Part 1: Training the Super Teacher

Now that you hired your dance teacher, it is time to plan teacher training session(s). Pick a date a few weeks out and/or plan a training at the beginning of the year and again mid-season for all teachers. I recommend allowing at least 1-1.5 hours for each age division and style. 

Once you have the training date and schedule set, communicate the mandatory training to your teaching staff. If your employees are required to be there you should pay a training rate for their training hours. If you can, provide lunch or dinner as well. 

To prepare for the teacher training, download and print out all materials ahead of time. If you are using Twinkle Star Dance, show the teachers how to access the curriculum lesson plans and  video gallery for review. Be sure to also show how to access music playlists. 

Sample Training Session Schedule Day 1

9am - 10am - Twinkle Babies ages 2-3

10am - 11am - Twinkle Stars ages 3-4

11am - 12pm - Twinkle Stars ages 4-5 and 5-6

12pm - 12:30pm - Lunch

12:30pm - 1:30pm - Showstars Jazz ages 5-7/6-8 and 7-9/8-10

1:30pm - 2:30pm - Showstars Ballet ages 5-7/6-8 and 7-9/8-10

2:30pm - 3:30pm - Showstars Hip-Hop ages 5-7/6-8 and 7-9/8-10

3:30pm - 4:30pm - Showstars Tap ages 5-7/6-8 and 7-9/8-10

Sample Training Session Schedule Day 2

10am - 10:30am - Mock Twinkle Babies ages 2-3

10:30 - 11:15am - Mock Twinkle Stars ages 3-4 

11:15 - 12:00pm - Mock Twinkle Stars ages 4-5

12pm - 12:30pm - Lunch

12:30pm - 1:30pm - Twinkle Babies/Stars Teaching Methods

1:30pm - 2:30pm - Showstars Teaching Methods

In addition to the class curriculum you need to prepare the following for each teacher:

• Monthly Lesson Plans

• Passport Books/Dance Journals

• Teaching Methods 

• Music Playlists

Email the link and password to Twinkle Star Dance instructor user to each teacher ahead of training session for reference before and after sessions.

Some additional teacher training tips to keep in mind: 

• All teachers attend all training sessions!

• Everyone dances - using actual energy and movement

• No sitting and talking through notes!

• Model voice and energy levels that you want dance teachers to use in class

• Let dance teachers trade off leading class content and give feedback

Check back next week for Part 2: Training the Super Teacher. Learn more about Twinkle Star Dance and get your “Super Teachers” certified at Spark Chicago. 

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.

Tiffany’s Clever Class Scheduling Tips & Tricks

Ready to serve more dancers and make more money in the new dance season? 

500 students and a performing company in a one-room studio is possible and insanely profitable. Tiffany shows you how she does it...and backs it up with proof.   

Join dance studio owners and industry experts Tiffany and Paul Henderson on Wednesday, March 10 11:30am ET/8:30am PT for a free zoom presentation and Q+A on “Tiffany’s Clever Class Scheduling Tips & Tricks.” RSVP here http://evite.me/gBpYP8muPJ

Meet Tiffany Henderson 

Tiffany Henderson is an industry leader and dance business expert. Tiffany owns and operates seven 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.

Studio Owner OVERCOME Schedule

Studio Owner OVERCOME Schedule for this Thursday, January 14 to Friday, January 15.

All sessions will be recorded and shared with attendees for 30 days following the live event.

Check out class descriptions and register here!

Day 1

12:00pm-12:30pm ET/9:00am-9:30am PT 
Welcome and Opening Talk

12:30pm-1:30pm ET/9:30am-10:30am PT 
Guest Speaker - Sandy Coyte

1:30pm-1:45pm ET/10:30am-10:45am PT 
15 Minute Break

1:45pm-2:45pm ET/10:45am -11:45am PT
General Session - TSD Superpowers 

2:45pm-3:15pm ET/11:45-12:15pm PT 
30 Minute Break

3:15pm-4:00pm ET/12:15-1:00pm PT 
General Session - Time to Start Planning

4:00-5:00pm ET/1:00-2:00pm PT 
Movement Class

Day 2

12:00pm-1:15pm ET/9:00am-10:15am PT 
General Session - Creating Cashflow During Covid

1:15pm-2:15pm ET/10:15am-11:15am PT 
General Session - Performing Company

2:15pm-2:30pm ET/11:15am-11:30am PT 
15 Minute Break

2:30pm-3:00pm PT/11:30am-12:00pm PT 
Closing Session

GENERAL SESSIONS

Time to Start Planning

Preparing for new enrollments this season while successfully scheduling and marketing your recitals, summer camps, and new season. 

