Dance Advantage » dance studio http://danceadvantage.net Giving students, teachers, and parents an edge in dance education Wed, 23 May 2012 13:34:24 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Engaging Preschoolers with Puppets http://danceadvantage.net/2012/05/23/puppets-in-preschool-dance-room/ http://danceadvantage.net/2012/05/23/puppets-in-preschool-dance-room/#comments Wed, 23 May 2012 13:34:24 +0000 Maria Hanley Blakemore http://danceadvantage.net/?p=13895  IMAGE A bunny puppet IMAGEPuppets are powerful to young children. They are magical, which could be why I like them so much too! A few years ago, I had to face it. I am not as cool as a puppet. It’s fine, really. Who wouldn’t like a colorful, soft animal that moves and talks?

I have been incorporating puppets for as long as I have taught toddlers and preschoolers and I have seen first hand their benefits. From inviting children into the dance room to singing a special song, the puppet becomes a teacher too. Below I have broken down some of the benefits and offer some ideas for incorporating puppets in the dance room.

Transition
Using puppets for transitions works wonders! They may not listen to you but I can guarantee they will listen to the puppet. Puppets can motivate a child to get up and continue on with class. Sometimes you alone are not enough to engage every child. I use the puppet for help in transitioning students from one place in the room to another. Maybe the puppet takes them through their home as they get to the other side of the room, or maybe the puppet’s favorite game is follow the leader. Ever since I added a puppet to just one transition during a 45 minute class, things got a lot less chaotic.

 

Break Outta That Shell
Puppets are welcoming and can offer a sense of comfort to your young dancers. If you have dancers who are skeptical of dance class on the first day or have trouble separating from their grown-up, try a puppet to ease their fears. If you show that the puppet isn’t scared, most likely the child will enter the classroom and join in! Use them to open up shy students, allowing them time to break out of their shells.

 

Focus
At the peak of the class when everyone gets wiggly and chatty, give a puppet a big entrance! Immediately you will find the puppet captures their attention. Guide the students to focus in on the details of the puppet. What color is it? What’s the face look like? How does it move? What does it sound like? Using the puppet as a tool to reel your students back in is a creative way to get them to focus and in turn listen to what you want them to do.

 

 A few things to remember when using puppets in your preschool classes:

1) Have a clear goal of why you are using the puppet. Know what the puppet will add to the song, story, or rituals of the class. Just because the dance you are doing is about a bear doesn’t mean you need a bear puppet. Overdoing it will take the magic out of it. Have a few key puppets and that is all you need.

2) Create rituals with the puppets. You already know that children respond well to repetition, so use it to your advantage.  Every time you bring out the puppet you say the same thing and you do the same thing. Rituals will help keep things calm, collected and more fun.

3) Create relationships between the puppet and the dancers. Instead of you, the teacher, complimenting on the students dancing, have the puppet do it. Show that their puppet friend is watching and that they care as much as you do.

 

Examples of what I love to do with the puppets:

1) Belly kisses: Dancers want to show that they love the puppet by giving them kisses, but that’s a great way to spread germs that nobody wants! Instead, I say this puppet (or the puppet name) gives belly kisses. I kiss them right on their belly button. They love it so much.

2) Happy Taps: The puppet visits each student to see if they are happy. If they are happy they get a tap, if they are not happy they get a tap to instantly make them smile! It’s my way of allowing every student to touch and see the puppet. Basically, everyone gets a happy tap.  :)

3) Sleeping puppet: Shhh! Sometimes I like to pretend the puppet is asleep. “How should we wake him up?” I ask. I listen to all of the ideas. Then we decide on how to wake them up.

4) Whispers: I love to have the puppet whisper in everyone’s ear. Then I ask them “What did he say?” The answers are so good and hilarious!

Puppets are a wonderful way to develop a dance beyond just the movement and back you up when you need a little help. Invest in a few solid puppet friends. You won’t regret it!

Do you use puppets with your young dancers? How do you incorporate them into class? 

© Maria Hanley Blakemore for Dance Advantage, 2012. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Teaching | Who's talking about this article?

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2012/05/23/puppets-in-preschool-dance-room/feed/ 0 Celebrating The Arts: Decorating The Dance Room While Connecting to Class Content http://danceadvantage.net/2012/04/24/decorating-the-dance-room/ http://danceadvantage.net/2012/04/24/decorating-the-dance-room/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:30:09 +0000 Maria Hanley Blakemore http://danceadvantage.net/?p=13897 If I had a studio space to call my own I would have a lot of fun decorating it.

Big empty walls and mirrors, windows and doors at my disposal. I would be in dance studio heaven. Since I don’t have my own walls, my refrigerator is decorated with splashes of color and drawings of interpretations of what my students are learning in class. It’s pretty thoughtful that they think of me while they are drawing, don’t you think? As I collected the drawings on my fridge, I knew there had to be a way to use all of that artistic talent in the dance room.

What is on your studio walls? Posters of dancers? Quotes? Pictures of your students or of the faculty?

If I had a studio space to call my own I would decorate it with student work. Dance and art are so closely linked I thought it might be fun to come up with some ways of connecting what you are teaching to your preschoolers in class to an “art project.” Simple, creative ideas that will show the parents you are educating the whole child. Plus, decorating the walls with  your students work adds a sense of personality and love to your building.

Shapes with Pipe Cleaners

What you need:
Pipe cleaners
Construction paper (optional)
Pen

One of my friends did this lesson with her preschoolers and made a bulletin board using their art work. I loved the idea and asked her if I could share it with you.

If you are teaching shapes to your students this is an easy way to connect what they are making in their body to a visual. Ask each student to create 4 shapes with their body. For example, shape 1 is round, shape 2 is bent, shape 3 is straight, and shape 4 is twisted. Ask the students to memorize their shapes. Ask specific questions like “where are your arms?” “is your head up or down?”  This will help remind them of what each shape looks like.

Next, pass out the pipe cleaners and ask them to make their 4 shapes with the pipes. They are so flexible (kind of like bodies) that they lend themselves to making shapes really well! Put them in order and viola, you have shapes to hang up.

For education sake, it might be helpful to put them on construction paper and write under each shape what the student created and what they say about it. “It’s a twisted like a pretzel.” Parents and visitors to your walls will feel very connected to your students and the content they are working on. The neatest part this idea is that every shape is different!

 

Mandalas

What you need:
This website
Crayons/colored pencils

Creating circle dances and doing patterns with your preschoolers? Passing out Mandalas are a fun way to let them express themselves as they color theirs in. My students love patterns and I think its because at this age they are learning about them at school.

