dance studio

Enhancing Performance and Dancer Well-Being

Positive Psychology Interventions for Dancers on Performing Company Teams: Enhancing Performance and Well-Being

As a studio owner, you’re likely familiar with the dynamic and often high-pressure world of dance. Dancers, especially those on performing company teams, are frequently required to juggle intense training, rehearsals, and performances. While technical skill and artistic expression are key to success, the mental and emotional well-being of dancers is just as critical in achieving optimal performance. Integrating positive psychology interventions into your studio's culture can significantly enhance your dancers' well-being, resilience, and overall performance.

What is Positive Psychology?

Positive psychology focuses on the strengths, virtues, and factors that contribute to human flourishing. Unlike traditional psychology, which often focuses on fixing deficits or addressing problems, positive psychology emphasizes cultivating happiness, strengths, and positive emotions. For dancers, this approach is transformative, helping them not only overcome challenges but also thrive in a highly competitive, performance-driven environment.

By incorporating positive psychology interventions (PPIs) into your dance studio, you can foster an environment where dancers feel motivated, connected, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Key Positive Psychology Interventions for Dancers

  1. Strengths-Based Approach Encouraging dancers to identify their unique strengths can boost self-confidence and motivation. Each dancer brings a different set of talents to the team, and recognizing these strengths can be incredibly empowering. As a studio owner or coach, help your dancers discover their personal strengths through exercises such as the VIA Survey of Character Strengths or team discussions about what each individual contributes to the group. This not only enhances performance but also cultivates a culture of mutual respect and appreciation.

    Practical tip: Have dancers reflect on their strengths before each rehearsal or performance. During team check-ins, highlight individual and group strengths.

  2. Gratitude Practices Practicing gratitude has been shown to improve mood, decrease anxiety, and increase overall life satisfaction. In a performing company, where the pressure to perform is high, a regular gratitude practice can help dancers focus on the positive aspects of their experiences, both on and off stage. Encourage your dancers to regularly write down three things they are grateful for, whether it's a breakthrough in their technique, support from fellow dancers, or simply the joy of dancing.

    Practical tip: Start rehearsals or classes with a gratitude circle where each dancer shares something they are thankful for, creating a positive mindset for the day ahead.

  3. Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Dance, like any other performance art, can involve moments of intense self-criticism and fear of failure. Mindfulness and self-compassion practices can help dancers embrace their imperfections and foster resilience in the face of setbacks. Mindfulness, which involves being fully present in the moment without judgment, helps dancers stay focused and reduce performance anxiety. Self-compassion, on the other hand, encourages dancers to treat themselves with the same kindness they would offer a friend facing difficulty.

    Practical tip: Integrate brief mindfulness exercises into warm-ups or cool-downs. Encourage dancers to practice self-compassion by reminding them that making mistakes is part of the learning process.

  4. Flow States and Autotelic Experiences Flow is a mental state in which a person becomes fully immersed in an activity, experiencing a sense of deep concentration and enjoyment. This is the optimal state for dancers, where they can feel like they are performing at their peak. As a studio owner, you can help dancers achieve flow by creating an environment that challenges them appropriately without overwhelming them. This can involve setting clear goals, providing structured feedback, and offering opportunities for both solo and group work that allows for personal growth and achievement.

    Practical tip: Break down complex choreography into smaller, manageable sections and set individual performance goals. This helps dancers maintain focus while still feeling a sense of progress and achievement.

  5. Positive Social Connections and Team Cohesion Building a strong sense of community within your dance company is essential for fostering positive emotions and collaborative energy. When dancers feel supported and connected to their teammates, they experience less stress and greater satisfaction. Encourage team-building activities that go beyond dance rehearsals, such as group outings, shared meals, or casual hangouts. Fostering strong bonds among dancers can help them navigate the ups and downs of rehearsals and performances together, ultimately leading to better team dynamics.

    Practical tip: Organize regular bonding activities like a pre-performance pep talk, group celebrations after successful performances, or team-building workshops focused on trust and communication.

  6. Growth Mindset A growth mindset, as opposed to a fixed mindset, is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed over time with effort, learning, and persistence. Dancers who adopt a growth mindset are more likely to take on challenges, persevere through adversity, and view setbacks as opportunities for learning. As a studio owner, it’s important to encourage this mindset by praising effort rather than innate talent. Highlight the value of perseverance and continuous improvement.

    Practical tip: Reinforce the concept of the growth mindset by celebrating progress—no matter how small. Encourage dancers to reflect on how they’ve grown since their last performance or rehearsal.

The Role of Studio Owners in Implementing PPIs

As a studio owner, you play a pivotal role in creating a positive and supportive environment that integrates positive psychology principles. This requires more than just teaching choreography—it’s about shaping the mental and emotional culture of your dancers. Start by leading by example: maintain a positive and solution-focused attitude, express gratitude, and prioritize the well-being of your dancers.