TSD Superpowers

Creative ways to train new teachers and assistant teachers for them to be successful in the classroom. 

Creating Cashflow During Covid

Revenue generators, Understanding and cutting Recital costs, Increasing student engagement and retention.  

Performing Company

Providing performance opportunities for your most invested dancers at your studio plus timeline for recruiting for next season. 

Want more inspiration?

Join us live for Studio Owner OVERCOME a two-day virtual conference experience presented by dance studio owner and industry leader, Tiffany Henderson, featuring intimate conversations with women business owners and experts.

Network from the comfort of your home! Studio Owner OVERCOME is scheduled for January 14-15, 2021 and will contain Live Q+A with Expert Panelists, Business Sessions, and Inspirational Keynote. We will be releasing the schedule and class descriptions for Studio Owner OVERCOME very soon.

Pushing forward in your dance studio

FREE DANCE STUDIO OWNER WEBINAR

Feeling stressed about your future? You are not alone. Dance Studio Owner and Industry Expert, Tiffany Henderson, shares how she's setting small personal goals, maintaining a gratitude mindset, and surrendering to the uncertainty.

Plus, Tiffany's tips for increasing revenue with your current dancer enrollment, planning a Holiday Show experience, and how she's treading water into the New Year.

Listen here: https://bit.ly/3klsukY

Renewed Buzz for Preschool and School-Aged Dance Classes

While we still have less than 40% of our dancers back and enrollment is slow to grow we are seeing an uptick in friend referrals through invaluable Word of Mouth Marketing. 

At Tiffany’s Dance Academy we’ve always had a strong Twinkle Star Dance preschool and Showstars Dance school aged curriculum, but recently across our seven dance studio locations we are also seeing increased dancer engagement and retention. Once dancers decide it is safe to return to dance class they are enjoying their experience and telling all their friends.  

Word of Mouth marketing is considered the most valuable form of marketing for your business. According to Nielsen, a global marketing research firm, 92% of consumers believe recommendations from friends and family over all forms of advertising.   

Over the last eight months we focused on “connecting” instead of “collecting” dancers. Rather than thinking about the dancers that haven’t returned to the studio yet, we channeled our energy into the dancers that are back and making their experience great.

This renewed buzz about our dance classes has unleashed the power of word of mouth in our local communities.

Here are the three E’s we followed to increase Word of Mouth Marketing: 

1. Engage—Give the gift of connection. Focus on quality customer service and ask for reviews. Don’t be afraid to tap into emotions like dance class bringing a sense of normalcy and connection during trying times.     

2. Equip—Give them reasons to talk. We added value to our dance classes by introducing Twinkle Stars Kits - curated dancer props and cases - that help make dance class a sensory experience. Dancers ages 2-6 and 5-9 receive a case and props when they register for dance class, plus a new prop each month that corresponds with the theme. 

3. Empower—Give different ways to talk and share. We created an Adapted Twinkle Stars Curriculum - which incorporates monthly passport themes. Parents love sharing pictures of their dancers with their props on social media like their Twinkle Bears on the first day of dance and Turkey headbands for November’s Turkey Hop.   

We invite you to join us for an inspirational Studio Owner OVERCOME webinar event this Thursday, November 12 at 1:00pm ET/ 10:00am PT. 

Dance Studio Owner and Industry Expert, Tiffany Henderson, shares her tips for maximizing the holidays in your dance studio, increasing revenue with your current dancer enrollment, and how she's treading water into the New Year. 

Don't miss this crucial information. Claim your spot: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/22/q1pl6h9