As they are coloring the Mandalas, tell them about circles and what they mean. My saying is “a circle is unity and community. You can see everyone and they can see you!” We talk about things that are circles like the sun, the moon, and flowers. My goal is to connect things to real life as much as possible and I think this project does exactly that. Plus these patterns look so pretty on your walls, even if the colors go outside the lines.

 

Musical Drawings

What you need:
Music (a few different styles)
Crayons
Paper

If you are doing a lesson on tempo, beat, rhythm, or counting this game is for you! Give each student a piece of paper and a few crayons. Ask them to close their eyes. Play the music and ask the students to “dance” the crayon on their piece of paper. Choose different types of music, maybe one classical, one with a beat, and one fast. Then flip from one song to the other. They keep their eyes closed the whole time and just listen. I say 2-4 minutes is long enough.

Ask them to open their eyes and look at their drawing. See if they can find the places on paper where you were playing the classical music or the fast music. Maybe the song with the beat made darker lines or dots and maybe they used a lighter color for the classical piece.

It’s important that after you do these projects that you talk about the experience with your students. Here are some things to think about:

1) Talk about their experience. Did they like or dislike the project?
2) Talk about how it made them feel?
3) Was it easy or hard?
4) Analyze the shapes in their body or their musicality now. Do they have a better understanding of the lesson?
5) Brainstorm other dances you have done, and what projects might connect to that lesson.

Have fun decorating your dance room!

Disclaimer: These projects are appropriate for ages 3-6, however make sure your dance room is set up properly for projects that give crayons to little hands. 

Have you decorated your dance room with your students’ work? Would you ever try it?

 

 

© Maria Hanley Blakemore for Dance Advantage, 2012. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Teaching | Who's talking about this article?

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2012/04/24/decorating-the-dance-room/feed/ 2 Less Email, More Dancing: 4 Ways to Tame Your Inbox http://danceadvantage.net/2012/04/13/less-email-more-dancing/ http://danceadvantage.net/2012/04/13/less-email-more-dancing/#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:20:01 +0000 Suzanne Gerety http://danceadvantage.net/?p=14824 Email. Love it or dread it… it gives you the ability to instantly communicate with your students, parents, and potential customers.

The trouble is that your email about classes, performances, and registration deadlines are just a few of the hundreds that your customers receive on a weekly basis.  As valuable as email can be, if you are not careful it can also be a constant demand on your time and attention taking away from the most important tasks required in running a successful studio.

What can you do as a busy owner or teacher to do to master this communication tool so that the messages you send get read and you get back more time?

Here are some tips to help you become more effective and in-control of your email inbox.

IMAGE A woman checks her iPhone IMAGE#1. Guard your time: What’s urgent for one parent or student may not necessarily be urgent on your end.

While we often feel like we need to be accessible and available for our students and families during most waking hours of the day, I could literally sit at my computer and on my iPhone all day and field inbound requests.

Resist the temptation to play ping-pong with your inbox!  Now is the time to establish some parameters around when you will respond to emails.

If you have staff working for you in your office it is also key to establish a general response time for emails, ideally in 24 hours or less, excluding weekends or holidays. If you can’t take the time for a thorough reply in that time frame, just let the person on the other end of your email know that you received their message and give them an idea of when they can expect either a phone call or an email reply. It closes the loop and prevents that ‘did they get my message’ uncertainty.

Useful Tip: There is a difference between checking in to know what is going on versus being in the mode of reacting and responding to every inbound request throughout the day.  When you schedule time to reply, you’ll be much more effective when you do.  You’ll find that this focused effort makes you much quicker at getting the important messages handled.

#2.  Don’t reinvent the wheel: Use frequently asked questions and similar info web pages to reduce your email time.

Have you noticed that many parents just don’t read notices?  I’m convinced that even if we stapled memos and announcements to the dance bags of some of our students that the parents would still call on the day of the recital wondering if they needed to buy tickets.

The good news, you can leverage your important information and announcements that you give out in class and send by email by creating a Frequently Asked Questions page on your website.  FAQ pages are handy for general information or even a Recital FAQ.

Wondering what to include?  Go back into your sent mail and notice some of the repetitive replies you send.

Do the questions include:

  • “My child has ever danced before what class should they take?”
  • “Do you send bills for tuition?”
  • “When is the recital again?”
  • “When do I need to buy tickets”
  • “Is the studio open during xyz week/holiday” the list goes on and on.

IMAGE A girl in a blue shirt holds a blue question mark. IMAGEBy having these kind of questions answered on your website you can confidently hand out memos while also letting parents and students know that the most important information they will need to know is always posted on your website.

Useful Tip: When we began online registration we noticed we were getting a lot of emails from parents who were unsure of what class would be best for their dancer in regard to style and level.  For years these questions were answered by phone or in person.  To increase our customer service and assistance we took these emails and created a “how to choose the proper class” page on our website. Not only has this page helped people make the right choice, but it has increased registrations into our beginner programs and we reduce redundant emails.

#3. Make it easy for people: Write subject lines and messages that are specific.

If you need someone to remember an important date or deadline, lead with that info!  For a busy mom like myself with two school-aged kids in dance, karate, gymnastics, piano, and more just managing their schedules feels like a full time job.  Many of your parents and students are likely the same and the recital details are just one of hundreds pinned to their calendar.

When it comes to crafting emails, be specific with your subject lines.  Nothing is more frustrating than an email subject such as: Subject: Important info for you.  Ok, important info for what?!?!  More specific is much better: Subject: Important details for 1:00 PM Matinee on Sat. June 24th. 

Write the details of your emails with the perspective of someone who has never experienced this event before.  What could you explain more clearly?  Where could you cut out any unnecessary info?  You’ll be well on your way to emails that get read and understood.

Useful tip: When we write our studio emails we run them through a who, what, when, where, why, and how test.  If our email answers all of those questions then we send it!  If anything is missing we go back and clarify before emailing hundreds of our families.  It makes life so much easier and while it can seem like you are stating the obvious at times, these steps help to reduce possible confusion in an email message.

#4. Take time before you hit send. Never respond to an email when you’re angry or frustrated.

We’ve gotten our fair share of email from upset parents even when it feels as if we have gone above and beyond to make things easy and enjoyable for them. Trust me, it’s tempting to reply with a not so nice response to a hurtful message. But it’s better to just walk away from the computer and take some time to process what has happened.

The trouble with email is that the emotion or tone cannot be fully interpreted. In that moment it can be difficult to know whether you’re dealing with an unreasonable parent or a student with a legitimate concern or complaint.

Save yourself the regret and upset by not responding right away, but instead give yourself at least 24 hours to process your own range of emotions.

