What effective techniques are dance companies using to be self-sustainable?

This paper will examine what effective techniques exist today that dance companies can use to sustain their organizations and/or programs. I will examine three different dance companies; Headlong Dance Theater (Small), the Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco –Medium), and the American Ballet Theater (Large). I will attempt to do an analysis of each, looking at their business models, operations and artistic styles. This will not be a comparison; rather it will delve into what each organization is doing to sustain their operations in a very challenging and economically turbulent time by analyzing their various sized budgets, looking at what current successful financial models are being used by each to sustain their operations and what kind of financial products are available for dance companies that would encourage funder involvement which could stimulate long term revenue streams through corporate and artistic partnerships? The goal is offer new financial opportunities for dance companies to move away from being “program driven” (Steckel, 1989) and less grant dependent, and to be more financially creative, innovative, independent and entrepreneurial.M.S., Arts Administration -- Drexel University, 201