Why Studio Owner Quit Dance Competitions
Discovering Your Character Strengths as a Studio Owner—and Using Them to Show Up Authentically
As a dance studio owner, you wear countless hats: teacher, leader, mentor, marketer, business strategist, and so much more. With so many responsibilities, it’s easy to lose sight of who you are at your core. But here's the truth, your greatest asset isn’t your curriculum, your branding, or your class schedule. It’s you.
More specifically, it’s your character strengths—the unique, positive traits that come most naturally to you. When you know and embrace them, they become powerful tools that help you lead with confidence, connect with your community, and show up authentically in everything you do.
What Are Character Strengths?
Character strengths are the positive parts of your personality that influence how you think, feel, and behave. Based on research in positive psychology, the VIA Institute on Character identifies 24 universal strengths—like creativity, leadership, perseverance, kindness, and humor—that each of us express in varying degrees.
As a studio owner, you likely use these strengths every day—whether you’re calming a nervous toddler before class, guiding your team through recital season, or launching a new program with bold creativity.
Discovering Your Top Strengths
The first step is self-discovery. The VIA Character Strengths Survey is a free, science-backed assessment that ranks your 24 strengths in order. Your top five—your “signature strengths”—are the ones that come most naturally to you and energize you when used.
Take the assessment with curiosity, not judgment. There’s no “ideal” set of strengths for a studio owner. A leader with high humor and zest might create a studio culture that’s joyful and lighthearted. Another with strengths in prudence and perseverance may run a tight, efficient ship that thrives on consistency and long-term vision.
Using Your Strengths to Your Advantage
Once you’ve identified your top strengths, the magic lies in intentionally applying them in your daily work. Here’s how:
1. Lead with Authenticity
When you operate from your strengths, your leadership feels more natural and confident. If kindness is a top strength, use it to create a nurturing environment for your staff and students. If creativity ranks high, lean into innovative programming or imaginative recital themes. You’ll feel more aligned—and others will feel more connected to the real you.
2. Make Better Decisions
Your strengths can guide you through tough choices. For example, if you’re high in fairness, you may naturally seek equity when resolving staff conflicts. If bravery is a strength, you may be more willing to take bold business leaps others might shy away from.
3. Strengthen Relationships
Your character strengths aren’t just about how you lead—they shape how you relate. Recognizing your own strengths helps you appreciate and identify strengths in others. This builds mutual respect, deepens team trust, and creates a culture where everyone feels seen and valued.
4. Prevent Burnout
You’re most energized when using your signature strengths. If you feel drained, it might be a sign you’re spending too much time outside of them. For example, if social intelligence is a top strength but you’re isolated behind your desk all day, consider shifting tasks or schedules to allow more time for connection.
Showing Up Authentically
Authenticity isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being real. When you know your strengths and lead from them, you naturally exude confidence, consistency, and trust. Parents notice. Dancers feel it. Your team rallies behind it.
You don’t have to copy the studio owner down the road. You just need to lean into what already makes you you.
Your character strengths are a compass, not a script. They won’t solve every challenge, but they’ll help you approach them with clarity and confidence. They remind you that your uniqueness is your power—and that by embracing your strengths, you can build a studio that’s not just successful, but soulfully aligned.
So go ahead—take the assessment, reflect on your results, and start showing up as the most authentic version of yourself. Your dancers—and your business—will thank you for it.
Connect at Pinnacle Dance Conference and Retreat
Learn more about living your signature strengths at Tiffany Henderson’s Pinnacle Dance Conference and Retreat July 18-20, 2025 at the Omni Royal Orleans in New Orleans, LA. Immerse yourself in three days of dance movement classes, business seminars from leaders in the industry, plus preview the all new Dance Positive courses within a like-minded community of dance educators.
Teacher of Teachers: Hiring and Management
Congratulations! You’re a Dance Studio Owner. That means you’ve stepped into a new role I like to call the “Teacher of Teachers.” Your number one responsibility is to inspire, motivate, and equip your staff with the resources they need to succeed.
As a recovering one-woman show, I’ve learned to set up the following foundational elements in my business to streamline hiring and management:
1. Systems
Having a reliable system is key to consistency and efficiency. I use Twinkle Star Dance, a video-based curriculum for my preschool and school-aged classes. It includes monthly themes, skill progressions, and engaging class combinations, making it easy for teachers to deliver high-quality instruction.