Useful tip:  When it comes to replying to a less than pleasant email, ask someone on your staff or a close family member to read it out loud to you to see if what you wrote comes across the way you intended. Circumstances vary and the sting of complaints can hurt. Only put in writing information and communications that maintain the same level of professionalism you are committed to upholding.

Email can be one of your best tools in running and growing your studio.  But just like you schedule your classes, meetings, and daily appointments, it helps to take back control over your inbox.

I encourage you to take on one or more of the above strategies so you can get more focused work done on email to be more efficient during times of intense demands and also when it’s slow.  You just might find you’ll have more time to spend with family, friends, and dancing!

What have you found to be most effective when it comes to managing your email?

© Suzanne Gerety for Dance Advantage, 2012. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Featured, Studio Admin | Who's talking about this article?

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2012/04/13/less-email-more-dancing/feed/ 0 5 Tools That Streamline Your Dance Studio’s Office Management http://danceadvantage.net/2012/01/28/office-tools/ http://danceadvantage.net/2012/01/28/office-tools/#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:26:12 +0000 Suzanne Gerety http://danceadvantage.net/?p=14113 There’s no doubt about it – the front office at a dance studio is a busy place.

On any given day the desk is covered with messages, notebooks, attendance sheets, clip boards, and the occasional missing tap shoe. Whether the day-to-day swirl of demands are managed by you alone or by a variety of staff and faculty, there will always be a mish-mash of projects in motion and to-do lists that need action.

Below is a list of tools that make managing the office easier and how we use them to priceless advantage at our studio, where an office staff of five helps us serve hundreds of families and manages the details of over 100 weekly classes, taught by a faculty of 20 teachers.

These are tools that have made it possible to manage our office remotely, when our staff are on the run to events and traveling with smart phones or either PC and Mac laptops, improve intercommunication, process tuition, gather feedback, and market our dance studio.

If you use some of these tools already I hope to give you new ideas on how to extend their usefulness.

IMAGE Picture of an online survery. IMAGE
1. Gathering Feedback with Surveys 

Constructive feedback can be your studio’s greatest access to growth. Yet seeking it out is one of the things we resist the most. Hearing how things could get better or where your programs could be improved can be hard, especially since you put your heart and soul into your studio. You can easily, and for free, collect information from a weblink, in email, a post on Facebook, or an embedded form on your website using Survey Monkey. The free version allows you to create 10 questions per survey and gather 100 responses per survey.

Twice a year – in October and March – we ask our current students to provide feedback on how things are going. When a student drops from our studio, we also send a quick exit survey. Here are just a few questions we ask:(...)

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© Suzanne Gerety for Dance Advantage, 2012. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Featured, Studio Admin | Who's talking about this article?

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2012/01/28/office-tools/feed/ 0 Does Your Devil Wear Dancewear? Dealing With A Rude Coworker http://danceadvantage.net/2011/09/15/rude-coworker/ http://danceadvantage.net/2011/09/15/rude-coworker/#comments Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:42:28 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=11155 A dance studio is usually a fun place to work.

But, like any workplace, it is not a given that you will get along with all of your coworkers. A dance school can harbor big egos, favoritism, negativity, and bullying… and not just among the students.

IMAGE Emily Blunt in The Devil Wears Prada IMAGE

Emily Blunt in The Devil Wears Prada - image via wikipedia.org

And unfortunately, like Anne Hathaway’s character in The Devil Wears Prada, you may occasionally find yourself working with an Emily: someone rude, intimidating, undermining, or downright mean.

Are you picturing your own “Emily” right now?

Maybe she’s an authority or a teacher who has been there a while, a principal member of the staff. Or maybe she only sees herself that way. If you are a younger or newer teacher, you may be the target of her superior attitude because she feels threatened by you.

Perhaps you get along with the students more easily. Perhaps you have talents or gifts that are different from her own. That alone is enough to make her react to you as if she were defending her turf or dominance in the studio.

Whatever the details, if you are letting this coworker intimidate you to the point of doubting yourself and your abilities, STOP. This is likely her intent. These power plays are working.

So what can you do?

In one sentence: Stand up for yourself and be worthy of the respect you want and deserve.

If you can avoid being around this coworker, or let his/her comments just roll off your back, do it. But if that’s you, you’ve probably already stopped reading. So, if this fellow teacher is unavoidable here are your next steps:(...)

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© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2011. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Featured, Teaching | Who's talking about this article?

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2011/09/15/rude-coworker/feed/ 0 Give The Gift Of Dance In Your Community http://danceadvantage.net/2011/03/28/performance-gift/ http://danceadvantage.net/2011/03/28/performance-gift/#comments Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:30:08 +0000 Stacey Pepper Schwartz http://danceadvantage.net/?p=10496 As March rolls on, many dance schools are preparing for their end-of-year performances. Routines. Costumes. Dates. Through all the practice and preparation, what can get lost in the shuffle for young dancers is the purpose.

Sharing an experience together, performer and audience member alike, is quite a gift. Dance brings communities together, young and old, people of different cultures, occupations and life experiences.

Teach your students that they have the ability, through dance, to affect and reach others in a positive way. It is not about executing a perfect leap but leaping forward to connect through the art of dance.

Bring the Show on The Road!

IMAGE An 'Earth' stress ball is held gently in someone's hand. IMAGE

Before your big performance day (and after) add some informal performances to your schedule. Bring your students to senior citizen centers, nursing homes, hospitals or community centers. Have your dancers participate in Earth Day celebrations in your area by performing outside. Create an assembly program for a local nursery school. Perform for a local girl scout troupe. Keep an eye out for any possible performance opportunities in your town. Share the talent of your dancers and create an opportunity to bring the community together.

More reasons to add performances to your already busy schedule:
  1. Practice, practice, practice. The more students perform the better they get at it.  They will be polished and ready to go for the big end-of-year show.
  2. It is a great, low-cost way to advertise! Having a presence in your community is the best way to spread the word about your school. Invite a journalist from the local paper to come and take pictures of your performance at a community center. The local paper is always looking for town stories and it is free advertising.
  3. It is fun! Your students will have a great time because they are getting to do what they love, and you will too!
  4. The audience will also have a great time. Especially if you perform for groups that usually do not get to see dance. People at  senior centers, nursing homes and hospitals do not usually have the ability to go out to see live shows. And some don’t get a chance to interact with young people.
  5. It’s a challenge. Different spaces have different dimensions. The spaces will not have wings. Your students’ spatial awareness will be tested.
  6. It feels different. Since local community groups don’t have fancy stage lights and curtains your students will be able to see the audience’s faces. As daunting as this can be for your young dancers, it can also be exhilarating for them. When they bow they will able to see the audience smiling back at them. They will be able to experience an immediate connection with the audience and feel  first-hand the power of performance.
  7. Dance is about giving of oneself. There is no better way of teaching this then by giving free performances and traveling to places where people are in need of connections with others.
Delegate, you have enough on your plate!

