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.

Top 5 Pain Points of Owning a Dance Studio: Work/Life Balance

It’s Tuesday and I’m deep in the whirlwind that is January at my dance studios. I’m creating and setting choreography for our spring recitals, running promotions for new students, taking inventory of classes, planning the schedule for the new season, and onboarding new teachers and staff. To keep myself motivated, I glance at my to-do list and add, “Book flights to Paris” for a well-deserved September getaway.

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 found that many of us face the same five 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

Having owned and operated multiple successful studio locations for decades, I’ve experienced my fair share of ups and downs. Here, I’ll focus on the first challenge: Work/Life Balance and offer some practical solutions.

Work/Life Balance

Ask yourself: Is your studio running you, or are you running your studio? If it feels like the studio is in charge, it’s time to make some changes. Here are my top strategies:

1. Set Boundaries

Make a list of your non-negotiables and stick to it. When my children were young, I committed to picking them up from school every day and reserved Thursday evenings for family dinners. These small but significant boundaries ensured I stayed present for my family while managing a thriving business.

2. Treat It Like a Full-Time Job

Hold regular office hours in a dedicated workspace. Identify your most productive times of day and prioritize the one critical task you need to accomplish daily. Consistency in this approach will help you feel more in control of your schedule.

3. Utilize Systems and Delegate

Today’s technology offers countless tools to streamline small business operations. Invest in platforms that simplify scheduling, payroll, and communication. Hire the right team, establish clear processes, and trust them to handle tasks you don’t need to manage personally.

4. Build a Supportive Community

Connect with like-minded studio owners at live events to share ideas and find encouragement. Having a network of peers who understand your challenges can make all the difference during the busiest seasons.

Join Me for More Insights

If you’re looking for actionable advice and a chance to recharge, I invite you to join me at the Pinnacle Dance Conference and Retreat this summer. It’s happening July 18-20, 2025, at the stunning Omni Royal Orleans in the heart of the French Quarter. This weekend getaway is designed for dance studio owners to reconnect, learn, and grow their businesses.

Check back next week when I’ll share my tips for tackling Financial Instability.

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.

Best Practices for Profitable and Enjoyable Recitals

Recitals are more than just a celebration of student achievements—they are a vital revenue stream and a cornerstone of your dance studio's community. By adopting strategic practices, you can ensure your recital is both enjoyable and profitable.

1. Know Your Numbers

Effective recital planning starts with understanding your capacity and maximizing ticket sales.

• Theatre Capacity: Confirm the total number of seats available.

• Ticket Sales Per Dancer: Aim for an average of 5 tickets sold per dancer, adjusting expectations based on past events.

• Show Size: Cap the maximum number of dancers per show to balance ticket demand and audience comfort.

Pro Tip: Use ticket sales data from previous recitals to set realistic goals and avoid overselling.

2. How Many Shows?

Carefully consider the number of shows needed to accommodate dancers and their families.

• Hosting multiple, smaller shows ensures an enjoyable experience for attendees and reduces logistical challenges.

• Shorter shows also keep audience engagement high, leading to better overall reviews and word-of-mouth promotion.

3. Recital Participation Fees

Why Implement a Participation Fee?
Introducing a recital participation fee simplifies financial planning for families and provides your studio with predictable revenue.

• Streamlined Costs: Consolidate costume and recital expenses into one transparent fee.

• Increased Revenue: This approach often yields higher total revenue per student while reducing last-minute financial surprises.

What’s Included?
Clearly outline the value in your participation fee, such as:

• Costume 

• Pair of performance tights 

• Action photos and video

• A recital keepsake, like a ribbon or medal 

Pro Tip: Keep tickets separate from your recital participation fee 

4. Avoiding Sold-Out Shows

Overbooked shows can lead to frustration for families and detract from the recital experience.

Strategic Planning:

• Balance show sizes to avoid turning away eager attendees.

• Create a seating plan that optimizes capacity while maintaining comfort.

Maximizing Ticket Sales:

• Promote your shows early to encourage advanced ticket purchases.

• Consider digital ticketing platforms to streamline the process.

5. Tiered Recital Ticketing

Offering a variety of ticket price points caters to diverse family budgets and encourages attendance.

Benefits of Tiered Pricing:

• Maximized Revenue: Premium seating options typically sell out first.

• Higher Attendance: Affordable options can attract extended family members and friends.

What to Charge:
Research local pricing trends to determine a fair range, such as $15 for general admission and $30 for VIP seating.

6. Know Your Audience

A captivating recital theme and well-curated details can elevate your recital and boost ticket sales.

Engaging Themes:
Themes like Storybook, The Greatest Show, or Footloose with storylines and music the audience knows and enjoys to create excitement.
Curated Costumes: Select high-quality costumes that enhance your theme.

7. Dance for the Whole Family

Family-friendly elements make your recital a community-building event.

Inclusive Opportunities:

• Include a Daddy-Daughter dance or a Mom’s dance to foster family participation.

• Add audience engagement activities, such as a glow party or interactive finale.

Building Community:
These moments create lasting memories and encourage families to return year after year.

Recitals as Revenue Drivers

Recitals are more than a milestone—they’re an opportunity to enhance your studio's financial health and strengthen its community. With thoughtful planning, tiered pricing strategies, and family-focused programming, you can transform your recital into an enjoyable and profitable experience for everyone involved.

Hello, Holiday Season!

