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:
Work/Life Balance
Financial Instability
Hiring and Management
Gaining a Competitive Edge in Saturated Markets
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.