If you do not have time to find local performing opportunities, schedule performance dates, or organize rides for your dancers, ask for parent volunteers to act as a “performance coordinators.” Have them obtain important information about the performance space:

  1. How big is the space?
  2. Is the space carpeted, tile, wood?
  3. Do they have a sound system/CD player or do you need to bring your own?
  4. How many people does the space accommodate?
  5. Is there a backstage space like an empty classroom, staff lounge, etc. to change into costumes?
  6. Can the dancers come an hour before the performance to change and run through their dances?
  7. Get permission to take pictures.
  8. Ask if you can get feedback from the audience after the show. Get some quotes from the audience and the director of the community based center in which you performed.
Remember, this is informal.  It is not supposed to be a fully produced show.

You might choose for your students to wear leotards and tights instead of costumes. You might decide to do only sections of particular dances. Experiment with what works best.

The dancers will have to learn how to compromise, make slight changes and deal with some unknowns. This is a wonderful opportunity for your students to learn about the many obstacles and challenges dancers face when they take the show on the road!

Share your experience with others

At your end-of-year show or recital, list in the program some places you’ve performed. Add quotes from your community audiences and some pictures as well.

Set up a poster display with pictures, quotes and any newspaper articles. Let parents and friends arriving for the big show learn what your dancers are doing in the community.

Ask for volunteers to help find new community spaces for next year. You are not only creating strong community bonds but your school/studio community will in turn become stronger as well. You are all coming together to dance and share dance with others!  Bravo!

IMAGE A generational clasping of hands from young child to adult. IMAGE

Photo by Wasson Photography

 

© Stacey Pepper Schwartz for Dance Advantage, 2011. | Permalink | Category: Beyond the Bubble, Blog, Community, Performing, Studio Admin | Who's talking about this article?

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2011/03/28/performance-gift/feed/ 2 Presenting Hip Hop In a Positive Light http://danceadvantage.net/2010/09/09/clean-up-hip-hop/ http://danceadvantage.net/2010/09/09/clean-up-hip-hop/#comments Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:20:18 +0000 Guest Contributors http://danceadvantage.net/?p=7890

After tweeting with Tricia Gomez (@DanceInABox) for a while and then seeing her in action at the Dance Teacher Summit this summer, I asked if she’d be willing to share her considerable knowledge of Hip Hop and talents as a teacher and studio owner with Dance Advantage readers. Tricia generously agreed to squeeze some writing into her busy schedule and I am happy to present below, the first of her guest contributions.

So Fresh And So Clean, Clean

[Photo] Jabbawockeez - America's Best Dance CrewIt’s quickly becoming evident that Hip Hop is here to stay! With shows like So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Best Dance Crew, studio owners and teachers are realizing that being a hip hop technician (that’s right, I said hip hop and technician back-to-back) is a must for any dancer wanting to pursue a commercial dance career.

So how do we take what we see on TV and turn it into something that is appropriate for our younger students? The answer lies in your teaching philosophy and your knowledge of what hip hop is and how it got started. To highlight my point, I’d like to share an excerpt from “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” by Jeff Chang ©2005. The excerpt is written by DJ Kool Herc in the Introduction of the book.

“To me, hip hop says, “Come as you are.” We are family. It ain’t about security. It ain’t about bling bling. It ain’t about how much your gun can shoot. It ain’t about $200 sneakers. It’s not about me being better than you or you being better than me. It’s about you and me, connecting one to one. That’s why it has universal appeal. It has given young people a way to understand their world, whether they are from the suburbs or the city or wherever.”

DJ Kool Herc was there in the beginning. He’s considered one of the founding fathers of the hip hop movement (yes, it’s a movement). Back then, hip hop wasn’t about derogatory comments, threats, and how much money you made. It was about family and belonging. It was about taking your world and making sense of it…through dance (b-boying), through music (DJing), through art (graffiti), through words (MCing). THAT is where your philosophy needs to come from. The roots of hip hop grew from a positive place and it’s up to us teachers to present hip hop that way.

[Photo] Dancers from World Hip Hop Championship in red and black

©René Michaels

Awesome, you say! But how do we do this?

First off, get rid of the “attitude.”

Think of teaching hip hop as an energy, not an attitude. Energy causes emotion. Attitudes are our perception of emotion…a falsehood. To be true to hip hop, you need to be true to your emotions and the energy you emote. That energy can be excitement, confidence, intimidation, fear, concern…you get the picture. But the important thing is to present Hip Hop to our younger dancers in a positive atmosphere so that, as they grow and start to add emotional layers to their dancing, they have a clear understanding of where Hip Hop came from.

Secondly, turn your dance lessons into life lessons!

Hip Hop is all about relationships:

  • The student to the music (how the movements affected by the sound of the music),
  • The student to fellow students (support of each other as family, movement in space),
  • The student to the teacher (respect).

These relationships follow us throughout life. As teachers, it’s important to realize that our job isn’t just about teaching our students a few dance moves, but more importantly, it’s about teaching our students how dance is a part of our daily lives.

The bottom line is this…we are the teachers. Our students learn what we teach them. If we teach hip hop in a clean and fun way that’s centered in respect, then our students will grow up with that same philosophy. It’s up to us!

[Photo] Tricia Gomez HeadshotTricia Gomez is the Director of HYPE Studios Cultural Arts Center in Los Angeles County and the President of Dance – In a Box Publishing. She is considered a pioneer in the pre-school and elementary hip hop field, often daring to go where others thought impossible. Her unique hip hop teaching methods have landed her on the Dr. Phil Show and as the Head Judge of the TV show “Dance Revolution”, which was loosely based on her product “Hip Hop In a Box”. Her philosophy on teaching kids hip hop has made her the subject of countless articles in dance and fitness magazines across the US and Canada. A few of Tricia’s credits include dancing for the Los Angeles Laker Girls, Universal Dance Association, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm and choreographing for Saved By the Bell, the Laker Girls, The Clipper’s Spirit Dance Team, the Portland Trail Blazers Dance Team, and Dance the Magic (which has been awarded Top Producer of Guest Talent at Disneyland for the past 5 years). Tricia was awarded the Viewer’s Choice Dance Instructional Video of the Year on DanceMedia.com!  For more information about Tricia teaching tools, visit www.DanceInABox.com!

