5 Struggles of Owning a Dance Studio: Financial Instability

Welcome to March Madness in your dance studio. Where we are simultaneously creating for this season and planning for next season. 

Connecting with studio owners through the Twinkle Star Dance community, my Diamond Circle coaching clients, and Dance the Dream parade events, I find many of us struggle with the same five pain points as dance studio owners: 

1. Work/Life Balance 

2. Financial Instability 

3. Hiring and Management 

4. Gaining Competitive Edge in Saturated Markets

5. Keeping up with Trends 

Last week we chatted about struggling with work/life balance. This week I want to touch on something that often causes us to feel unbalanced which is Financial Instability. 

When your business is not yet profitable; you’re not categorizing your revenue correctly so you don’t know how much you can pay yourself; or you find yourself rebuilding your business after losing a performing company group and/or teacher it leads to feeling like your business is owning you. Trust me, I’ve been there. 

In my early days of studio ownership I decided to expand my one room studio location to three rooms, taking on an additional lease thinking I could sublet my first location. How hard can it be? Then the real estate market crashed and I had to drive home from teaching every night for three years and wave to my $3,000 per month salary. 

It’s safe to say, after decades of owning and operating multiple, successful locations, I have enough failures under my belt to offer some solutions. 

Financial Instability 

It is easy to get caught up in adding extra community events or outside performance opportunities to our calendars. This season I want you to focus on maximizing your two main revenue streams in your business: 

• Class Tuition Revenue 

• Recital Revenue 

Class Tuition Revenue - Focus on making your dance classes the absolute best they can be. Create or implement a proven curriculum that balances structure and fun. 

For example, the Twinkle Star Dance program introduces young dancers to ballet, tap, jazz, and creative movement. They learn the basic steps while following directions and imitating movement in a positive environment. Engaging music is used to get these little guys inspired. The use of props such as Twinkle bears enables the young dancers to use their imagination, creativity and, most of all, have fun!

Recital Revenue - I’m a big proponent of two shows per season - Holiday and Spring. Dancers pay a recital participation fee for each event that includes the performance, costume, tights, action photos, wide angle video, and dancer ribbon or medal. 

Notice I did not say tickets. When it comes to recital tickets, be sure to have tiered pricing, reserved seating, and do not sell out! Depending on the size of your theater consider having smaller, shorter shows so you can sell more of the higher price tickets. We plan for every dancer to sell 5 tickets on average based on previous show data.  

Want more insights and practical advice? Join me for a dance studio owner weekend getaway to Pinnacle Dance Conference and Retreat this July 20-21, 2024 at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain.

Check back next week for my tips and tricks to combat Hiring and Management. 

Meet Tiffany Henderson 

Tiffany Henderson is an industry leader and dance business expert. Tiffany owns and operates multiple Tiffany's Dance Academy locations in Northern California. Her video-based teacher training system and curriculum, Twinkle Star Dance, is currently implemented in 300+ dance studios worldwide.

DREADING “MARCH MADNESS” IN YOUR DANCE STUDIO?

March seems to be the time of year when everything collides in a dance studio. 

As a studio owner, you are finalizing details for this year’s recitals (costuming, ticketing, show orders, dress rehearsal); you are editing music; you are coming up with new themes, graphics, lesson plans, ordering crafts, scheduling, and marketing for summer camp; you are beginning choreography for your recreational dancers and cleaning choreography for your competitive dancers; you are editing music again; you are putting the schedule together for next season; you are hiring new teachers and administrative staff; you are training new teachers; you are waking up in the middle of the night to add to your to-do list; you are thinking up new promotions to get students to return next season; you are BURNT OUT. 

You are also expected to figure out how to continue to enroll new students and cross your fingers…knock on wood…three calls to the costume companies later *hopefully* get them a costume so they can participate in your spring recital. 

Twinkle Star Dance is the proven dance studio curriculum and teacher training system to help you earn a comfortable living doing what you love, Teaching Dance!