As we enter the busy holiday season, it's natural for new student enrollments to slow down this time of year. But don’t worry—January is just around the corner, and we have exciting promotions planned to welcome new friends into our Twinkle Babies and Twinkle Stars classes at the start of the new year.

For now, November and December offer the perfect opportunity to shift our focus inward, nurturing our current studio community and engaging with the dancers and families already enrolled.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing fun programming ideas to keep your dancers excited and your studio thriving through the holidays.

One simple yet effective idea is to incorporate themed props into your classes!

For example, our Twinkle Star Dance classes love using autumn-colored scarves for a choreographed ballet center stretch to “Colors of the Wind.” It’s a beautiful way to celebrate the season.

This November, we’ve added a dance to “Country Freeze Dance” in all our classes, building up to a special Family Hoedown during Parent Observation Week. Parents will be invited to join the fun and create lasting memories with their dancers.

In December, jingle bells take center stage! Our Twinkle Babies adore dancing to “Jingle Bells Opposites,” and they love the sound of the jingling bells as they move. Another favorite prop is the star wand—our Twinkle Stars use them to dance to “Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas Star,” adding extra magic to their holiday-themed classes.

Looking for more inspiration? Learn more about Twinkle Star Dance and our teacher certifications here: Twinkle Star Dance.

Meet Tiffany Henderson

Tiffany Henderson is a respected dance industry leader and business expert. She owns and operates multiple Tiffany’s Dance Academy locations in Northern California. Her innovative video-based teacher training system and curriculum, Twinkle Star Dance, is used by over 300 dance studios worldwide to inspire young dancers and grow thriving studio communities.

The Power of Gratitude: Transforming Your Mindset and Well-Being

How you think about yourself, your world, and others is more important than the actual circumstances of your life. As John Milton famously wrote, “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.” This perspective reveals the transformative power of our mindset, and one of the most effective tools for cultivating a positive outlook is gratitude.

What is Gratitude?

Gratitude goes far beyond saying "thank you." It’s a felt sense of wonder, thankfulness, and appreciation for life. Gratitude is about recognizing and affirming the good in the world, as Bob Emmons of UC Davis describes: “Gratitude is an affirmation of the good and the recognition that the good resides outside the self.”

It can look like:

• Savoring small joys in daily life.

• Finding the silver lining in setbacks.

• Reflecting on abundance rather than scarcity.

• Expressing thanks to someone who has positively impacted you.

• Counting blessings and acknowledging life’s gifts.

Gratitude connects us to the present moment, strengthens our resilience, and promotes well-being.

8 Ways Gratitude Boosts Happiness

1. Promotes Savoring: Grateful thinking allows you to fully appreciate positive experiences.

2. Enhances Self-Worth: Expressing gratitude increases self-esteem and self-confidence.

3. Builds Coping Skills: Gratitude fosters resilience in the face of stress and trauma.

4. Encourages Moral Behavior: Gratitude inspires kindness and ethical actions.

5. Strengthens Social Bonds: It deepens existing relationships and opens doors to new ones.

6. Inhibits Comparisons: Gratitude diminishes envy and promotes contentment.

7. Diminishes Negative Emotions: Practicing gratitude counteracts anger, fear, and bitterness.

8. Counters Hedonic Adaptation: Gratitude prevents taking life’s blessings for granted.

Mental and Physical Health Benefits

Gratitude has profound effects on both mental and physical health:

• Improves Mood: Gratitude activates dopamine and serotonin, the brain’s “feel-good” chemicals.

• Reduces Anxiety and Depression: It shifts focus from negative thoughts to positive ones.

• Enhances Resilience: A grateful mindset helps people navigate challenges with strength.

• Better Sleep: Reflecting on gratitude before bed improves sleep quality and duration.

• Boosts Heart Health: Gratitude has been linked to lower blood pressure and better cardiovascular health.

• Strengthens Immunity: Emerging research suggests gratitude may support immune function.

• Promotes Longevity: Studies show gratitude can even lower mortality rates.

How to Practice Gratitude

Gratitude isn’t something that just happens—it’s a skill you can nurture. Here are a few ways to incorporate gratitude into your daily life:

• 3 Blessings: Write down three things you’re grateful for each day for two weeks.

• Gratitude Journal: Reflect deeply in paragraph form on what you appreciate.

• Gratitude Letters: Write to someone who has made a difference in your life.

• Gratitude Texts/Emails: Send short notes of thanks to people who have helped you.

Bringing Gratitude to the Dance Studio

Gratitude can create a vibrant and supportive environment in the studio. Here’s how:

• Gratitude Walls: Create a space for students and staff to share what they’re thankful for.

• Thank You Notes: Send personal notes or gifts to students, parents, or colleagues.

• Gratitude-Based Themes: Center class activities around appreciation and celebration.

• Surprise Acts of Kindness: Empower staff to perform small gestures to uplift others.

• Celebrate Achievements: Recognize milestones and accomplishments with gratitude.

When gratitude becomes part of the studio’s culture, it fosters connection, joy, and a shared sense of purpose.

Why Gratitude Matters

Gratitude isn’t just a feel-good practice; it’s a megastrategy for happiness and well-being. It shifts focus from what’s lacking to the abundance in our lives, cultivates resilience, and brings people together.

By embracing gratitude, you can transform your mindset—and your life. As you explore gratitude in your personal life and share it with your community, you’ll uncover its power to make even the most ordinary moments extraordinary.

So, what are you grateful for today?