© Guest Contributors for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Dance Styles, Featured, Hip-Hop/Street, Teaching | Who's talking about this article?

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2010/09/09/clean-up-hip-hop/feed/ 3 How Do You Define “Dolly Dinkle” Dance Instruction? http://danceadvantage.net/2010/08/11/define-dolly-dinkle/ http://danceadvantage.net/2010/08/11/define-dolly-dinkle/#comments Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:15:54 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=7455 Most of you have an idea about what it means to be a “Dolly Dinkle” (or Dolly Dingle) dance teacher or dance school.

If you haven’t heard of the term, you are probably familiar with the negative sentiment it represents. I don’t know exactly how Dolly earned her reputation but essentially she is the poster child for less-than-stellar dance education.

Dolly Dingle vintageThe definition, though, of insufficient training, a substandard environment, or unqualified teaching of dance varies depending on who you talk to.

Last month a reader contacted me and suggested that she’d like to see the topic covered on Dance Advantage as she had been reading some derogatory remarks elsewhere online and thought some balance could be rendered at this site.

I think she’s right because readers here at Dance Advantage are super smart and thoughtful in their responses.

Share your definition of a “Dolly Dinkle” in the comments

Though I’ve not used the term “Dolly Dinkle” here before, it doesn’t take much digging to assess some of MY core values regarding dance training and education. So, I thought this would be a great opportunity to let YOU weigh in with your thoughts and opinions.

You don’t need to be a teacher to answer. Parents and students, your perspective is important too.

A few ground rules

The comments and conversation at DA has always been positive and supportive but I realize that potentially some nerves might be hit with this topic. Therefore, I just ask that you…

  • Be thoughtful in your responses. No need to sugarcoat, but take a few extra moments to consider how you’ll express what you really mean.
  • Get up, walk around, and come back to the computer a little later if something that is said really does ruffle your feathers.

Flaming comments have a way of attracting lots of traffic and discussion to an article but I’d rather be known as the insightful and balanced website with super smart readers. :)

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Featured, Studio Admin, Teaching | Who's talking about this article?

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2010/08/11/define-dolly-dinkle/feed/ 13 Who Wants To Rock The Vote In These Online Dance Contests? http://danceadvantage.net/2010/07/27/video-dance-contests/ http://danceadvantage.net/2010/07/27/video-dance-contests/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:20:50 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=6938 Viral video, dance contests, flash mobs; dance is everywhere online and there are plenty of places you can get in on the action. Below you’ll find three top spots to get your groove on and maybe win some prizes. These contests are already underway so hurry!

Keep reading for two big contests in their final round. These feature some spectacular videos for your digital viewing pleasure. Make sure you get your say in the outcome! Then, stay tuned because these videos have inspired a follow-up article sure to ignite your imagination and invigorate your classes!

Vie For Video Domination

My Mutation

My Mutation Online Dance CompetitionThe Basics: As part of their Spring Dance festival the Sydney Opera House, in collaboration with YouTube presents this online dance competition. Create your own 40 second dance solo. The first 20 seconds are your interpretation of the starter solo (performed by Josh Mu), choreographed by Kate Champion, Artistic Director of one of Australia’s leading dance companies, Force Majeure and choreographer for the international stage production of Dirty Dancing. The second 20 seconds is a continuation of the solo in your own style. You have until August 10 to upload your video. Finalists will be chosen and will participate in two more rounds of challenges. Once narrowed to only 5 finalists, voters will choose the winner.

What You Win: The winner will score the ultimate prize of rehearsing with Kate Champion to bring his/her unique performance to life at the screening of Footloose on September 26. In addition to the thrill of performing live at Sydney Opera House, the winner will receive $2,000, a SONY HD flash Handycam camcorder, as well as a SONY ‘Bloggie’ HD snap camera.

Who Can Enter: The contest is global and there are no age restrictions!

Find Out More: www.youtube.com/sydneyoperahouse or visit Spring Dance on the Sydney Opera House website.

Dr. Pepper Cherry YouTube Dance Studio Contest

(that’s a mouthful!)

Dr. Pepper Cherry YouTube Dance Studio ContestThe Basics: Show off your amazingly smooth mooves. Submit a video of yourself dancing to one of the three approved songs, using the provided choreography for the first part and your own freestyle for the rest. Choose between a Jazz Funk, Hip-Hop, or B-Boys and B-Girls routine. Learn the moves, download the song, make your video, and submit, but hurry! Submissions must be in by August 2. Four finalists will be chosen, then it is up to voters to decide on the winner (to be announced August 31).

What You Win: You could win a trip for two to Los Angeles, where you’ll spend a day with Jon M. Chu (director of StepUp 2 and upcoming StepUp 3) at a jam session with some of the best hip-hop dancers around, and the chance to be in an upcoming Ultra Records music video.

Who Can Enter: U.S. residents 18 years and up.

Find Out More: www.youtube.com/dancestudio

Dance Your Ph.D. 2010

Dance Your Ph.D. Contest 2010The Basics: I cannot resist including this unique contest which invites entrants to turn their Ph.D. thesis into a dance! Any scientist in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, or the social sciences with some friends, a great idea, and a cheap video camera can win. According to GonzoLabs (a virtual research institution where art, science, and culture intersect), the best dances not only insightfully reveal the scientific content of the PhD thesis, they not only show artistry to create a compelling spectacle, but they also creatively combine these two aspects in a successful execution. Submissions are due by September 1, 2010.

What You Win: A cash prize of $500 goes to a winner in each category, with an additional $500 to the Best Ph.D. Dance of All. Finalists from each category will have their videos screened at Imagine Science Film Festival in NYC.

Who Can Enter: You have to be 18 years or older, have a Ph.D. in a science-related field, or be working on one as a Ph.D. student and you must be part of the dance.

Find Out More: www.gonzolabs.org/dance

More, more, more

Vote For Video Favorites

Global Dance Contest

International dance venue, Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London offers a cash prize and a chance to perform live at Sadler’s Wells Sampled, a yearly showcase of the best in dance from around the world. Ten entries are being selected by a judges panel right now. Voting will commence August 9, so keep your eye on www.globaldancecontest.com.

Step Up 3D Dance Dub Contest

Vote now at www.youtube.com/StepUpMovie and help one of four American dance studios win a $7500 Best Buy gift certificate to improve their space. Broadway Dance Center (New York, NY), Focal Point Dance Studio (Miami, FL), Dance 411 Studios (Atlanta, GA), IDA Hollywood (Los Angeles, CA) are battling it out with their own energetic, single-shot dub to Club Can’t Handle Me, a song I actually didn’t mind listening to four times in a row! ;)

And Don’t Forget…!

