Tips for Dance Teachers
by Angela D’Valda Sirico of DanceTeacherWeb.com

As dance teachers we are faced each day with not only nurturing our students from a technical aspect, but more importantly, from a psychological one too. The majority of dance teachers do not hold degrees in psychology and yet we need to help our students, especially the teenage ones, with this incredibly important side of their dance training. Even in our discussions with dancers promoting nutritional health the psychological side is often omitted. Without adequate nurturing in this direction many of our young students will never be able to realize their true potential as dancers or as professionals in whatever field they choose to work in.

Teaching students the art of positive thinking and giving them positive reinforcement is the key to your success as a teacher. Our goal is to give our dancers the motivation to come to class, to work hard to achieve higher levels and to help them have the confidence and self-esteem to let their creativity flow freely.

Most dancers like the social aspect of coming to the studio and the feeling that they are among friends. The studio can be their second home. The more we can do to help promote a sense of belonging and the feeling of being an integral part of the school, the better the results will be in the classroom. When the dancers feel good about themselves and the friends around them they are more willing to take risks with their dancing and to go the extra mile for their fellow students.

Promote healthy forms of motivation, such as emphasizing collaboration with the group and de-emphasizing rivalry. Reward effort over talent, show dancers that they have control over their improvement and work ethic and that they are ultimately responsible for their success. By giving the students these tools you will help them in the classroom, on stage, or in whatever profession they decide to embrace. Sometimes dancers who are gifted with amazing natural talent are the ones who give very little effort in class. This can be extremely frustrating to other students who are less talented and also to the teacher who knows they can be brilliant. Talent is typically viewed as something that is beyond our control. Talented dancers sometimes worry that their talent will only take them so far and that they lack the control to go beyond that point. This is where we can step in to nurture their true sense of self and ability and enable them to take the steps necessary to move higher up the ladder and realize their true potential.

Less talented dancers often beat themselves up and take every correction as a reinforcement of how bad a dancer they really are. Training dancers to truly feel that every correction is a gift and that the teacher recognises that they have the capability to do more, is a good way to build that confidence that may be lacking. Rewarding the effort made by any dancer and letting their peers know when a fellow dancer has made an improvement goes a long way in helping them to be better achievers. Letting each dancer know what your expectations of them are and the reason why you have those expectations is important. Every dancer can improve, whether it is in a tiny or a big way, they just need to be told that they can do it.

The Success Blueprint for the Dance Studio Owner

By Deborah Searle.

If there’s ever been a book that will take you to the next level when running your dance studio, It’s Your Turn! The Success Blueprint for the Dance Studio Owner is it.

In It’s Your Turn the dynamic team of Steve Sirico, Angela D’Valda Sirico and Robert Landau take you on a journey of self-discovery to explore how you can achieve success both in your business and personal life. Steve and Angela are well established authorities when it comes to all things that have to do with owning and operating a dance studio. Their DanceTeacherWeb.com membership website and yearly dance teacher conference attract hundreds within the dance industry.

“After twenty one years, we wanted to share our insight, philosophies and methods that have helped us in running a successful dance studio,” said Steve Sirico. “We felt there was a need for a book that not only provided practical tips but also much needed encouragement and inspiration for the busy studio owner. We want studio owners to feel that they are not alone but rather part of a large and successful dance teacher community,” followed Angela D’Valda Sirico.

Some of the many topics covered within the book’s pages are: finding the motivation and balance you need to get through your day, how to deal with difficult staff and customers, how to best market your studio, and how to be organized, making every task a success.

“Speaking from personal experience, I know how important and empowering it is to have answers to many of the questions we face on a daily basis. We designed the book so that readers would have ideas from three different people, so that they can see that there isn’t always just one way to resolve issues or to move forward and be successful,” explained Angela.

And although not a studio owner himself, Robert Landu provides key insights into successful business management in It’s Your Turn. Robert is an international motivational speaker and positive results expert that has worked with countless businesses to successfully take their operations to the next level.

