Episode Summary: In this episode of Dance Studio 411, host Jill Tirone welcomes Shanna Kirkpatrick, a veteran dance studio owner with over 19 years of experience, to discuss the value of feedback in running a successful studio. Shanna shares personal insights and strategies on how soliciting and responding to feedback from families, staff, and students has transformed her leadership approach and studio operations. The episode dives into the challenges of receiving feedback, especially for...

In this episode of Dance Studio 411, host Jill Tirone sits down with the talented Taylor Hiller, Revolution's Channel Brand Manager and seasoned choreographer. Taylor reveals her tried-and-true formula for creating flawless recital choreography. Whether you're a seasoned dance instructor or just starting, Taylor’s insights on curriculum structure, lesson planning, and choreography processes are sure to inspire. Plus, you'll learn her tips for balancing creativity with structure, emphasizing...

Episode Description In the podcast episode "Back to Basics: Making Money In Your Dance Studio with Tiffany Henderson," Tiffany provides clear and focused strategies for increasing revenue in dance studios. The episode highlights two primary revenue streams: optimizing class curriculum and organizing successful holiday shows and recitals. Tiffany discusses how to structure classes to enhance their value and attract more students, while also creating memorable recitals that boost ticket sales....

In this episode of Dance Studio 411, Jill is joined by Joe Naftal from Naftal Creative. Joe shares his expertise on how dance studio owners can take their holiday shows to the next level. Whether you’ve been running holiday performances for years or considering starting one, Joe offers practical advice on organizing, managing, and profiting from holiday shows while ensuring they are stress-free for both staff and families. He also introduces Check In Pointe, a performance management platform...

In this episode of DanceStudio411, we're joined by Stephen Reinstein from Market Muscles to explore the essential elements of a dance studio website and how to optimize it to attract and retain more students. Stephen will walk us through common pitfalls studio owners often face, like putting too much emphasis on current students, overwhelming their site with information, or displaying schedules and pricing too soon. Discover how these missteps can hinder your lead generation and learn...

In this episode of Dance Studio 411, hosts Jill Tirone and Patty Rielley dive into the popular topic of themed dance shows. Should your recital have a theme, or should you keep it simple? Patty, a seasoned dance studio owner and Revolution's Rewards Manager, shares her insights, experiences, and expert advice on managing recital themes that excite students, engage families, and boost retention. Key Highlights: To Theme or Not to Theme? [2:50] Patty explains the benefits of having a themed...

In this episode of Dance Studio 411 podcast, Jill Tirone welcomes Cathy Graziano, Executive Director of the National Dance Foundation, to discuss the exciting changes to National Dance Week and how dance studios can get involved. Cathy shares the history of the foundation, the mission behind its initiatives, and why the shift of National Dance Week to October is a game-changer for the dance community. From promoting kindness, inclusion, and community to engaging students in various...

In our latest episode, our special guest, Ginger Haithcox discusses a topic that comes directly from our member group and it is one of the biggest challenges dance studio owners face: finding, hiring, and retaining high-quality staff. Listen in as Ginger talks about what dance studio owners can do to attract applicants for Job openings, how using KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) is a game changer, and how to avoid headaches when delegating to your staff. We’re grateful to Ginger for...

In this episode of the Dance Studio 411 podcast, we sit down to have a very frank, open conversation with Amelia Fazio to discuss dance and body image and how you can develop a positive and supportive dance studio environment. The goal of this episode is to keep it real and we hope this outlines how important body positivity and positive language practices are to your studio. We can't wait for you to listen to this episode with Amelia because her passion shines through in all she does. We...

Join Suzanne Blake Gerety as she shares one of the keys to studio business growth - change! In this podcast episode you’ll learn the simple yet impactful way to approach making meaningful decisions - from pricing to policies and beyond. You’ll hear how you have an advantage as a dance educator and studio owner to “dance with change”. This episode is designed to boost your confidence and courage when it comes to approaching parents, students, faculty or staff with any new or improved policy. ...

In our latest episode, our special guest, Ginger Haithcox shares 3 benefits of implementing a student assistant program at your dance studio. Student assistants help with student retention and progression, they help create a future pipeline for dance studio staff, and they enhance the customer experience. Listen as Ginger provides insight into her successful program and how you can get this complete system for your dance studio. The Studio Ambassador System: Train your studio assistants with...