You can also offer workshops, invite guest speakers on topics like mindfulness or resilience, and create a culture of feedback that is constructive and uplifting. When dancers feel valued, supported, and mentally strong, their performance and overall experience will improve.

Incorporating positive psychology interventions into your dance studio can lead to enhanced performance, greater emotional well-being, and a more supportive team dynamic. By emphasizing strengths, gratitude, mindfulness, flow, and a growth mindset, you’ll empower your dancers to thrive both in and outside of the studio. The long-term benefits are clear—dancers will experience improved mental health, a deeper connection to their craft, and ultimately, a more fulfilling and successful performance journey.

By embracing the principles of positive psychology, you’ll not only develop exceptional dancers but also create a nurturing, uplifting environment that fosters long-lasting success.

DREADING “MARCH MADNESS” IN YOUR DANCE STUDIO?

March seems to be the time of year when everything collides in a dance studio. 

As a studio owner, you are finalizing details for this year’s recitals (costuming, ticketing, show orders, dress rehearsal); you are editing music; you are coming up with new themes, graphics, lesson plans, ordering crafts, scheduling, and marketing for summer camp; you are beginning choreography for your recreational dancers and cleaning choreography for your competitive dancers; you are editing music again; you are putting the schedule together for next season; you are hiring new teachers and administrative staff; you are training new teachers; you are waking up in the middle of the night to add to your to-do list; you are thinking up new promotions to get students to return next season; you are BURNT OUT. 

You are also expected to figure out how to continue to enroll new students and cross your fingers…knock on wood…three calls to the costume companies later *hopefully* get them a costume so they can participate in your spring recital. 

Twinkle Star Dance is the proven dance studio curriculum and teacher training system to help you earn a comfortable living doing what you love, Teaching Dance!

Twinkle Star Dance has transformed hundreds of dance studio owners’ lives. Studios have gone from on the verge of shutting their doors to tripling in enrollment and preschool classes with waitlists. But don’t just take our word for it, listen to Terri Anderson share her success:

“ After attending the Twinkle Star Dance conference in Las Vegas, we put everything we had into the Twinkle Star Dance Program. We left the conference with a refueled passion for teaching dance. Since then we have more than tripled our students, have a continued waiting list for our classes, and upgraded our studio from 400 square feet to 5000 square feet! Thank you Twinkle Star Dance for changing the future of our studio! “

Terri Anderson
Sister Act Dance Academy, Brownsburg, IN

What are you waiting for? Join Terri and 300+ other dance studio owners in the Twinkle Star Dance community today. 

Still on the fence? Take a girls trip and weekend getaway to Pinnacle Dance Conference and Retreat this July 20-21, 2024 at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain and gain exclusive behind the scenes access to Tiffany Henderson and the Twinkle Star Dance Method.

Part 1: Secrets to Building a Successful Performing Company with Tiffany Henderson

Join dance studio owner and industry expert, Tiffany Henderson, for her three-part webinar series as she explores how to clearly define your goals to create a balanced Company program for you and your dancers. 

In this session Tiffany shares her insight and strategy for longevity from her 24+ years of owning and operating multiple dance studio locations, including:

-Identifying your goals and objectives for the team 
-Offering inclusive intensive dancer programs
-Balancing your Performing company events
-Creating and fostering community 

Want to know more best business practices to create a successful performing company at your studio? Don't miss Part 2 + 3 "Secrets to Building a Successful Performing Company" with Tiffany Henderson on January 12 and 26, 2024 at 10am PT/ 1pm ET. 

Meet Tiffany Henderson 

Tiffany Henderson is an industry leader and dance business expert. Tiffany 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 300+ dance studios worldwide.

TEACHING preschool RECITAL DANCES

Do you struggle to get your littlest dancers to learn and perfect their annual recital dances? Here are some tips on how to make your youngest dancers shine:

Have the dancers sit down in a circle or line and go over just the arms for your recital dance. 

Make sure to match words, or sing the recital dance song as you are going over the arm movements, and have the dancers sing with you.  This will help alleviate any distractions while standing. 

After you ‘Sing the Arms” stand up and add the arms and feet together. 

Remember if they can say it they can do it!

Meet Tiffany Henderson 

Tiffany Henderson is an industry leader and dance business expert. Tiffany 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 300+ dance studios worldwide.

Preschool Dance Teaching Tip

 “If you can say it, you can do it!”  Young dancers need to connect brain to body, and using a “dancing sentence” can help them learn. 

Turn your exercise or combination into a melody that matches the rhythm and cadence of the movement.  Model the “dancing sentence” for the dancers while encouraging them to say it with you, and watch for magic! 

Here is a great way to say and do SKIP:

“March Hop, Step Passe, March Hop, We’re Skipping Today”

Want More? Did you know that our Twinkle Star Dance Program comes complete with exclusive voice-activated Ballet and Jazz skills for your preschool dancers. 

Meet Tiffany Henderson 

Tiffany Henderson is an industry leader and dance business expert. Tiffany 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 300+ dance studios worldwide.