While summer usually sparks dreams of warm vacations in the sun, many dance teachers don’t have the luxury of taking a week off to lounge by the pool. But what if a stellar educational opportunity for dance instructors just happened to take place in sunny Las Vegas?
The Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo, happening August 4–7 and founded and directed by longtime successful studio owners and master teachers Steve Sirico and Angela D’Valda Sirico, gives dance teachers and administrators a chance to learn, network and recharge during a one-of-a-kind working vacation. Here, attendees can rub shoulders with esteemed industry professionals, get inspired by a variety of workshops and even walk away with a new certification or two:
1. Learn from the best.
Each year, Dance Teacher Web brings in all-star faculty to teach master classes, lead seminars and give you the insight you need to take your studio to the next level. This year’s star-studded lineup includes Mihran Kirakosian, best known for his collaborations with Britney Spears, Madonna and Ricky Martin; Tre Holloway, who’s worked with Gwen Stefani and John Legend; tap dancer Jason Marquette; and a slew of other industry leaders.
Courtesy Dance Teacher Web
2. Stay up-to-date on industry trends.
Want to learn new ways to promote your studio? Thinking about starting a podcast? Attendees can pick from an assortment of seminars about marketing, management and social media trends. This year’s conference includes a new seminar led by Kirakosian about growing your YouTube and Instagram followings.
Studio owners can get even more targeted information with a pre-conference seminar called Dance Studio Confidential, with tips on building better communication, problem-solving in the studio and utilizing new technology.
3. Increase your revenue.
Beyond insightful workshops, teachers and studio owners will walk away with new curriculum and strategies to generate revenue. Judy Murray, co-owner of Catherine’s Dance Studio in Kansas City, Missouri, has been attending the conference for the last seven years and has each year watched her studio grow as a result. Last year, Murray and her team purchased an acro dance program at the conference in the hopes of creating a new source of revenue. The result? So many students enrolled in the new class that she had to start a waiting list.
Courtesy Dance Teacher Web
4. Bond with your team.
On top of all the new skills that studio owners and instructors walk away with, many find that their studio leaves the experience as a more unified group. After Murray’s dance teachers returned from the conference, she couldn’t help but notice their newfound cohesiveness. “They came back as a team,” she says.
5. Earn a new certification.
One of the most unique aspects of Dance Teacher Web is that attendees can earn a certification in everything from preschool acrobatic arts to an adult ballet curriculum in just four days. These courses are scheduled for the mornings so instructors can still attend afternoon seminars and classes.
Courtesy Dance Teacher Web
6. Network with dance leaders from all over the world.
With so many dance instructors and icons under one roof, you’re bound to make valuable connections. Nina Scattaregia, a teacher at Dance Factory in Buckhannon, West Virginia, has been attending the Dance Teacher Web Conference since 2009, and she considers the relationships she’s made there to be one of the most valuable benefits. “I brought Jason Marquette in to do some cool things at my studio as a result of meeting him way out in Vegas,” she says.
7. Win free stuff!
This year’s expo hall will boast 67 exhibitors, from flooring companies to dancewear brands. Attendees can stop in to shop software programs, costumes, shoes and more, but it’s the final day that leaves people feeling like they won the lottery. During the expo’s grand finale, exhibitors give away more than $10,000 in prizes, from trips to Australia to recital costumes.
8. Do it all for a reasonable price.
Since the Dance Teacher Web Conference is created with the financially-savvy studio owner in mind, they’re all about giving you more bang for your buck. Attendees get an exclusive rate of $84 a night at Planet Hollywood for the conference, and can enjoy special discounts on the conference itself if they bring a group.