Facebook Advertising can be a huge source of stress for dance studio owners. Let's be honest, there aren't many of us who have the time or energy to manage our dance studio’s social media accounts. In this episode, Jill Tirone sits down with Kristian Altuve of Dance Motion Marketing and they discuss three simple ways to help you with your social media and get the most out of your online advertising. Join Kristian Altuve and Bryce Conlan of Dance Motion Marketing in their Facebook...

In this episode, Brad Bingham of Enrollio shares his top tips to fill your summer camps! These proven methods and ideas are easy to implement and, best of all, can be used all year round. Enrollio is the #1 Growth & Reputation Accelerator for Dance Studios, Swim Schools & After School Programs. Enrollio helps studio owners worldwide capture more website enrollments, reduce task load, & elevate brand reputation almost entirely on auto-pilot. Enrollio was created by Brad Bingham,...

In our latest episode, Jill Tirone sits down with Sean Dever, CPA to answer financial questions directly from our member group. Sean explains the intricacies of pricing discounts and profitability, why a non-profit may not be right for your studio, and how dance studio owners can benefit from selling additional items like costumes and dancewear. Listen in as he shares his expertise and financial advice to help you avoid pitfalls and increase your profits in your dance studio business. ...

In our latest episode, Suzanne Blake Gerety sits down with Misty Lown of More Than Just Great Dancing to discuss what’s on the hearts and minds of dance studio owners. Misty explains that key developmental experiences in dance help students become healthy, high-functioning adults and how to communicate the value of dance to families. Listen in as she shares her definition of success, her love of golden retrievers, and how she helps the members of More Than Just Great Dancing succeed. ...

Are you ready to have your best season yet? In this podcast, Suzanne Blake Gerety and Jill Tirone reflect on the past season and get focused for the new. Learn to identify the obstacles standing in your way and how to use them as a starting point to help you achieve your goals. They're also covering ways to battle burnout and sharing tips to increase your tuition and fees with confidence. Join us so you can be strategic with your planning for the new dance season! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Running...

It can be difficult to raise your prices and fees, and many dance studio owners worry about how it will affect their business. In this podcast, Suzanne Blake Gerety and Jill Tirone are sharing ways to navigate rising costs and inflation. You'll learn how to earn extra income through dancewear and costumes while adding extra value to your studio. Through their support and encouragement, you'll get the information and boost you need to head into the dance season feeling confident around raising...

As a busy dance studio owner, you probably feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. Luckily, with some helpful tips and productivity hacks, you can take back some of those lost hours and create an environment that promotes efficiency and increased organization at your dance studio. All it takes is a little bit of planning, and by implementing these strategies into your daily routine, you’ll find yourself with more time than ever to focus on growing your...

No matter your studio size or location, we know enrolling preschool-aged students can be one of the most difficult parts of running your dance studio business. Our research shows that studios are the most flexible on enrollment deadlines with this age group; therefore making the full-season commitment less predictable. Thankfully, there are several different ways you can find more preschool-aged dance students without spending your entire marketing budget.

Holiday shows matter more than ever and we're here to help you make participation easy and stress-free. Tiffany Henderson shares tips on what to include in your holiday performance package, how to budget for your show venue, and how to leverage done-for-you choreography and costume ideas to re-inspire teaching staff and boost dancer confidence. Produce a crowd-pleasing performance that brings out the best in your youngest dancers!  

In this episode of Dance Studio 411, we discuss top proven projects that busy studio owners can delegate to their office managers. As a former studio owner for 17 years and currently a dance studio office manager, Patty Rielley draws from her extensive experience and shares specific, real-life examples of how you can plan, organize and delegate effectively.

In this episode, Tiffany Henderson of Tiffany's Dance Academy and Twinkle Star Dance shares actionable ideas on how you can easily bring in additional revenue to your business by making dancewear purchases a natural part of your registration process. You’ll hear expert tips on establishing and maintaining a dress code program that families and dancers love. You’ll also hear how to boost enrollment and use your required uniform to get preschool and elementary classes filled.

Feeling unprepared to support students as they come into their identities as members of the LGBTQIA+ community? In this episode, Samm Wesler shares how to create a comfortable, safe environment, how to lead a diversity and inclusion training in your dance studio, and how to implement solid strategies to help you feel more comfortable and prepared when speaking about these topics with your team.

Keep your students injury-free and in optimum health both physically and emotionally! Dr. Lisa M. Schoene is a Dance and Sports Podiatrist and a Certified Athletic Trainer who is passionate about keeping dancers in tip-top shape. In this episode, Dr. Schoene shares her expertise on nutrition, emotional support for your dancers, injury prevention, and the importance of self-care for studio owners.