DanceAbility

What DanceAbility does

DanceAbility International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 and based in Eugene, Oregon. It develops and disseminates the DanceAbility Method, an inclusive approach to improvisational movement that brings people with and without disabilities together. The organization serves participants through classes, workshops, intensives, and performances; trains dance teachers; and reaches schools through Youth Outreach assemblies such as Wheels of Fortune and Wizard of Odds. Professional performances have been presented at organizations including the Kennedy Center, Jacob's Pillow, and ImPulsTanz Vienna.

The organization's core instructional asset is the DanceAbility Method, codified in a 200-page manual containing 120 exercises and taught through tiered Teacher Certification, Master Teacher, and Master Trainer curricula. It also provides an online Intro to DanceAbility course, a Common Ground documentary DVD, and a video library. The method is delivered directly in Eugene and through certified teachers and affiliated organizations internationally, including the Centro Latinoamericano de DanceAbility in Uruguay, Association of DanceAbility e.V. in Germany, and DanceAbility Association in Austria.

DanceAbility uses a nonprofit, multi-source revenue model. Funding includes grants from arts agencies and foundations, individual donations, and fees for teacher training, intensives, and school assemblies, with assembly pricing of $445-$750 and the DVD priced at $35. Its distribution model combines direct program delivery, teacher certification, school programs, commissioned performances, online instruction, and a network of more than 800 certified teachers across approximately 40-45 countries.

Name

DanceAbility

Legal name

DanceAbility International

Website

https://danceability.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DanceAbility International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that teaches the DanceAbility Method through classes, performances, teacher certification, and school outreach, serving people with and without disabilities through a global network of 800+ certified teachers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inclusive Dance Education Services

NAICS

Dance Companies (71112), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Inclusive dance education
• Dance teacher certification
• Mixed-abilities performance
• Arts education workshops
• Community dance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Eugene

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, DanceAbility relies on donations from individuals and grants from foundations and government arts agencies. The organization is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Cultural Trust, and other grantmakers.
2. Program Fees: Revenue from youth outreach school assembly performances with fees ranging from $445-$575 for local performances, and higher rates for distant locations. Teaching certification courses and intensives generate program revenue.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of merchandise including the 'Common Ground' DVD documentary ($35) and other items through Bonfire store, with proceeds supporting DanceAbility operations.
4. eScrip Shopping Program: DanceAbility receives percentage contributions from partner merchants when supporters use registered grocery club cards and debit/credit cards through the eScrip program.
5. Volunteer Contributions: Volunteer support in PR, marketing, fundraising, and production areas, providing essential organizational capacity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DanceAbility delivers inclusive dance education and performances through the proprietary DanceAbility Method, founded in 1987 by Alito Alessi and Karen Nelson. Its primary commercial offerings are progressive teacher certification programs (Teacher Certification, Master Teacher, Master Trainer), 5-Day Intensives, Open Classes, and online courses, complemented by repertory performances, street performance parades, and a Youth Outreach school assembly program. The methodology brings people with and without disabilities together through improvisation and is codified in a 200-page manual of 120 exercises.

Product overview

DanceAbility is a nonprofit arts organization offering a comprehensive suite of inclusive dance education products and services centered around the DanceAbility Method. The core offering consists of progressive certification programs: the foundational Teacher Certification Course (120 hours), Master Teacher Course (60 hours), and Master Trainer Course (70 hours). These lead to credentials enabling instructors to teach the method globally. Supplementary programs include 5-Day Intensives, Open Classes, and the new Intro to DanceAbility Online Course for remote learning. The organization also produces professional performance pieces (Wheels of Fortune, Wizard of Odds, Joy Lab Research), Street Performance Parades, and the Youth Outreach Program for schools. Educational resources include the Common Ground documentary DVD, Teacher's Guide curriculum, and Video Gallery. The DanceAbility Performance Company serves as the professional touring ensemble. All offerings share the DanceAbility Method as their common foundation, creating a unified ecosystem for inclusive dance education and performance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Joint Forces Dance Company: Parent company of DanceAbility International; also produces inclusive dance work.

