studio owner overcome

Solving Pandemic Problems: The Great Dance Teacher Shortage

Screen Shot 2021-01-11 at 1.08.26 PM.png

What can Twinkle Star Dance do for dance studio owners in the midst of a global health and socioeconomic crisis? 

Enter The Great Dance Teacher Shortage. Does any of the following sound familiar to you? 

  • Teacher asks to cut down their class hours because they took a second job. 

  • Teacher asks to cut down their hours because they are going back to school. 

  • Teacher sends in their resignation letter via email three hours before their class. 

  • Teacher asks to only teach online classes, but you only have in person teaching positions available.

  • You post dance teacher job listings, but aren’t getting any qualified candidates. 

  • You reach out to local universities, but aren’t getting any qualified leads. 

If you are facing “The Great Dance Teacher Shortage” like we are at our studios, you simply can't find new dance teachers. The good news is you are not alone and with the right system in place you can train new teachers - including student teachers - to continue to keep your dance studio business afloat. 

Our proven video-based Twinkle Stars and Showstars curriculum and teacher training system allows you to train Teen/Senior dancers during “The Great Dance Teacher Shortage” without adding extra work to your busy schedule. 

Over 300 affiliated studio owners put Twinkle Star Dance into practice in their business and here is what some of them have to say:   

“I love Twinkle Star dance because it gets my instructors all on the same page and is also a great go to place for quick class ideas.  I am also very very grateful for the support, the ideas, and the subscriber calls with Tiffany.  These have helped me run my business through this incredibly difficult time.  Tiffany is incredibly generous with all of her ideas as well just completely real about what she is going through and to be with others going through the same thing, it is so helpful.  I will be a Twinkle Subscriber for life after all the pandemic support that I have received.  Thank you so much!” 

Jennifer Aversa, Dance Connections 

“Our classes for our youngest dancers were always very good and creative. Twinkle Star helped us get organized with additional material for class, especially the monthly lesson plans and the holiday material. The presentation of the classwork has improved so much on this program! The support of this group under the leadership of Tiffany and Amanda has been incredible during the pandemic!”

Marie Kasuska, Raise the Barre 

“We love Twinkle Stars curriculum and the videos work great for my busy staff.  I have seen so much progress with my younger dancers now that we are consistent with each level.  All the teachers are now teaching the same material and they are ready to move up the following year.  We also love the dress code, prop box and the monthly "speciality" dances.  Thank you Tiffany and Amanda for all that you do to make Twinkle Star stand out and be the best curriculum for young dancers.”  

Terri Sinani, Next Step Dance Studio

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.

Treading Water? We can help!

Screen Shot 2020-11-05 at 9.19.56 AM.png

In our seven dance studios across the San Francisco Bay Area we “treading water.” It’s November and the enrollment number we started with in August at the beginning of the new dance season is about the same. Which is about 30% of my enrollment at this time last year. 

In business the name of the game is how can I increase my revenue without also increasing my expenses. Said another way, for our businesses to continue to stay afloat how do we get the dancers currently enrolled to earn us more revenue? 

Here are five ways to start earning more revenue: 

1.Encourage dancers to take 2-3 classes per week

Although we often focus on enrollment numbers, more important is the average tuition per student. You can have 150 students, but if they are only paying you $50 per month you are only earning $7500 in tuition. If you get just half of those dancers to take a second class and pay $30 more that’s an additional $2250 each month.

2.Invite dancers to join your Performing Company  

Create or invite them to an existing performance group that gets them to take an additional class or rehearsal, buy additional costumes, and be more invested in your studio. 

3.Open registration for Mini Camps 

Offering one-hour mini dance camps during weekdays or on the weekends is a great way to earn additional revenue; dancers can even invite their friends to help increase valuable Word of Mouth Marketing to your business. 

4.Increase dancer participation in your Holiday Show and Recital 

Dancers need a goal to work towards and having two performance opportunities per season makes them more invested and better dancers. Shows are also an important revenue stream for our business and offering virtual performances or in studio filmings are very little cost to you.  

5.Don’t forget Studio Swag 

T-shirts, trophies, flowers, etc. Even in Covid-19 climate families want to buy something to commemorate their performance. 

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. 

 Gain Insight and Expert Advice on: 

  • Battling Burnout 

  • Managing Cash Flow

  • Optimizing Additional Revenue Streams 

  • Planning a Recital Experience 

  • Marketing to New and Returning Dancers 

  • Hiring, Training, Managing Teachers and Staff 

Network from the comfort of your home! Studio Owner OVERCOME is scheduled for November 12-13, 2020 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.

Three Silver Linings of Virtual Events

The pandemic changed everything, but some things changed for the better. 

