive dance education programs to communities across North Carolina and South Carolina. The organization partners with YMCAs, schools, parks and recreation departments, and community centers to provide structured dance classes (Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Hip-Hop, Creative Movement, Cultural Dance, Tap), adaptive programming for individuals with disabilities, summer camps, workshops, and birthday party sessions. Programs are funded through tuition, donations, grants, corporate sponsorships, and the M4 monthly membership program.

Product overview

Dance Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dance education organization that provides a portfolio of community-based programs rather than a unified software product. The organization offers dance instruction through YMCA partnerships, school and community center programs, adaptive/inclusive dance classes, summer camps, workshops and birthday parties, and an M4 monthly membership program. Programs are delivered in North Carolina Triangle and South Carolina Upstate regions using a mobile model that brings dance education directly to communities. The portfolio includes structured dance classes (Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Hip-Hop, Creative Movement, Cultural Dance, Tap), adaptive programming for individuals with disabilities, and fundraising/donation options including one-time gifts, monthly pledges, and sponsorship partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• YMCA Dance Programs Dance education classes offered in partnership with local YMCAs, including Preschool Creative Movement, Ballet, Jazz, and Hip-Hop classes for ages 2-12. Tuition is billed quarterly with an annual registration fee.
• Schools & Community Programs Afterschool, community center, and preschool dance instruction provided at local schools and community centers with high-quality, affordable instruction in a nurturing environment.
• Adaptive Dance Programs Inclusive dance experiences for individuals with disabilities, including CONNECT Classes for elementary and teen/adult participants, High School Residencies for special education students, and community performances such as the Adaptive Christmas Community Performance.
• Workshops & Birthday Parties Customizable 30-minute dance sessions themed to a child's birthday party preferences, conducted at locations such as backyards, living rooms, or parks. Also includes festival and community workshop sessions.
• M4 Program (Members Making Movement Matter) Monthly family membership program at $15/month where families join a team supporting Dance Collaborative and receive member benefits.
• Summer Dance Camps Dance camps for various age groups including Tiny Fairy Dance Camp, Trolls World Tour Dance Camp, Once Upon a Dance Camp, Pop Star Dance Party, Zombies vs Descendants: Worlds Collide Dance Camp, and Defying Gravity Dance Camp. Priced $145-$160 depending on camp.
• Donation and Sponsorship Programs One-time donations ($25-$500 tiers), monthly pledges (Warm-Up $65, Center-Stage $130, The Encore $195), and corporate sponsorship opportunities to support dance accessibility.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 15,000 children, adults, and seniors enriched since 2015

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• YMCA (Multiple Branches)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-term partnership with local YMCA branches in NC Triangle and SC Upstate to deliver preschool creative movement, ballet, and jazz/hip-hop classes. Teaching artists travel to YMCA facilities to serve ages 2-12.
• Thales AcademycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAfterschool dance programming at multiple Thales Academy locations (Elementary schools in Apex, Cary, and Raleigh) providing ballet, jazz, and hip-hop instruction.
• Heritage Leadership AcademyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAfterschool dance programming partnership at elementary school in Apex, NC.
• The Trilogy SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool-based dance programming partnership.
• Widewaters Learning CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAfterschool programming partner.
• Northwest Cary YMCA Homeschool HubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHomeschool community dance programming partner.
• Parks & Recreation DepartmentscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with local parks & recreation departments (Garner, Raleigh in NC; Easley in SC) to offer community dance classes at recreation centers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Joy of Motion Dance Center: Joy of Motion is a non-profit dance education organization offering multi-genre instruction and community programs, comparable in mission and product breadth to Dance Collaborative's class portfolio.
• National Dance Institute (NDI): NDI is a non-profit dance education organization that brings dance instruction directly into schools, closely matching Dance Collaborative's mobile, community-based, inclusive dance education model and non-profit mission.
• Peridance Capezio Center: Peridance operates a multi-genre dance education center offering classes for children, teens, and adults, comparable to Dance Collaborative's portfolio of Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Hip-Hop, and other genre classes.

Others

• Dance/USA: Dance/USA is the national service organization for the professional dance field, providing advocacy, research, and resources to dance companies and educators — relevant as a sector peer and ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA): NEA is the largest federal arts funder in the US and supports community-based dance education and access initiatives — relevant as a funding ecosystem counterpart to Dance Collaborative's grant-dependent model rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Mark Morris Dance Group: Mark Morris Dance Group operates a dance company alongside extensive community education and adaptive dance programs, overlapping with Dance Collaborative's instruction and adaptive offering focus but at a larger scale.
• Young Audiences Arts for Learning: Young Audiences is a national non-profit that brings artists (including dance) into schools and community settings. Its mobile arts-in-education delivery model and non-profit funding structure closely parallel Dance Collaborative's approach, though across broader art forms.
• Boston Ballet Education & Community Outreach: Boston Ballet's Education & Community Outreach division delivers dance instruction and adaptive programming across schools and community sites, overlapping with Dance Collaborative's mobile delivery and adaptive dance offerings.
• Joffrey Ballet + Joffrey Academy of Dance: The Joffrey Academy offers multi-genre community dance instruction and outreach programming comparable to Dance Collaborative's inclusive dance education portfolio, though embedded within a larger professional company structure.
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Ailey): Ailey operates a globally renowned dance company with significant community education, school partnership, and adaptive/recreational dance programming that overlaps with Dance Collaborative's inclusive, community-based dance education model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dancecollaborg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carolina-dance-collaborative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Carolina Dance Collaborative