“It’s one thing to have a picture of how one wants things to run, but it’s another bringing that picture to life”, says Robert. “We realized that there really wasn’t a book out there that addressed all aspects of what it is to operate a studio, particularly in these challenging times. The book is a perfect balance of practical and motivational advice. It’s a quick but informative read and the facts are laid out in an easy-to-digest manner.”

As studio owners, your time is already stretched, but why not spend a little time learning how to best run your studio? It could save you a lot of time and heartache in the long run, and bring you much joy in the process.

“I believe the number one mistake that studio owners make is not fully realizing that THEY are the business and that everything they do or don’t do has a direct influence on staff, faculty, parents and students. It is just then a matter of using that influence in a positive and informed way”, shares Angela.

And helpful, inspiring information is where it’s at. “Dance studio owners and teachers so often feel isolated. It’s Your Turn will not only give practical information that they constantly need, but also the motivation to expect more from their lives both in business and on the personal side”, adds Angela. “This book will help the studio owner in all areas of running the business, finding the fine balance of running a business while maintaining artistic integrity”, explains Steve. “It’s a much needed tool kit to help the studio owner achieve their ultimate success.”

It’s Your Turn! The Success Blueprint for the Dance Studio Owner is now available on www.raisethebarreconsulting.com . It can make a great tool book for yourself or a helpful Christmas gift for the studio owner in your life.

Dance Teacher Web presents a great series of exercises to develop core strength featuring Jessica Rizzo. Every month Dance Teacher Web presents new work in it’s members area. Make the move to join the number one dance resource for teachers worldwide. Providing tips, tools and tactics to gain, train and retain better students! www.danceteacherweb.com

Jessica Rizzo is a native New Yorker and grad student in NYUs dance education masters program. She is also a cum laude graduate with her BFA in dance performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst 5 College Dance Program. Since then, Jess, a Chancellors Talent Award Scholarship alumni has been fortunate to have graced stages all over the world.

By Steve Sirico of Dance Teacher Web.

In this special 2 part series we will explore tips to running a successful studio. Think about your business and how these tips apply to what you are doing. Even if you are doing what I recommend, try to think in terms of how you might switch up your approach for even greater success.

Keep in contact with your current customers.
This means emails, newsletters, surveys, customer events and anything else you can think of. The reality is that everyone is busy and you are low on their radar. If you lose contact, then you risk losing business. Most people stop coming to a business because they think you don’t even know they exist. And don’t worry about being a pest. Just keep giving them useful information and special offers that they will love to receive.

Keep marketing to your current customers.
Most businesses focus on attracting new clients and marketing to them. But think about this: If you are doing business with a company you like, you are more apt to buy more of the same. A lot more! When you have devoted clients, you can ask them to give you testimonials so you can then promote what they love about you.

Create WOW moments for your customers.
Make plans to have special events that are both publicised and unannounced at your school.  Think of ways to surprise your students and their families. Ideas include highlighting a special student of the month, free giveaways for students who work hard, special projects where everyone wins something, and just random acts of kindness. They will make you the talk of the town.

Get your staff and faculty to buy into your philosophy…or sever the relationship.
Donald Trump likes to say “hire slowly but fire quickly”. Most people do the opposite. They hire on a gut reaction and then try to hold on when things go south. If you are having an issue with any faculty member or staff member it is best to try to resolve the issue immediately! If no solution is at hand then use that apprentice line—“You’re fired!”

Build your preschool program.
If you build it they will come. Make a special brochure or schedule exclusively for them. The more time offered the bigger your program will get. Try doing a special show that is short and informal with just these younger students—both enjoyable and easy on the families and their time.

Build programs for each niche.
Beyond preschool, offer programs for all ages and special areas that include athletes, kids who are singers and actors, recreational, competition teams, dance teams and even adults. Now the key is to find ways to market to each group exclusively.  “Find a need, fill a need”—if you do, you will always have plenty of business.

Don’t let the parents run the ship.
Parents will love to give you their two cents about all kinds of things: Who should be teaching, what they should be teaching, during which hours they should be teaching. And it doesn’t stop there. Listen to your customers, but do not waiver from your company vision. Your parents will take over if you let them and then you will have a hard time regaining control. It’s your business, you are in charge. Make sure they know that and they won’t over step the boundary.