In Your Studio

“I love taking classes and exposing myself to different styles of dance. I am also a judge for several dance competitions. By traveling around the country during the season I am able to see incredible talent, and bring that knowledge back to my students.
      To better myself and continue my education not only centers me, it also snowballs to the students. I educate myself to give my dancers the most well-rounded dance program that I can offer.” —Lauren Mangano, Elite Academy of Dance, Shrewsbury, MA
 

Broadening your skill set is always a good idea—and a great way to increase your income and offerings to your students. But undertaking a training program is a big decision, requiring a major investment of time and money. And finding the best fit will take some homework. There's the length and location of the training to consider, the tuition and how the modality will fit into your teaching goals and studio environment.

Dance Teacher asked Kristy Ulmer of KJ Dance Designs in Plano, Texas, to share her business and personal New Year’s resolutions.
 
In the Studio
 
1 Continue to offer continuing education to my staff. It’s important to motivate my instructors with a unified plan of progress.
 
2 Arrange more time for staff meetings with an emphasis on communication. As our studio has grown, it is essential that we stay on the same page with teaching styles and methods.

Though we’re still bundled in winter jackets, it’s time to start thinking about your studio’s summer session. After all, parents will soon start to research their options, and as summertime temperatures rise, your enrollment, staff and studio income tend to go down. There’s no question that June, July and August are tough—families are traveling, budgets are tight and advanced dancers flock to big-name summer intensives. But many studios have found that with flexible schedules, innovative programming and the willingness to compromise, summer doesn’t have to be a complete bummer.

Conventions provide a perfect opportunity for your students to expand their dance horizons. As a teacher, the last thing you want is for your dancers to show up unprepared or, worse, to act inappropriately. (No, hogging the front-and-center spot for the duration of every class is not OK!) Before your next convention weekend, share convention mainstay Cris Judd’s must-have advice with your students.
 

Holidays are a festive time for studios and schools. But, as student populations diversify, it becomes harder to be inclusive. Whether focusing on certain holidays or taking religion out of the equation altogether, it’s important to consider your location and cultural demographic when planning festivities. You may choose to celebrate the snowy season with generic decorations, or plan a holiday show that’s welcoming to all. From gifts to special events, there’s a lot to keep in mind to make all students—and their families—feel a part of the merriment.

A good sign of a strong studio is one that lasts—consistently bringing in students despite hard times, the changing dance industry and a failing economy. DT talked to studio owners whose businesses have stood the test of time and asked for the secrets to their longevity. 
 
Paulette Harwood 
Paulette’s Ballet Studio   
(250–300 students) 

With the grand opening of a $5 million arts complex last November, it’s hard to imagine that The Dance Institute of Washington started 20 years ago in the basement of a local church. After settling for several temporary homes, Founder and Artistic Director Fabian Barnes decided to buy a lot for $100,000 in the gentrifying neighborhood of Columbia Heights—the site of his new dream studio. 
 

From Yankee Stadium to the Statue of Liberty, New York City is brimming with inspiration. Dance Teacher has compiled ideas for music, costumes and choreography for your dancers to take their audience on a tour of the city that never sleeps.  
 
Big City, Big Business
 

Imagine making enough money during your studio’s recital to pay for your entire summer. That’s the reality for Robin Dawn Ryan, owner of Robin Dawn Academy in Cape Coral, FL, who brings in over $50,000 at each recital. Your studio shells out a ton of money for year-end productions, but with a little creativity they can be lucrative. Read on to see how Ryan and others turn their recitals into moneymaking opportunities.
 
Robin Dawn Ryan
Robin Dawn Academy (325 students)