Okay, this one isn’t a contest but National Dance Day (a grassroots movement, spearheaded by Nigel Lythgoe and Dizzy Feet Foundation) is coming up on July 31. The effort is being recognized with an official act of Congress when Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a long-time proponent of healthy lifestyles, will introduce a National Dance Day resolution at a press conference on National Dance Day in Washington, D.C., to promote dance education and physical fitness across the U.S. If by chance you haven’t heard of National Dance Day, you can find more info at www.dizzyfeetfoundation.org.

Tabitha and Napolean have contributed a little choreography to help you get in the spirit and get up and move. It too is choregoraphed to Club Can’t Handle Me. Check it out below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKUyp1GMQVg

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© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | Category: Beyond the Bubble, Blog, Dancethropology, News and Events | Who's talking about this article?

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2010/07/27/video-dance-contests/feed/ 0 Leveraging Your Dance Studio’s Identity To Grow Your Business http://danceadvantage.net/2010/06/08/leveraging-your-identity/ http://danceadvantage.net/2010/06/08/leveraging-your-identity/#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:15:46 +0000 Suzanne Gerety http://danceadvantage.net/?p=6180 What are some ways that you can grow your business that aligns with your unique vision and studio mission?

Leverage what you already do well and combine that with some effective low-cost marketing strategies, which I’ll tell you about below.

I know you’re up to big things at your dance studio.  Before we can go any further into low cost marketing, though, I’m assuming that you:

  • Provide quality dance instruction to your students and are aware of your ‘brand’ of dance instruction.
  • Have reliable business systems in place for potential and current students to register for classes and participate in everything your studio has to offer.
  • Have a solid commitment to customer service and student/parent relations.
  • Offer a syllabus that allows for ongoing growth and improvement.
  • You and your team are producing successful students at all ages and abilities. This could mean a happy three year old who separates from a parent and fully participates in a 30-minute movement class to a first time dancer moving from beginner ballet to intermediate.  Or it could be your star dancer getting accepted into a college program they set their sight on years ago.  Not every dancer aspires to be a professional.  Know what success means to you and your students at every age and ability.

The fundamentals and basics of any business, especially a dance studio, must be in recognizing where the focus is before you invest your precious time in low cost marketing strategies.

Low Cost Marketing Strategy #1: Logo Items

One of the best purchases you can make in terms of a walking billboard of your business is logo wear and logo items.  The options are vast, the best place to find out what would be effective is to ask your current students what they’d be proud to wear around town or at at school. The most popular logo wear items at our studio are zip up hoodies, flannel pants, dance shorts, tanks and tees.

If you cringe at the thought of matching track suits or sporting your logo all over your clothes how about waterbottles, insulated cups, decals, stickers, pens, pencils, reusable tote bags, or backpacks?

Another example, we just had custom coloring pages created with our logo and crayon boxes made for birthday parties and dance camps. Infuse your personality, your studio’s mission and vision, and just have some fun with your logo items.

Low Cost Marketing Strategy #2: Demo Days and Open Houses

Rarely does a new student make a decision on where to take dance lessons based on one point of contact such as a website or brochure alone.

Demo days or open houses at your dance studio are one of the most effective ways to keep new students coming through your door and current students talking about why they dance with you.

One way to take this strategy to the next level is to add a unique theme.  At our studio we’ve had everything from an African Zulu Drumming day to a Tap Jam to Hip Hop events and more.  You can host an open house on a day you already have classes running and let people observe or tour your facility.  What can you celebrate right now? Don’t wait! Now is the perfect time to get the word out about why people would want to take a dance class with you. Again, keep it fun and interesting.

Low Cost Marketing Strategy #3: Friends and Family Appreciation

It doesn’t cost anything to say thank you. Extending your appreciation to your friends and family of your dance studio community feels great.

So many business owners focus an incredible amount of time and money on constantly generating new business.  I think that is important, however don’t over look the good will that extending a genuine thank you or we appreciate you can provide.  Above and beyond a kind word of thanks you can also extend some special incentives.

At our studio any parent of a child currently taking class will receive 50% off tuition of a class of their choice.  This keeps our adult only classes full and gives the parents a tie back to our studio as well.  I can’t tell you how many moms say that they love being able to take a jazz class or ballet class again with other parents or adults.  This is a retention strategy as well. Not only are the students tied to our studio but the parents love us too!

Some dance studios do a marvelous job promoting the local small businesses of parents of their studio.  Where can you publicly thank or praise or acknowledge the work your volunteers provide?  This goes way beyond bring a friend to class day, get creative with showing your appreciation for family and friends of your dance studio.

Applications Offline AND Online

Evaluate your current venues for getting the word out about your studio, your students, and the joy of dance. A personal testimonial or recommendation is priceless. People speaking highly of you, your staff, and your programs has power no tangible method of advertising could ever produce.

There is power in letting others know how you positively impact your customer base. This applies to social media too! And it is definitely a tool and platform to add to the list of low cost marketing methods.

Social media done well is an invitation to join your community to work, to play and to celebrate dance education and performance. Demo days, open houses, and guest teacher events are fun to promote and easy to talk about on social media. Plus you can always get the conversation going by saying hello, thank you, and I appreciate you to your followers and fans.

Have video or slide shows to add to a YouTube channel? What about pictures for your Facebook fan page? They are a great way to keep your name out in the community.

Here’s the video from the fun we had last week with the Jason Sadler and Evan White the duo from IWearYourShirt.com wearing the DanceStudioOwner.com logo t-shirt.  Again, have fun with social media!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9Kx5V3TNYg

Social Media Can Enhance and Enliven Your Brand

While all the great tweets, interesting posts, thumbs up, friends and likers can enhance and enliven your public image, reputation, and the potential for attracting new students, they will not secure the foundation of your business.

In your approach to social media, I’d like you to take away this thought: Be great with the fundamentals in your business and you’ll find plenty of things to be social about on social media.

Low cost marketing strategies aren’t complicated, however customizing them to your studio’s vision and mission will make them most effective.  In general marketing strategies give the public a chance to see, touch, and experience the spirit, mission and results you produce at your studio without having to make a commitment to registration.

Becoming the talk of the town for all the right reasons will always have the ‘brand equity’ that is priceless.

Studio Bizwax

More Studio Bizwax

What have you found to be the most effective way to leverage your dance studio’s identity with low cost marketing methods?


Don’t miss Suzanne at the Dance Teacher Summit in NYC this summer! As a presenter, she’ll be providing even more insight and valuable tips for growing your business.

© Suzanne Gerety for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Online, Studio Admin | Who's talking about this article?

