abilene performing arts

What abilene performing arts does

Abilene Performing Arts Company (APAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999 and headquartered in Abilene, Texas, that delivers performing arts education to students ages 3 through adult. Its core programming comprises year-round musical theatre, theatre, and dance classes (ballet, tap, hip hop, lyrical, jazz, Bollywood, Irish dance, Tahitian/Hula, drill team/poms), plus Kindermusik, Improv, and Costume Design, delivered by a team of approximately 20+ instructors and staff and overseen by Executive Director Lanie Bevill Westman (since January 2001) and an 8-member Board of Directors. Annual performance output culminates in the May Show at the Abilene Convention Center (1100 North 6th Street), and a separate summer program division runs multi-week production camps, preschool camps, dance intensives, and Polynesian workshops.

APAC operates a direct-to-consumer enrollment model: families register online at apacstars.com, pay a non-refundable $40 registration fee, and receive monthly tuition invoices September through May. Ancillary revenue includes a $45 May Show fee and $75 per-costume fee, plus summer program tuition ranging from $50 (three-day Polynesian workshop) to $400 (three-week production camp). As a 501(c)(3), APAC supplements tuition with tax-deductible donations from foundations, companies, and individuals — cumulatively exceeding $90,000 since incorporation, with major funders including Dodge Jones Foundation, Dian Graves Owen Foundation, Horn & Wood Properties, Prosperity Bank, Greathouse Foundation, Enterprise Holdings Foundation, and the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council. The 2025 National Nonprofit Day grant from Venture Fund added a new funding channel. Distribution is entirely local (Abilene, Texas region), with no geographic expansion, no digital product, and no app or technology platform beyond the Squarespace website and PayPal donation flow.

Name

abilene performing arts

Legal name

Abilene Performing Arts Company, Inc.

Website

https://apacstars.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Abilene Performing Arts Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 in Abilene, Texas, providing year-round performing arts education — dance, theatre, musical theatre, Kindermusik, Improv, and summer camps — to students ages 3 through adult, funded primarily through tuition and community/foundation donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Performing arts education
• Dance instruction classes
• Musical theatre training
• Youth arts programs
• Summer performing arts camps

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Class Registration and Tuition: Annual class fees for musical theatre, dance, and theatre instruction. Tuition payments due monthly September through May. Additional fees for specific programs including May Show fee ($45) and costume fees ($75 per costume).
2. May Show Fees: Annual year-end production held at Abilene Convention Center featuring all Musical Theatre and Dance classes. Includes May Show fee ($45) and costume fees ($75 per costume) to cover venue rental and production costs.
3. Summer Camps and Programs: Revenue from various summer programs including Three-Week Production Camp ($400), One-Week Preschool Camp ($125), One-Week Performing Arts Camp ($150), Four-Day Dance Intensive ($175), and Three-Day Tahitian/Hula Workshop ($50 per person).
4. Registration Fees: Non-refundable $40 registration fee per student collected during enrollment.
5. Donations and Grants: 501(c)(3) non-profit organization receiving financial support from foundations, companies, and individuals. Has received $90,000+ since incorporation. Major donors include Dodge Jones Foundation, Dian Graves Owen Foundation, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Abilene Performing Arts Company provides year-round performing arts education classes in dance, theatre, musical theatre, and music for students ages 3 through adult, taught by a team of 20+ instructors across ballet, tap, hip hop, lyrical, jazz, Bollywood, Irish dance, Tahitian, Hula, drill team, improv, Kindermusik and costume design. The organization also runs seasonal summer camps and annual performance productions, including the May Show at the Abilene Convention Center, as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the Abilene, Texas community.