Twinkle Star Dance has transformed hundreds of dance studio owners’ lives. Studios have gone from on the verge of shutting their doors to tripling in enrollment and preschool classes with waitlists. But don’t just take our word for it, listen to Terri Anderson share her success:

“ After attending the Twinkle Star Dance conference in Las Vegas, we put everything we had into the Twinkle Star Dance Program. We left the conference with a refueled passion for teaching dance. Since then we have more than tripled our students, have a continued waiting list for our classes, and upgraded our studio from 400 square feet to 5000 square feet! Thank you Twinkle Star Dance for changing the future of our studio! “

Terri Anderson
Sister Act Dance Academy, Brownsburg, IN

What are you waiting for? Join Terri and 300+ other dance studio owners in the Twinkle Star Dance community today. 

Still on the fence? Take a girls trip and weekend getaway to Pinnacle Dance Conference and Retreat this July 20-21, 2024 at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain and gain exclusive behind the scenes access to Tiffany Henderson and the Twinkle Star Dance Method.

Part 2: Training the Super Teacher

Another important part of training new preschool and school-aged dance teachers is offering on the job training. Sometimes, we do not have the luxury of having new teachers complete on the job training before they start teaching at our studio. It is still beneficial for them to have some co-teaching hours with yourself or other staff even if they are already teaching on their own.  

There are many benefits to offering on the job training. First, it introduces dance teachers to different forms of dance. I recommend having them complete their training with the class level and age curriculum they are/will be teaching. Second, by offering on the job training hours to new hires it helps you stack your bench at an admin/co-teaching rate. This is a great practice for training new teachers and subs! 

In addition to on the job training, you will have to continue to foster the relationship with your teacher by managing them. I find when it comes to the management of teachers, set clear expectations from day one. You will also want to set a weekly meeting as well as check-ins throughout the year.  

You are the owner of the business, you have all of the risk and responsibility. Set yourself up as the Creative and Executive Director of your studio. All decisions begin and end with you. This starts in the hiring process and helps the dance teachers understand who is in charge and who they report to. If you are onboarding several teachers, hold a new hire meeting prior to training.  

You will also want to schedule ongoing training opportunities for your teachers. Hold weekly teacher meetings at a set day and time each week. Every Tuesday I meet with my teachers to discuss updates to class curriculum, teaching methods, and what’s happening in the studio. Set time aside a few weeks after their initial start date and again mid-season for you to have class observations with your teachers. I suggest completing teacher evaluations and meeting with them for a one-on-one review.  

Dance teachers, much like your dancers, require consistent observation and feedback. When it comes to new season planning, have a set Yearly Check In period. For me this is in January, I have them send me a “Teacher wish list” via email and then set up one-on-ones. This is also a good time for me to find out who needs to adjust their teaching schedule or who may not be returning next season so I know who I need to hire. 

As the owner, I encourage you to have an Open Door Policy for your teachers - make yourself available for private meetings during the year when needed. Schedule weekly meetings which allows you time to assess the physical and emotional state of your teachers. 

Finally, make sure your staff know they are appreciated and valued. You may consider offering Performance opportunities during the holiday shows, recitals, and or professional shows. We host an annual Holiday party and end of season party. You can also add extras like Birthday club and treat your staff to lunch. 

Remember you are their leader - they take all cues from you. If you are too busy, they may not reach out until it is too late.

Check back next week for my tips about nurturing the Super Teacher. 

Learn more about Twinkle Star Dance and get your “Super Teachers” certified at Spark Chicago. 

Meet Tiffany Henderson 

Tiffany Henderson is an industry leader and dance business expert. Tiffany owns and operates multiple Tiffany's Dance Academy locations in Northern California. Her video-based teacher training system and curriculum, Twinkle Star Dance, is currently implemented in 300+ dance studios worldwide.

