It’s almost summer, and that means it’s almost time for the always inspiring (and 18th annual!) Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo. This year, leading up to the event, Dance Teacher Web (DTW) is offering some free and useful digital tools for dance educators and studio owners, as well as the new premium resource, Studio 360.
DTW, which has always consistently focused on offering things of a high value, promises that Studio 360 and all its features will be total game-changers for studio owners in how they manage their business. Here, Dance Informa speaks with Founder of DTW Steve Sirico about the exciting launch and what’s new for the 2026 DTW Conference and Expo.
This year, Dance Teacher Web is focusing on a new line of digital tools for dance educators and studio owners. Please tell us more!
“These new digital tools are built as the ultimate operational command center for dance studio owners and independent educators. We are entirely focused on providing practical, system-based professional advice. We’ve deliberately stripped away all the motivational ‘fluff’ and ‘finding your why’ coaching language that you see so much of today. Instead, these are concrete, tactical tools geared toward the modern owner who wants to streamline their operations, dominate their community with our ‘Local Orbit’ marketing strategies, and build a lasting business.”
What are some of the free tools on offer? And what are some of the high-end, premium tools that have just become available this month?
“We believe in consistently delivering massive value, which is why we have an incredible lineup of completely free tools available right now directly on Dance Teacher Web! Studio owners can immediately access our Financial & Revenue Suite – featuring a True Class Cost Calculator and Tuition Tier Optimizer – as well as our Operations Suite, which includes a Capacity Audit and Recital Revenue Forecaster to stop the guessing game. For educators, we have a brilliant Formation and Spacing Tool that generates instant choreography layouts and printable staging PDFs to eliminate traffic jams. Plus, this May, we have launched our brand-new, completely free Studio Valuation tool!
As for our high-end, premium suite, May has marked the official launch of the powerhouse Studio 360 ecosystem. This includes unparalleled applications like Studio Empire 360, Studio Virtual Assistant 360, Front Desk Concierge 360, ChoreoCouture 360, and the Recital Theme and Routine Generator 360. The lifetime access rate for this premium suite is an absolute steal at $497. However, studio owners who register a team of five or more staff members for the August conference will receive full access to the suite entirely for free for the rest of 2026!”
What is exciting and new for this summer’s DTW Conference and Expo?
“This is our 18th Annual Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo, and we are bringing the heat to the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas from August 6th to the 9th! What’s incredibly exciting this year is the addition of highly exclusive, hands-on experiences alongside our dynamic new partnerships.
A major new highlight is The Power Play Breakfast. This is an exclusive pre-conference ‘dine and discuss’ taking place Thursday, August 6, from 9-11:30am. It is the ultimate working breakfast, strictly limited to just 20 studio owners and directors. For $397, attendees get an intimate, in-depth look at the exact touchpoints needed to elevate and separate their studio from everyone else, hosted by myself, Angie, and veteran studio owner Hedy Perna.
On top of that, the attendee-favorite Weissman Fashion Show will now be a breakfast event in the Paris Theater, and it is going to be absolutely awesome! The energy this year is going to be completely off the charts!”
The Conference seems like the place to be for continuing education and business development for studio owners and teachers. What are three things you think participants will take away from this niche conference?
“1. Actionable Business Blueprints from Interactive Sessions: The benefit of a live conference is that you aren’t just listening; you are actively working on your business in the room. Through our immersive business sessions, owners will leave with concrete, revenue-generating plans – like our ‘Local Orbit’ playbook for dominating local market SEO, and exact frameworks for constructing separate, profitable pricing strategies for Summer Intensives instead of losing revenue by bundling them into standard yearly tuition.
2. Hands-On Pedagogical Leadership and Technique: The magic of a live event is getting out on the floor and feeling the energy. Teachers will experience transformative classroom techniques in real-time. They will learn exactly how to elevate their instructional language, frame corrections as ‘gifts’ that students enthusiastically respond to with a ‘Thank You,’ and physically master powerful closing rituals like our ‘Stand Tall, Stand Proud’ discipline exercise to bring back to their studios.
3. Invaluable Peer Connections and Networking: You simply cannot replicate the hallway conversations, the shared meals and the spontaneous brainstorming that happens in person at DTW. Studio owners and teachers will walk away with a renewed support system, having connected face-to-face with like-minded professionals who truly understand the daily grind and are ready to share real solutions.”
Why do you think it’s important for dance teachers – at any age and after any number of years of teaching – to do some sort of continuing education? And why do you think it’s crucial for studio owners – no matter how long they’ve been in the game – to invest their time in business development resources such as the DTW Conference?
“For teachers, continuing education is vital because language and pedagogy are always evolving. To lead effectively, teachers need to constantly elevate their communication — like swapping out outdated terms in technique descriptions for more professional pedagogical language, or changing parent-facing ‘evaluations’ to ‘recommendations.’
This is exactly why we have completely updated our Dance Teacher University (DTU) Certification for 2026! While the program isn’t new, the curriculum is cutting-edge, practical education updated for today’s classroom. It’s built for everyone: veteran dance teachers, K-12 instructors, college dance majors, professional dancers in career transition, and even aspiring teen teaching assistants ages 16 and up. Level I kicks off on-site in Vegas on Wednesday, August 5, and Level II is presented virtually. For just a $427 upgrade per student, attendees get intensive instruction in Ballet, Anatomy, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Early Childhood, all supplemented by the incredible classes and amenities of the main DTW Conference. It is the ultimate continuing education experience!
For studio owners, no matter how long you’ve been in the game, the industry shifts. You cannot run a modern studio on yesterday’s business models. Investing in resources like DTW gives you the master plan. It’s about building a sustainable empire using real metrics and hard strategies, not just crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.”
What is always your favorite part of the summer Conference?
“Our absolute favorite part is the community and the sheer electricity of being in the room with so many passionate educators. After more than 40 years of being with studio owners, there is nothing quite like seeing that ‘aha!’ moment light up an owner’s face when they realize they finally have the exact tools they need to succeed. Experiencing that massive, shared passion for dance education all under one roof in Vegas is completely unmatched!”
Is there anything else you’d like to add about the exciting online tools and resources?
“Our Studio 360 ecosystem is going to completely revolutionize how studio owners manage their businesses! We built Studio 360 to be the ultimate digital command center, and the tools it offers are absolute game-changers. From Studio Empire 360 laying the bulletproof groundwork for your business, to Front Desk Concierge 360 streamlining your customer experience, to ChoreoCouture 360 making costume planning a breeze – it is a complete, 360-degree solution. It takes the guesswork out of daily operations, allowing owners to spend less time in the weeds and more time doing what they do best: growing their empire! We can’t wait to see everyone in Vegas to celebrate it!”
This summer, the DTW Conference & Expo will be held from August 6-9, in Las Vegas, and once again, the event promises a great lineup of sessions and workshops. Previous attendees have called the Conference “life-changing” and “the best in the business.” For more information and to register, visit danceteacherconference.com.
And to get access to Studio 360, head to dtwstudio360.com.
By Laura Di Orio of Dance Informa.
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