2. Annual Training
I host annual training sessions to keep my staff well-prepared and aligned:
January: Focus on recital choreography.
May: Prepare for summer camp and review the upcoming season’s curriculum.
September: Update fall curriculum and rehearse holiday show choreography.
These sessions ensure my team is confident and ready for each phase of the year.
3. Weekly Meetings
Every Tuesday, I hold a standing staff meeting via Zoom. These meetings cover curriculum updates, studio reminders, upcoming events, and any questions or challenges that need addressing. Consistent communication is vital to keeping everyone on the same page.
4. Office Hours
I maintain designated office hours throughout the week for one-on-one meetings with staff. This time allows my team to bring up individual concerns, seek guidance, or collaborate on new ideas in a structured and supportive environment.
Join Me for More Insights
If you’re looking for additional strategies and time to recharge, join me at the Pinnacle Dance Conference and Retreat July 18-20, 2024, at the Omni Royal Orleans. This weekend getaway is designed to help studio owners reconnect, learn, and grow their businesses.
Check back next week as I share my tips for Gaining a Competitive Edge in a Saturated Market.
Meet Tiffany Henderson
Tiffany Henderson is a leader in the dance industry and a seasoned business expert. She 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 over 300 dance studios worldwide.
TACKLING Financial Instability
Welcome to mid-season in your dance studio—a time when you’re simultaneously creating for this season and planning for the next.
Through my connections with studio owners in the Twinkle Star Dance community, my Diamond Circle coaching clients, and Dance the Dream parade events, I’ve learned that many of us share the same five major challenges:
Work/Life Balance
Financial Instability
Hiring and Management
Gaining a Competitive Edge in Saturated Markets
Keeping Up with Trends
Last week, we explored strategies to improve Work/Life Balance. Today, let’s dive into Financial Instability, a challenge that often leaves us feeling like our business is running us instead of the other way around.
Whether your business isn’t yet profitable, you’re not categorizing revenue correctly, or you’re rebuilding after losing a performing company group or key teacher, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Trust me, I’ve been there.
In my early days as a studio owner, I expanded my one-room studio to a three-room location, taking on an additional lease with the plan to sublet my original space. How hard could it be? Then the real estate market crashed. For three years, I drove home every night after teaching, waving goodbye to my $3,000 monthly salary just to stay afloat.
It’s safe to say I’ve made my fair share of mistakes. However, those experiences have equipped me with the knowledge to offer practical solutions for tackling financial instability.
Financial Instability
It’s easy to get caught up in adding extra community events or outside performance opportunities to your calendar. This season, I challenge you to focus on maximizing your two primary revenue streams: Class Tuition Revenue and Recital Revenue.
1. Class Tuition Revenue
Your dance classes are the foundation of your business. Focus on making them exceptional by creating or implementing 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. Students learn basic steps while developing their ability to follow directions and imitate movement in a positive environment. Engaging music and props like Twinkle bears help inspire creativity and imagination, ensuring young dancers have fun while learning.
2. Recital Revenue
I’m a strong advocate for hosting two recitals per year—one during the holiday season and another in the spring. Dancers pay a recital participation fee that includes the performance, costume, tights, action photos, wide-angle video, and a dancer ribbon or medal.
Notice I didn’t mention tickets. When it comes to recital tickets, implement tiered pricing and reserved seating, and avoid selling out by organizing smaller, shorter shows if necessary. Based on our data, we plan for every dancer to sell an average of five tickets. This strategy ensures your recitals are both profitable and enjoyable for your audience.
Join Me for More Insights
If you’re seeking actionable advice and time to recharge, I invite you to join me at the Pinnacle Dance Conference and Retreat this summer. Pinnacle is July 18-20, 2025 at the stunning Omni Royal Orleans, in the heart of the French Quarter. This weekend getaway is designed to help dance studio owners reconnect, learn, and grow their businesses.
Check back next week as I share my tips and tricks for overcoming Hiring and Management challenges.
Meet Tiffany Henderson
Tiffany Henderson is a leader in the dance industry and a seasoned business expert. She 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 over 300 dance studios worldwide.