Part 1: Training the Super Teacher

Now that you hired your dance teacher, it is time to plan teacher training session(s). Pick a date a few weeks out and/or plan a training at the beginning of the year and again mid-season for all teachers. I recommend allowing at least 1-1.5 hours for each age division and style. 

Once you have the training date and schedule set, communicate the mandatory training to your teaching staff. If your employees are required to be there you should pay a training rate for their training hours. If you can, provide lunch or dinner as well. 

To prepare for the teacher training, download and print out all materials ahead of time. If you are using Twinkle Star Dance, show the teachers how to access the curriculum lesson plans and  video gallery for review. Be sure to also show how to access music playlists. 

Sample Training Session Schedule Day 1

9am - 10am - Twinkle Babies ages 2-3

10am - 11am - Twinkle Stars ages 3-4

11am - 12pm - Twinkle Stars ages 4-5 and 5-6

12pm - 12:30pm - Lunch

12:30pm - 1:30pm - Showstars Jazz ages 5-7/6-8 and 7-9/8-10

1:30pm - 2:30pm - Showstars Ballet ages 5-7/6-8 and 7-9/8-10

2:30pm - 3:30pm - Showstars Hip-Hop ages 5-7/6-8 and 7-9/8-10

3:30pm - 4:30pm - Showstars Tap ages 5-7/6-8 and 7-9/8-10

Sample Training Session Schedule Day 2

10am - 10:30am - Mock Twinkle Babies ages 2-3

10:30 - 11:15am - Mock Twinkle Stars ages 3-4 

11:15 - 12:00pm - Mock Twinkle Stars ages 4-5

12pm - 12:30pm - Lunch

12:30pm - 1:30pm - Twinkle Babies/Stars Teaching Methods

1:30pm - 2:30pm - Showstars Teaching Methods

In addition to the class curriculum you need to prepare the following for each teacher:

• Monthly Lesson Plans

• Passport Books/Dance Journals

• Teaching Methods 

• Music Playlists

Email the link and password to Twinkle Star Dance instructor user to each teacher ahead of training session for reference before and after sessions.

Some additional teacher training tips to keep in mind: 

• All teachers attend all training sessions!

• Everyone dances - using actual energy and movement

• No sitting and talking through notes!

• Model voice and energy levels that you want dance teachers to use in class

• Let dance teachers trade off leading class content and give feedback

Check back next week for Part 2: Training the Super Teacher. Learn more about Twinkle Star Dance and get your “Super Teachers” certified at Spark Chicago. 

Meet Tiffany Henderson 

Tiffany Henderson is an industry leader and dance business expert. Tiffany owns and operates multiple Tiffany's Dance Academy locations in Northern California. Her video-based teacher training system and curriculum, Twinkle Star Dance, is currently implemented in 300+ dance studios worldwide.

finding the Super Teacher

We know that Super Teachers are important to the success of our dance studio business. 

Why is finding Super Teachers so difficult? 

Dance is a niche market. Depending on where your studio is located, the pool of qualified dance teacher applicants is sparse and sometimes non-existent. 

Dance teachers come to us with different backgrounds and dance training. Often they have little to no “preschool” or “school-aged” dance teaching experience; prefer teaching high school dancers. 

Some dance teacher applicants have limited skills or little professional dance training. Maybe they are proficient in only one or a few styles of dance. Unfortunately, most Universities and professional training programs don’t educate or ready them for a career teaching preschool or school-aged children dance. 

Additionally, dance teachers have schedule conflicts due to other full or part time work. They can also have limited availability due to geographical restrictions.

Check back next week for my tips about hiring the Super Teacher. 

Learn more about Twinkle Star Dance and get your “Super Teachers” certified at Spark Chicago. 

Meet Tiffany Henderson 

Tiffany Henderson is an industry leader and dance business expert. Tiffany owns and operates multiple Tiffany's Dance Academy locations in Northern California. Her video-based teacher training system and curriculum, Twinkle Star Dance, is currently implemented in 300+ dance studios worldwide.