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2010/06/08/leveraging-your-identity/feed/ 11 When Is Too Much Not Enough? — The Truth About Well-Rounded Dancers http://danceadvantage.net/2010/05/13/well-rounded-myth/ http://danceadvantage.net/2010/05/13/well-rounded-myth/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 12:20:17 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=5766
Stone Path and Leaves

Image by Steven Minns via Flickr

The Myth Of More, More, More — No Stone Unturned

There is a lot of pressure on parents to help their child get ahead, as if somewhere down the line a child’s failure to get that job, land that role, or succeed at each endeavor could somehow be traced back to that one stone left unturned in the child’s past. As a result, I see a lot of parents out there trying to turn over every stone along their child’s path. It’s exhausting to watch and even more exhausting to attempt.

In dance, this tendency translates into more money, more time, more classes, more performances, costumes, choreography, private lessons… more, more, more. Even studios feel the need to be everything to everyone, responding to demand and striving to supply. As a result, parents have some big questions on their lips…

How many hours spent at the studio is enough? How many competitions are too many? How much money should it take? How much experience should my dancer have in _____? How much is necessary to ensure that I’ve left no stone unturned?

Because the answers will be different for each family and individual, I’m going to help you answer the above questions for yourself. First, by dispelling some myths about dance training.

Myth:

If my child wants to advance or get ahead he/she needs lots of experiences with different dance styles.

Experience and exposure in a variety of dance styles is important for creating versatile dancers and may even be a necessity for aspiring professionals. Being well-rounded in dance is a good thing. Exposure to different dance forms, starting at a young age, is a great thing. So where’s the myth? It lies in the misplaced emphasis on experience and omission of training. Experience and training are two different things, and I’ll add a third level… exposure. To get ahead, your dancer needs a healthy balance of all three.

Exposure = Watching a variety of dancers, styles, and performances; Making contact with other students and professionals; Reading about dance or dance artists

Experience = Getting a taste of alternative ways of moving and patterning dance; Learning a dance; Participating in a performance; Working with master teachers or choreographers;

Training = Engaging in a course of study that prepares a dancer for the physical, cognitive, and mental requirements of codified dance forms/techniques; specialized practice and instruction over a period of time

When parents see a class that incorporates ballet, tap, and jazz in a single hour class, they may think that this is three times the experience for the price of one. Exposure, yes. Experience, maybe. Training, no.

The child in this situation has less time to develop in any one of these areas and in terms of training, often ends up shortchanged. “Combo” classes, or classes that combine two dance forms are not entirely a bad thing. Young recreational students may benefit from experiencing more than one dance style before deciding where to focus their efforts later. However if, later on, their in-class effort and focus on technique is still only 20 minutes because their hour is continually spent on learning choreography and preparing for performances, the value of their experience is diminished. They are no longer moving beyond the experiencing realm, and no amount of performing, competing, or exposure will make up for this.

Reality:

  • One hour of solid, well-thought training in a single dance form is better than ten hours of experience.
  • Training, whether focusing on ballet, contemporary, jazz, or tap techniques can always be built upon with the addition of other styles.
  • An experience can rock your world but it can’t substitute for consistent effort and instruction.
  • Good training roots exposure and experience, and allows versatility to flower.

What It Means To Be Well-Rounded

A well-rounded dancer has a balanced education with equal parts exposure, experience, and training.

4 Signs Your Exposure-Experience-Training Balance Is Off

  1. Preparing a single dance routine requires months of preparation. (Well-trained dancers are prepared for what is given to them, dancers who only have experience under their belt have a steeper learning curve because they must digest and acquire skills as they go.)
  2. Technique is the add-on in your regimen, while classes like ballet or jazz are spent learning choreography in that style.
  3. You have lots of exposure but within only a small range of activities. For example, maybe you devour everything about ballet but skip the article on improvisation, or watch major network dance competitions but pass on PBS, or travel every week to competitions but have never seen a live professional performance.
  4. You engage in tunnel-vision training (yes, a dancer’s balance can be overly focused on training, not allowing for diverse experiences or exposure).

Take some time to evaluate your child’s training. The time spent in additional classes should be relative to true desire and interest. It is important to build your repertoire of dance styles but look for a studio that sticks to the mission of providing an uninterrupted core of technique classes, while offering a chance to “taste” a variety of performance styles and choreography during workshops, via visiting teachers, conventions, and going to see dance performances.

When Is Too Much Not Enough?

As I’ve begun writing this series a theme has emerged. The query above may seem like a riddle but actually it’s not meant to confound and can be answered in many different ways. Through this series, I hope to continue to address this as an underlying question to your concerns about striking balance in your dancer’s study without turning over every stone.

What are other signs that a dance education is not well-rounded?

Can you think of other myths or questions you might have as a parent?

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© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Competing, Dance Styles, Parenting Dancers, Technique | Who's talking about this article?

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2010/05/13/well-rounded-myth/feed/ 15 It’s Easy Being Green http://danceadvantage.net/2010/04/22/its-easy-being-green/ http://danceadvantage.net/2010/04/22/its-easy-being-green/#comments Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:24:49 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=5540 earth, the "perfect" home for me

© hannah

One year ago today, in honor of Earth Day, I published 12 Steps To A More Eco-Friendly Dance Studio. Below are four of these tips:

  • Go Paperless — In this age of technology, going paperless isn’t as difficult as it seems. Studios are beginning to move newsletters and other communications online.
  • Carpool — Start a carpool network. We live in a fast-paced world but students are very conscious of environmental issues. Consider tapping this resource and challenge your students to come up with a plan for organizing the car pool (or to brainstorm more green ideas for the studio). You might be surprised at their willingness to embrace your efforts in this area. However, if you want to go that extra mile, consider offering some incentive with a discount or coupons to those who participate in an organized carpool.
  • Community Clean-Up — Adopt a highway or join other community clean-up efforts. This is great for your city and the environment. Additionally, showing an interest in your local region is good for business.
  • Buy Organic, Recycled, and Eco-Friendly Products — From the snacks you offer, to the paper towels you use, to the cleaning products you put on your floors, there are plenty of options for going green. Check TheGreenOffice.com or Amazon Green for electronics, lighting, and cleaning supplies (not to mention digital music and now books).

Speaking of Amazon, you might be interested in knowing that they also offer a trade-in program for DVDs, video games, electronics, and for you college students, text books. I’ve not tried this myself as we have a local business that buys back media. If you don’t, or if you are upgrading to blu-ray, Amazon may be an option.

Anyway, there are six more, really excellent (and really easy), suggestions for going green in the original 12 Steps To A More Eco-Friendly Dance Studio post. Click here to jump to that article and read them all!