One of the most valuable aspects of any professional dance studio owner event is the opportunity to grow and expand your network. Whether it’s a multi-day conference with hundreds of attendees or a half-day workshop with 20 people, connecting with dance studio owners who share similar challenges and responsibilities is a huge benefit for attendees.  

Today, that same power of community and growth is happening online through virtual events. Attending a virtual conference is a new experience for many of us that offers many new benefits. 

Virtual events: 

  • Expand your network. Without travel costs, attendees can participate from almost anywhere they have internet access. You have the opportunity to listen and learn from other studio owners faced with the same challenges as you - hear how they have weathered the storm and created new streams of revenue for their dance studio business. 

  • Lower your training costs. Access to industry professionals and business sessions used to cost upwards of hundreds of dollars per attendee, plus additional expenses for travel, lodging, food, etc. making them not accessible to many studio owners. By attending virtual events, you can access all the content for a small studio fee. 

  • Learn on your own time. All the business sessions, speaker panelists, and other conference content will be available for a few weeks after the conference ends. So, even if you can’t attend the entire live conference, you can still benefit from the event. 

Have questions about how to attend? Contact the Studio Owner OVERCOME team at amanda@twinklestardance.com or 925-583-2830. 

Upcoming virtual events:

  • November 12-13, 2020 - Studio Owner OVERCOME

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. 

 Gain Insight and Expert Advice on: 

  • Battling Burnout 

  • Managing Cash Flow

  • Optimizing Additional Revenue Streams 

  • Planning a Recital Experience 

  • Marketing to New and Returning Dancers 

  • Hiring, Training, Managing Teachers and Staff 

Network from the comfort of your home! Studio Owner OVERCOME is scheduled for November 12-13, 2020 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.

Gain Renewed Energy to Build Back your Dance Studio Business

TSD Pinnacle Conference Speaker AGUIRRE 101320 POSTS.jpg

GUEST SPEAKER: JESSICA AGUIRRE

Emmy-award winning journalist, Jessica Aguirre, shares how she overcame personal struggles to attain professional success. Plus, how she maintains resilience and recharges in the new normal.

About Jessica Aguirre

Jessica Aguirre is the 6 and 11 p.m. evening anchor at NBC Bay Area News and an Emmy award winning journalist. Jessica has been a primetime, evening anchor, in the Bay Area for over 20 years.

She began her career at the Spanish Language network, Univision, while attending the University of Miami. Before arriving in the Bay Area in 1998 she anchored and reported in Los Angeles and Miami, earning Emmy awards for her series on the struggles of migrant children and for her investigative work on child molesters as well as an Associated Press award for her series chronicling the struggle of boat people fleeing Cuba. During her tenure at NBC Bay Area Jessica won an Emmy for her poignant series, on the emotional journey of an East Bay transgender teen and her efforts to preserve her fertility before undergoing sex reassignment surgery, another Emmy for her live coverage of the "Ghostship" warehouse fire in Oakland and for field anchoring from the deadly Sonoma and Napa county firestorms.

Most recently Jessica was inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Silver Circle for twenty-five years of excellence in television journalism.

Studio Owner OVERCOME

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 November 12-13, 2020 and contains Live Q+A with Expert Panelists, Business Sessions, and Inspirational Keynote.

Learn more: https://www.pinnacledanceconference.com/pinnacle-live

Ready to hire, train, and manage new staff?

TSD Pinnacle Conference Speaker STEINLE 101920 POSTS.jpg

GUEST SPEAKER: LILLIAN STEINLE

Lillian Steinle shares her unique approach to hiring, training, and managing Millennials and Gen Z in the new normal. Plus, how she and her staff create a family atmosphere that extends to their clients. 

About Lillian Steinle

Lillian Steinle is the Regional General Manager of the Campo Di Bocce restaurant locations. Her philosophy in managing these fast paced, high volume facilities is using a hands-on approach to develop a fun and successful team. 

Lillian has over thirty years of experience as a restaurant general manager, she has managed at family owned and corporate restaurants, as well as opening larger hotels for Marriott and Hilton. In 2007, she moved to then-recently opened Campo Di Bocce of Livermore. Her dedication and care have helped the unique, ambitious restaurant flourish since its inception.

She is an active member of the California Restaurant Association and many local city organizations to improve the Livermore area for local businesses.

Her consistent hard work and display of respect and care in her position have garnered her great admiration among her peers and staff who, under Lillian’s leadership, truly feel as though they are a part of a “Family.'

Studio Owner OVERCOME

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 November 12-13, 2020 and contains Live Q+A with Expert Panelists, Business Sessions, and Inspirational Keynote.

Learn more: https://www.pinnacledanceconference.com/pinnacle-live