NAICS 711120 Quarterly Industry Report
Dance Companies
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 711120Sector: Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
Fair Market Value compiles this NAICS 711120 industry report using data from the U.S. Census Bureau[8], the Bureau of Labor Statistics[7], and the Small Business Administration[9]. Our research team analyzes ticket revenue splits, contributed income ratios, and touring fee structures to build valuation benchmarks for dance company operations. This report on NAICS 711120 is updated quarterly to reflect audience attendance patterns and grant funding availability.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the dance companies industry.
NAICS Sector
71
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Industry Definition & Overview
Dance Companies (NAICS 711120) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in producing live dance presentations including ballet, modern dance, contemporary dance, folk and ethnic dance, and tap performances. These companies employ dancers, choreographers, artistic directors, and technical staff to create and perform works for public audiences in theaters, performing arts centers, and outdoor venues.
Most dance companies operate as nonprofit organizations, relying on a blend of ticket sales, government grants, foundation support, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations. Season subscriptions and single-ticket sales provide earned revenue, while annual fundraising galas and donor campaigns generate contributed income. A small number of commercial ballet companies and touring dance troupes operate on a for-profit basis. Company size ranges from large ballet companies with 50 or more dancers to small modern dance ensembles with fewer than a dozen performers.
The National Endowment for the Arts[5] provides federal grant support and publishes arts participation surveys that track dance attendance. Market Census Bureau[6] measures revenue within the performing arts sector, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics[7] reports employment data for dancers and choreographers. Major ballet and modern dance companies concentrate in New York City, San Francisco, Houston, Miami, and Chicago, while smaller companies exist in most metropolitan areas with performing arts infrastructure.
What's Included in This Industry
- Ballet company production and performance
- Modern and contemporary dance ensemble operations
- Folk, ethnic, and cultural dance troupe presentations
- Tap and jazz dance company performances
- Choreography creation and staging
- Dance touring and guest residency programs
- Season subscription and single ticket sales management
- Dancer training and rehearsal programs within companies
- Dance education outreach and community programming
- Technical production for dance performances
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 71 |
| Subsector | Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | 711 |
| Industry Group | Performing Arts Companies | 7111 |
| NAICS Industry | Dance Companies | 71112 |
| National Industry | Dance Companies | 711120 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 711110 | Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | Theater companies share performing arts center stages, subscription audiences, and nonprofit funding sources with dance companies in most markets |
| 711130 | Musical Groups and Artists | Musical groups provide live orchestral accompaniment for ballet and contemporary dance performances requiring acoustic or composed scores |
| 711310 | Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities | Event promoters with venues book touring dance companies and manage ticketing, marketing, and front-of-house operations for guest performances |
| 711410 | Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures | Talent agents represent choreographers and principal dancers, negotiating appearance fees and contract terms for company engagements |
| 711510 | Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | Independent choreographers create original works on commission that dance companies premiere and add to their repertoire seasons |
| 611610 | Fine Arts Schools | Fine arts schools and dance academies provide the trained dancers that companies audition and recruit for professional ensemble positions |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 14.2% | 119 |
| 2 | New York | 12.5% | 105 |
| 3 | Florida | 10.5% | 88 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 6.3% | 53 |
| 5 | Minnesota | 4.5% | 38 |
| 6 | Illinois | 4.2% | 35 |
| 7 | Texas | 3.7% | 31 |
| 8 | Virginia | 3.7% | 31 |
| 9 | Michigan | 3.1% | 26 |
| 10 | Maryland | 2.7% | 23 |
% Of Establishments
0%
14%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
416
Total SBA Loans
$114.2M
Total Loan Volume
$275K
Average Loan Size
12 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.24%
Average Interest Rate
3,232
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA size standard[10] for NAICS 711120 is $18 million in average annual receipts, classifying companies below this revenue threshold as small businesses for federal programs. Dance companies can access SBA 7(a) loans[11] for production expenses, studio space, and working capital, while SBA 504 loans[12] support rehearsal facility and studio real estate purchases. Most dance companies operate far below the threshold given typical nonprofit budgets.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas Capital Bank | 8 | $15.8M | $2.0M |
| 2 | Harvest Small Business Finance, LLC | 16 | $13.1M | $817K |
| 3 | Enterprise Bank & Trust | 8 | $11.9M | $1.5M |
| 4 | Platinum Bank | 8 | $7.1M | $888K |
| 5 | OakStar Bank | 8 | $6.1M | $768K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses fall under NAICS 711120?
NAICS 711120 covers establishments producing live dance performances. This includes ballet companies, modern dance ensembles, contemporary dance troupes, folk and ethnic dance companies, tap dance groups, and touring dance productions.
How is NAICS 711120 different from 611610?
NAICS 711120 covers companies that produce and perform dance for audiences, while 611610 covers schools that teach dance as an educational service. Companies perform; schools instruct, per Census Bureau classifications[13].
What is the SBA size standard for dance companies?
The SBA sets the size standard for NAICS 711120 at $18 million in average annual receipts. Companies below this threshold qualify as small businesses for federal contracting and lending, per the SBA size standards table[10].
What NAICS codes are related to dance companies?
Related codes include 711110 (theater), 711130 (musical groups), 711310 (event promoters), 711410 (talent agents), 711510 (independent artists), and 611610 (fine arts schools). Each connects through performance, talent supply, or venue relationships.
What industries are closely related to dance companies?
Closely related industries include theater (711110), orchestras (711130), event promoters (711310), freelance choreographers (711510), and dance schools (611610) that train professional performers.
What activities are included in dance company operations?
Activities include ballet and modern dance production, choreography staging, touring, subscription and ticket sales, dancer training and rehearsal, education outreach, and technical production management. The NEA[5] provides federal arts grants.
Can dance companies get SBA loans?
Where are dance companies concentrated in the United States?
New York City hosts the densest concentration of ballet and modern dance companies. San Francisco, Houston, Miami, Chicago, and Washington D.C. support major companies, and most large metropolitan areas maintain at least one professional dance organization, per Census Bureau County Business Patterns[14].
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]National Endowment for the Arts arts.gov
- [6]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [7]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [8]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [9]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [10]SBA size standard sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]SBA 504 loans sba.gov
- [13]Census Bureau classifications census.gov
- [14]Census Bureau County Business Patterns census.gov
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