Product overview

Abilene Performing Arts Company (APAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth-centered performing arts organization offering a comprehensive suite of educational programs and performance opportunities. The core offerings consist of Musical Theatre, Theatre, and Dance classes (including ballet, tap, hip hop, lyrical, jazz, Bollywood, Irish dance, Tahitian Dance, Hula, Drill Team, and Poms), along with Kindermusik, Costume Design, and Improv instruction. The company operates a seasonal summer program division featuring Three-Week Production Camps, One-Week Preschool Performing Arts Camps, Performing Arts Camps for ages 5-12, Four-Day Dance Intensives, and Three-Day Polynesian Dance Workshops. Performance opportunities include the annual May Show at the Abilene Convention Center, annual musical theatre stage productions, and studio showcases. Classes serve a wide age range from preschool (ages 3-5) through adults, providing a full-circle of opportunities in the performing arts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Musical Theatre Classes Year-round musical theatre classes teaching singing, acting, and dancing to students from preschool through adults at APAC's Abilene studio.
• Dance Classes Year-round dance instruction in ballet, tap, hip hop, lyrical, jazz, Bollywood, Irish dance, Tahitian, Hula, drill team, and poms for ages 3 through adult.
• Theatre Classes Theatre education covering acting, performance techniques, and dramatic arts for various skill levels.
• Kindermusik Music and movement program for young children combining singing, dancing, and instrument play.
• Costume Design Instruction in costume and material design for theatrical productions, taught for 6th-12th grade students.
• Improv Classes Improvisational theatre training for 6th-12th grade students to develop spontaneous performance skills.
• Three-Week Production Camp Summer intensive camp producing a full theatrical stage production over three weeks, including casting, rehearsing, staging, and choreographing. For ages 8-18. $400 per camper; 15% sibling discount.
• One-Week Preschool Performing Arts Camp Week-long camp for ages 3-5 (potty trained) introducing singing, dancing, instruments, and creative play with guest artist appearances. $125 per camper.
• Performing Arts Camp (Ages 5-12) One-week camp exploring dance, musical theatre, and theatre for ages 5-12 with focus on teamwork and basic technique. $150 per camper.
• Four-Day Dance Intensive Intensive dance training for ages 12-18 covering Jazz, POM, Ballet, Tap, Tahitian, Hula, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. $175 per participant.
• Three-Day Polynesian Dance Workshop Workshop teaching Tahitian and Hula dance techniques and Polynesian culture for ladies of all ages; $50 per person or $75 per family pair.
• May Show Annual year-end production held at the Abilene Convention Center featuring all Musical Theatre and Dance classes; includes $45 May Show fee and $75 per costume fee.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Abilene Cultural Affairs CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrent foundation and donor supporter of Abilene Performing Arts Company.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Abilene Community Theatre: Long-standing Abilene-based nonprofit community theater offering productions and education programs in the same local market as APAC, directly competing for the same families and donor pool.
• Stagecoach Performing Arts: International youth performing arts education franchise offering weekly classes in singing, dancing, and acting for ages 4–18 — closely aligned with APAC's age range, curriculum structure, and recurring tuition model.
• Interlochen Center for the Arts: Established nonprofit performing arts education organization offering multi-discipline training (music, dance, theatre, musical theatre) to youth — directly comparable to APAC's curriculum breadth and nonprofit education mission.
• Dallas Children's Theater: Texas-based nonprofit theater company producing professional productions and providing year-round performing arts education classes for youth — highly comparable in mission, geography, and educational focus.
• Junior Players: Dallas-based nonprofit offering performing arts education and programming for youth across Texas, serving a similar demographic with comparable class-based and production-based offerings.

Broad incumbents

• School of Rock: National music education franchise combining individual instruction with ensemble performance-based learning. Comparable as a recurring-tuition youth performing arts education business, though narrower in discipline (music-focused).
• Houston Grand Opera: Major Texas performing arts organization with significant community education, youth programming, and school partnerships. Comparable as a nonprofit performing arts institution in Texas, though operating at a substantially larger scale.

Regional players

• Ballet Austin: Texas nonprofit ballet company offering multi-level dance instruction and community performances. Directly comparable to APAC's dance education portfolio, though based in Austin rather than Abilene.
• National Youth Theatre: UK-based nonprofit producing original work and providing performance training for young people ages 14–25. Highly comparable mission and operating model, though serving a different geography.

Others

• National Dance Education Organization: National nonprofit membership organization supporting dance education across K-12, studio, and community settings. Relevant as an adjacent ecosystem organization that supports dance programs like APAC's.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abilene-performing-arts-co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles28 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about abilene performing arts