Keeping Students Engaged and Motivated

How Positive Psychology Can Help Dance Studios: Keeping Students Engaged and Motivated

Keeping students engaged and motivated is one of the biggest challenges for dance studio owners. Positive psychology offers powerful strategies to nurture intrinsic motivation, build resilience, and create a joyful learning environment that keeps dancers coming back.

Here’s how:

Focus on Strengths – Instead of only correcting mistakes, emphasize each dancer’s strengths and progress. When students feel recognized for their unique abilities, they develop a growth mindset and are more eager to improve.

Encourage a Growth Mindset – Teaching students that effort and persistence lead to improvement fosters resilience. Praise their hard work and determination, not just their talent, so they stay motivated even when facing challenges.

Cultivate Positive Emotions – Joy, excitement, and a sense of accomplishment fuel motivation. Start classes with an uplifting warm-up, celebrate small wins, and create an encouraging atmosphere that makes students excited to return.

Set Meaningful Goals – Help students set personal, achievable goals that align with their interests. Whether mastering a pirouette or building stage confidence, goal-setting provides direction and motivation to stay engaged.

Foster a Supportive Community – Connection and belonging are key to long-term engagement. When students feel supported by their teachers and peers, they are more likely to stay committed to their dance journey.

By integrating positive psychology into your studio culture, you create an environment where students stay engaged, feel inspired, and develop a lifelong love for dance. 

Discover how positive psychology can transform your dance studio into a thriving, joyful space for students, staff, and families. Learn practical strategies to boost motivation, confidence, and resilience—all while fostering a positive studio culture!

Date: Friday, February 21
Time: 9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET

Don’t miss out on this game-changing opportunity!

Register Now: https://bit.ly/40D1uEz

Let’s take the next step together—toward joy, confidence, and success!

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.

Keeping Up with Trends

Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored the five common struggles of owning and operating dance studios:

• Work/Life Balance

• Financial Instability

• Hiring and Management

• Gaining Competitive Edge in Saturated Markets

• Keeping Up with Trends

Today, let’s dive into longevity in the dance studio business and the importance of staying current with industry trends. Often, we find ourselves clinging to practices simply because they’re how our dance teacher did things or because "that’s the way it’s always been done."

Innovate with Your Schedule

One significant shift I made about twenty years ago was transitioning from offering summer sessions and camps to running a year-round dance season. This approach allows me to create one schedule that runs from July 1 through June 30. Most parents appreciate securing the same day, time, and teacher for an entire season and prefer paying $90 per month for ongoing classes rather than $250 for a one-week camp.

Embrace Key Trends

Here are some additional trends to consider:

• Non-Transactional Buying: Make it as simple as possible for parents to register, participate, and stay engaged with your studio. Convenience is key.

• Mobile-First Digital Marketing: The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and mobile devices dominate. Ensure your website, ads, and communications are optimized for mobile use.

• Sell the Experience: Focus on the benefits for the dancer—confidence, creativity, community—rather than just the logistics of the class or recital.

Invest in Longevity

By embracing change and prioritizing the customer experience, you’ll position your studio for long-term success. Staying adaptable and forward-thinking ensures your business remains relevant and competitive.

Join Me for More Insights

For more strategies and time to focus on your growth, join me at the Pinnacle Dance Conference and Retreat this summer. Happening July 18-20, 2025, at the Omni Royal Orleans, this weekend getaway is designed to help studio owners reconnect, learn, and elevate their businesses.

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.

Stand Out in a Saturated Market

Having owned my dance studio for 25 years, I’ve learned that competition is fierce. Parents have countless options for dance programs and children’s activities. The secret to longevity in such a competitive environment? Focus on your area of expertise and your primary sources of revenue.

Play to Your Strengths

My area of expertise is dance, but I focus on the foundation of my studio, preschool dance. I developed a curriculum that balances structure and fun, and I personally train all my staff to ensure consistent quality across every class for children ages 2-6.

We don’t offer acrobatics or gymnastics because that’s not my specialty. My philosophy is simple: do one thing, and do it exceptionally well.

Prioritize Your Revenue Streams

The two main revenue streams I focus on are dance class tuition and recitals. By dedicating the majority of my time and resources to perfecting these areas, I’ve been able to create a sustainable and thriving business.

Each year, I assess my class offerings to ensure a strong foundation. Classes like Twinkle Babies (ages 2-3), Twinkle Stars (ages 3-4), and Twinkle Stars (ages 4-5/5-6) are available at various times each day to meet the needs of my community.

Make Recitals Parent-Friendly

Twenty years ago, I made the decision to split preschoolers into smaller, shorter recitals, and it’s been a game-changer. Parents love that they can enjoy their child’s performance and be in and out in under 45 minutes.

Focus on Your Strengths to Grow

As you prepare for the upcoming season registration, concentrate your energy on what you do best. Whether you’re growing or rebuilding your business, success starts with a solid preschool dance program.

Join Me for More Insights

Want more strategies and time to focus on your goals? Join me at the Pinnacle Dance Conference and Retreat this summer, July 18-20, 2025, at the Omni Royal Orleans. This weekend getaway is designed to help dance studio owners reconnect, learn, and grow their businesses.

Check back next week for tips on Keeping Up with Trends.

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.

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:

1. Work/Life Balance

2. Financial Instability

3. Hiring and Management

4. Gaining a Competitive Edge in Saturated Markets

5. 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.