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.

Unlock the Magic: The Benefits of Holiday Shows for Your Dance Studio

As the holiday season approaches, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how to make the most of this magical period for your dance studio. Holiday shows are more than just a festive tradition; they’re a powerful tool that can benefit your business, motivate your dancers, and build a sense of community. Let’s dive into why holiday performances are so important and how you can make the most of these opportunities.

1. Why Holiday Shows Matter:

• Important Revenue Stream: Holiday shows can be a significant revenue source for your studio. Beyond ticket sales, these performances create opportunities for additional merchandise sales and even attract new students to your classes.

• Tangible Goals: For both dancers and teachers, having a holiday show on the calendar provides a clear, tangible goal to work towards. This focus enhances practice sessions and encourages commitment.

• Sense of Achievement: Performing in front of an audience is a unique experience that fosters a sense of accomplishment. It’s a chance for dancers to showcase their hard work and celebrate their progress.

• Community Connection: Holiday shows bring together families, friends, and the extended community. They provide a platform for building connections and celebrating shared experiences.

• The Thrill of Performing: Nothing compares to the excitement and joy of performing live. This experience is invaluable, offering personal growth and memorable moments for everyone involved.

2. Planning Your Performances:

To ensure a successful season, consider the following upcoming performances:

• Dancing Holiday Magic (Nov/Dec): Embrace the festive spirit with a show that highlights the joy and wonder of the season. Perfect for captivating audiences and showcasing your dancers' skills in a holiday-themed performance.

• The Nutcracker or Nutcracker Sweet (Nov/Dec): A classic holiday favorite, this performance offers dancers a chance to experience the magic of a timeless ballet, bringing elegance and charm to your studio's repertoire.

• Annual Recital (May/June): The grand finale of the dance year, featuring the Twinkle Stars Showcase, Storybook performance, and the Big Show. This is a highlight for your students, giving them the opportunity to shine on stage and share their growth throughout the year.

3. Maximize Additional Performance Opportunities:

To truly make the most of the season, consider adding these special events to your calendar:

• Daddy Daughter Dance: A special event that creates cherished memories for families and offers a unique performance experience.

• Dance the Dream Disneyland Parade: An exciting opportunity for your dancers to perform in a magical setting and gain unforgettable experiences.

• Finale & Opening Number: Ensure every recital has standout moments, including a grand opening number and a memorable finale to leave a lasting impression on the audience.

Consider including your costumes, dancers awards, and action photos/videos in a Recital Participation Fee to help add value to your customers. 

Recital Participation Fee Includes:

When your dancers participate in the recital, they receive:

• Performance (stage, filming, etc): A professionally managed performance experience.

• Costume ($80 value): A beautifully designed costume to enhance their stage presence.

• T-shirt ($20 value): A commemorative keepsake of their performance.

• Ribbon/Medal ($10 value): A token of their hard work and dedication.

• Action Photos and Videos: Captured moments that make every dancer feel like a star.

Get as Many Dancers as Possible Involved:

Make it your goal to involve as many dancers as possible in your shows. The more participants, the greater the sense of community, achievement, and revenue. Every dancer deserves the chance to experience the joy of performing and celebrate their progress.

By planning and maximizing these performance opportunities, you not only create memorable experiences for your dancers and their families but also strengthen the sense of community within your studio. Embrace the holiday season with excitement and enthusiasm, and watch as your dancers thrive on stage!

Meet Tiffany Henderson

Tiffany Henderson is a renowned leader and expert in the dance industry. She is the owner of several Tiffany's Dance Academy locations across Northern California. Tiffany’s innovative video-based teacher training system and curriculum, Twinkle Star Dance, is successfully used in over 300 dance studios around the globe.

Energy and Enthusiasm: Recital Readiness Series with Tiffany Henderson

Preschool dancers will imitate your energy and intention. If you are stressed, they will be as well. Make sure to create a peaceful, inviting classroom environment as your dancers enter your dance studio. Here are some tips for setting the right tone for your classes:

• Arrive early to prepare yourself for the class - check music playlists, test sound, and review your lesson plan elements. Preparing yourself will ease your stress and allow for more attention on the dancers.

• Review class roster to review dancer names and check for any new or trialing dancers.

• Pre-set your dance shoes and any personal items you need for the class. Have soft, engaging music playing.

• Check dance studio lighting and remove anything in the studio that might distract the dancers.

• Greet dancers by name at the classroom door with a warm smile and welcome. Soften your voice and model the energy you want them to match as they enter.

They will give half of what you give them so when you teach babies you have to give 200% energy and enthusiasm for the movement as well as exaggerate your arms and steps.

Only work on the recital dance for 10 minutes max in each class. This should be a part of what they are learning and running the dance 2-3 times in each class will keep them excited and eager to come back to class the next week.

Want more insights and practical advice? Join me for a dance studio owner weekend getaway to Pinnacle Dance Conference and Retreat this July 20-21, 2024 at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain.

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.

Sing the Arms: Recital Readiness Series with Tiffany Henderson

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 before you stand up to teach the recital dance. 

Sometimes when they are standing and facing the mirror they become distracted and miss the choreography. They can only learn if they are focused. When standing they are also thinking about what their feet are doing. 

Learning the words with arms first is best!

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. 

After you ‘Sing the Arms” stand up and add the arms and feet together. Remember if they can say it they can do it!

Talk through the dance until you see their attention start to fade. At that point do the dance with the music and continue past the section that you taught them. They should be able to follow along with you and do that dance. 

Want more insights and practical advice? Join me for a dance studio owner weekend getaway to Pinnacle Dance Conference and Retreat this July 20-21, 2024 at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain.

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.

Just For Fun: Recital Readiness Series with Tiffany Henderson

Do you have trouble keeping your youngest dancers' attention in class while preparing them for the recital? Try these tips for keeping your classes fun and engaging all year round.

1. Just For Fun 

Add in Seasonal “follow me” dances that can easily be added to your class without taking up too much “recital prep” time. 

This month,  we add our “The Bunny Jive” dance activity each week to add in Springtime fun. A “follow me” dance is one that can be easily executed just by watching the dance teacher with repetitive phrases and a standard chorus.  

2. Skill Building 

Take challenging steps or phrases from the recital dance and add it into other parts of the class. 

For example if the challenging phrase is an Irish tap step, make sure to add that into your tap warm up and at the tap barre for extra practice. This will make more time for adding in the fun seasonal dances that keep your classes magical!

Want more insights and practical advice? Join me for a dance studio owner weekend getaway to Pinnacle Dance Conference and Retreat this July 20-21, 2024 at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain.

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.