Silicon Valley Ballet announced in February 2016 that the company would close and file for bankruptcy. The closure included the school—and $250,000 in tuition money for the current school year and summer program was lost in the bankruptcy. But the collapse could not take down Dalia Rawson, the school director. A survivor who had weathered […]
Planning a recital pre-COVID-19 was enough to make even the most well-organized dance studio owner feel stressed. Add a global pandemic into the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for a nervous breakdown—not to mention a serious revenue shortfall. Good thing studio owners have resilience and creativity to spare: These three owners reimagined and restructured […]
Rachel Arnold is a studio owner who knows how to transform lemons into lemonade. Rather than viewing stay-at-home orders as something to just power through at her Greenville, TX–based school, Dance Prodigy Studio, she’s turned online education into a chance to offer students and staff alike enrichment activities and community-building content. “I wanted great ideas […]
When Houston’s beloved METdance lost its lease in 2019, artistic director Marlana Doyle struck out on her own to open the Institute of Contemporary Dance Houston. With a new building, school and performing company, Doyle had carefully set the stage for an April 2020 grand opening. “I wanted to create a space for everyone, from […]
Q: How do I stand out on social media if all the other dance studios seem to say the same things I do? A: Social media works best when you stay true to your unique studio culture. Be relatable, engaging and responsive. Here are some tips we have found useful. Use the kind of tone, […]
Plan Ahead Marketing Idea: Boost Boys’ Class Enrollment How many little (or big) brothers are going to fall in love with dance once they decide to join in or watch an older sibling take virtual class? Strategize now how you’re going to get those cuties into the physical classroom! Plan Ahead Marketing Idea: Upgrade Your […]
Between forced business closures and general fear of contracting the virus, some consumers have begun to ask for refunds of services that cannot be rendered or goods that cannot be delivered. In some cases, some of your customers may be submitting chargebacks on payments already made as a way to obtain their money back without […]
“Keeping agile” has taken on a whole new meaning for every studio owner and dance instructor since the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily shuttered studio doors for safety’s sake in March. Now is the time to show parents how you bring normalcy and positivity to their children’s lives so you can retain tuition revenue until your doors […]
Q: We always seem to lose the most students after our recitals. How do I prevent post-show fallout? A: Spring recitals are the culmination of our dance season, and even when we receive rave reviews from our students and parents, some do not re-enroll. We have seen attrition rates of 20 percent to 40 percent […]
It’s easy to characterize parents as the perpetual thorn in the side of studio owners—they can be demanding, and annoyingly free with their opinions on dance education. But they’re also your customers. They deserve not just excellent customer service but an exceptional customer experience, says Annette Franz, head of a customer-experience strategy firm. “What’s the […]