Products and services

• DanceAbility Teacher Certification Course A 120-hour (month-long intensive) teacher training program that equips dance teachers, physical therapists, and movement educators to teach the DanceAbility Method to mixed-abilities groups. Includes a 200-page manual with history, philosophy, and 120 exercises.
• Master Teacher Course A 60-hour advanced certification course for graduates of the Teacher Certification Course, preparing them to teach the 30-hour DanceAbility Intensive and lead 5-day intensives worldwide.
• Master Trainer Course A 70-hour advanced program for Master Teachers, qualifying them to teach all DanceAbility courses including the full Teacher Certification Course.
• 5-Day Intensive Workshops Forty-hour workshops taught by certified instructors, covering exercises from the DanceAbility Method with a focus on practical teaching experience and concluding with a public Informance.
• Open Classes Public inclusive dance classes held at Gerlinger Annex, University of Oregon, offering participants opportunities to experience the DanceAbility Method and for certification students to practice teaching.
• Youth Outreach Program School assembly performances including 'Wheels of Fortune' and 'Wizard of Odds' that educate K-12 children about disabilities and inclusive art, accompanied by a Teacher's Guide curriculum. Fees range from $445-$575 for Eugene/Springfield and $500-$750 for more distant locations.
• DanceAbility Performance Pieces and Choreography Commissions Repertory of mixed-abilities dance pieces available for booking, including 'Wheels of Fortune,' 'Wizard of Odds,' 'From There and Back Again,' 'Tango Tangle,' and the evening-long touring production 'Joy Lab Research'.
• Street Performance Parades (Informances) Site-specific improvisational performances staged in public spaces with dancers with and without disabilities, combining social activism with performance art. Previously staged at venues including Duomo Milan, Wan Chai Hong Kong, and Museums Quarter Vienna.
• Intro to DanceAbility Online Course An online introductory course led by founder Alito Alessi, teaching warm-ups and exercises for inclusive movement. Graduates earn certification as DanceAbility Master Trainers.
• Teen Dance Program Weekly workshops for teens and tweens held at Lavender Network in Eugene, Oregon, providing a safe creative environment for inclusive movement exploration.
• Common Ground DVD Documentary DVD ($35) chronicling one of the first DanceAbility workshops held in Eugene, Oregon, documenting the original mixed-abilities dance methodology in practice.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ certified teachers trained worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Essl Foundation (Zero Project)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected DanceAbility as an Innovative Practice of the Zero Project 2019, recognizing the organization's work in creating a world without barriers for people with disabilities.
• Ashoka Foundation (Impact Transfer Program)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through Zero Project Impact Transfer Program, pairing DanceAbility with mentor Doris Rothauer to help develop the program into business models for worldwide application.
• University of OregoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for DanceAbility classes, performances, and teacher training courses. Partnership with School of Architecture on design projects including 'Don't Leave Me' performance.
• Hilyard Community CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEugene community center hosting DanceAbility classes and 5-Day Intensives.
• ImPulsTanz (Vienna International Dance Festival)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor international dance festival where Alito Alessi has taught for over 10 years. Produced DanceAbility Teacher Certification courses in 2006 and 2007.
• Ensemble BewegGrund TrierminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman dance company and collaborator in Trier, Germany.
• VSA TexasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts and disability organization that hosted DanceAbility Teacher Certification Course in Austin through Body Shift project.
• Forklift DanceworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustin-based dance organization that co-hosted DanceAbility Teacher Certification Course through Body Shift project.
• Young AudiencesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArts education organization partnering with DanceAbility for Youth Outreach performances in Portland schools.
• Escuela Franklin Delano RooseveltcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool for children with disabilities founded by Marisa de Leon in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1941. Major center for DanceAbility training in Latin America, funded by Marisa's donation.
• Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious Washington D.C. venue where DanceAbility has performed and presented choreography.
• Jacob's PillowflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternationally renowned dance festival and school in Massachusetts where DanceAbility has performed.
• SESC (Brazil)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian cultural center that commissioned Alito Alessi to create 'Joy Lab Research' performance piece with Brazilian dancers.
• Arts with the Disabled Association (Hong Kong)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHong Kong organization that commissioned DanceAbility to create performance pieces.
• Seattle SplintminorOthersPartner organization indicated by logo on DanceAbility website.
• Orchestra NextminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEugene orchestra collaborating with DanceAbility on 'Next Movement' video project.
• Delgani String QuartetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEugene string quartet that has collaborated with DanceAbility on performances.
• Joint Forces Dance CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of DanceAbility International. Both are nonprofit organizations with Joint Forces Dance Company creating inclusive communities through dance.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AXIS Dance Company: Oakland-based integrated dance company creating performance work featuring dancers with and without disabilities. Directly comparable to DanceAbility as a U.S. mixed-abilities dance company with a touring ensemble, education programs, and teacher training offerings.
• Dancing Wheels Company & School: Cleveland-based physically integrated dance company and school founded in 1980, one of the first U.S. integrated dance companies. Comparable to DanceAbility in combining a professional performance ensemble with educational programming for mixed-abilities dancers.
• Candoco Dance Company: UK-based integrated dance company featuring disabled and non-disabled dancers in professional touring productions and education programs. Directly comparable to DanceAbility in mission, methodology-based training, and international performing activity.
• Full Radius Dance: Atlanta-based integrated dance company bringing dancers with and without disabilities together in performance and education. Directly comparable to DanceAbility as a small-staff dance nonprofit focused on inclusive touring work and community classes.
• Infinity Dance Theater: NYC-based integrated dance company founded by Kitty Lunn, producing performances and classes for dancers with and without disabilities. Comparable to DanceAbility in providing inclusive technique classes alongside a performing ensemble.
• StopGap Dance Company: UK-based integrated dance company of disabled and non-disabled dancers delivering touring work, participation programs, and training. Directly comparable to DanceAbility's model of combining professional performance with educational outreach.
• Heidi Latsky Dance: NYC-based integrated dance company creating performance work that features dancers of all abilities. Comparable to DanceAbility in producing touring inclusive dance productions and offering movement workshops for mixed-abilities participants.

Others

• Joint Forces Dance Company: Parent nonprofit of DanceAbility International, also producing inclusive dance work in Eugene, Oregon. Listed as a sub-brand/parent entity and the only other U.S. nonprofit with the same founder-driven, contact-improvisational inclusive dance lineage.
• National Arts and Disability Center (UCLA): UCLA-based center advancing the inclusion of people with disabilities in the arts through training, resources, and advocacy. Adjacent peer to DanceAbility as a sector-stakeholder serving the same disability-arts ecosystem with educational and professional-development programs.
• VSA (Kennedy Center): Kennedy Center-affiliated program providing arts education and performance opportunities for people with disabilities, including international network affiliates. Adjacent peer to DanceAbility as a high-profile venue/funder in the inclusive arts space and a listed booking partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DanceAbilityIn
• Facebookfacebook.com/DanceAbilityInternational
• Instagraminstagram.com/danceability.international
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/danceability-international

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 DanceAbility