Earth Day Threads

Click to visit the RelaxPack website.

If it is earth-friendly dancewear you are after, I would normally point you to a variety of yoga apparel companies. However there are a few dance clothing manufacturers offering organic options. Trienawear’s Entropy, Harmonie’s Delicate Balance knitwear (above left), and Just Marvy has expounded upon their Pink/Green motif with the cute little “earth is your stage” logo (above right) for their organic cotton/recycled polyester warm-ups. The pictured items above can be found at All About Dance, along with a few more items in their Eco-Friendly category.

More Organic…

A while back  I featured RelaxPack on the blog, a company producing organic and very useful packs for soothing aches, pains, and sore muscles with herbal and heat/cold therapy. I urge you to check these out if you missed the post – just click on the image to the right.

[Update! I like RelaxPack so much that I'm now an affiliate. If you click to their site from here and decide to purchase, you are helping to keep the free content flowing on Dance Advantage. How cool is that?]

Do you have some green tips to share?

Do you shop for organic clothing or other organic products?

How are you celebrating Earth Day?

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2010/04/22/its-easy-being-green/feed/ 2 S.T.E.P. Your Way To Social Media Success http://danceadvantage.net/2010/02/10/social-media-success/ http://danceadvantage.net/2010/02/10/social-media-success/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:20:56 +0000 Suzanne Gerety http://danceadvantage.net/?p=4669
Dance Advantage is very happy to announce Suzanne Blake Gerety’s new column Studio Bizwax! To wax lyrical means “to talk about in an enthusiastic and effusive way.” I can’t think of a better description for the way Suzanne fulfills her role in the dance community. Not only is she the Vice President of her her mom’s very successful dance studio but she is the co-founder of DanceStudioOwner.com, a wonderful site for those who are exploring, starting, or growing their dance studio business. I am an affiliate for DSO because I have witnessed first-hand the care Suzanne has taken to make the site a a truly useful support for studio owners. I’ve found her to be a wonderful resource and she’s been a great friend as well so I am thrilled that she’ll be sharing her knowledge with Dance Advantage readers bimonthly.
-Nichelle
You probably already know that social media is revolutionizing the way that businesses interact with their current and potential customers. I have the privilege of both running and consulting with hundreds of dance studios across the world. These dance studios are facing, in many ways, a major crossroads with the inherent transparency of social media.

Here’s how you can S.T.E.P. your way to social media success!

Caixa Forum Stairs
Image by felipe_gabaldon via Flickr
S.hare
T.each
E.ngage
P.romote

#1. Share

Retweet other people’s posts, quote and link to great blog posts by others, share what you are reading, let people know information that could benefit from.

Be a connector.

Social media is about making connections.  One of the things we do with our dance studio fan page is to post about local theatre productions and community events.  Why?  Because we know that the hours of dance lessons that our young dancers have has a potential impact on local theater. We want to spread goodwill to our sister arts organizations.  See yourself as part of the thread woven between your arts community.

#2. Teach

Post favorite quotes, share your expertise, add value, be generous with your knowledge it does make a difference.

A crossroads for dance studios. Many dance studios today are still very protective, not only their class schedules, but tuition fees, competition schedules, studio policies and more. It’s the fear that the studio across town will take or steal information that would cause that studio to lose students. I completely understand the worry.

Here’s the reality. I also represent a demographic I like to call ‘busy mom’. I’m the target market for many dance studios, I have two young kids. First thing in the morning, I don’t read the local paper. But I do read the newsfeed on Facebook and I certainly check trending topics and updates on Twitter. Text messaging is the best way to reach me.

How will you serve this demographic by decreasing your presence, hiding a class schedule, or making registering for classes a challenge? Dance studios want more students; they want their current students to be loyal raving fans. Social media is a great way to achieve this if done well.

#3. Engage

Talk to people! Reply to them, help them, connect people, be social, have fun. Be yourself, let your personality shine through.

Take it one step at a time. Social media is not a race with a winner crowned at the end. You’re missing the point if your approach to social media for your business is all about getting more followers as fast as you can. Soon enough it will become commonplace for every business and brand to have some sort of social media outlet to connect with their clients, customers, and students. We all started with one fan or one follower.

Be just as appropriate behind social media that you would be in person. If you were invited to a party with real people at someone’s house you wouldn’t just barge in the front door, run up to everyone you see and start selling them something.  Nor would you just haphazardly repeat yourself ten times. No way, you’d be ‘that person’ everyone would want to avoid. Don’t be that person in a virtual setting either! I personally know, do business with, employ, recommend, and have met many of the faces behind twitter ID’s and Facebook fan pages. Best thing to do – be YOU.

#4. Promote

After you take time to share, teach, and engage…then you can sprinkle in some ‘promote’.  Ask yourself, ‘what’s in it for them’ before you hit send tweet or post it. Promoting on social media makes sense and is appropriate when incorporated into a balanced approach.

More Social Media Tips

Consistency is key to seeing results.

This can be a big stumbling block for people. Either the novelty wears off for social media, it starts to eat up too much time or they report ‘no impact’ on their bottom line. Your updates do not have to be complex. Just be consistent. Give a compliment, connect with someone, be generous. Here’s the catch, you may never be able to truly measure the impact of your social media presence in terms of dollars and students. But you can build your brand, make it easy for people to find you, and position yourself as an expert in your training and offering.

Be open to what is possible with social media

TEXTing before there was twitter
Image by woodleywonderworks via Flickr

A little background. In early 2008, I started tweeting.  Very few people at that time were using Twitter, so you can imagine how excited I was to finally meet a friend – that’s when Nichelle and I connected.  Since February is the month in which we celebrate love, I wanted this first post to reflect the love I have for social media and the good that it can create. I certainly don’t have all the answers – by a long shot – but I have seen people come and go, have observed great techniques in using social media as a business tool and I’ve also cringed behind my computer seeing tactics that are big mistakes.

Leave a legacy

Google indexes much of what  you post online.  Be mindful of this.  You’re representing your brand, your image, your legacy.  Who do you want to be known for?  What do you want your social media reputation to be? There are simple ways to separate your dance business social media presence from your personal life. I would encourage any dance studio owner and teacher to direct their social media relations with students and parents to a public fan page or twitter account that is strictly professional. It is a win-win for everyone.

Thank you for all that you do to keep dance education alive in the world!

If you’d like to see how our dance studio is using a Facebook Fan Page to connect with our current and potential students visit www.facebook.com/KathyBlakeDanceStudios

Connect with me on Twitter @SuzanneGerety or Facebook: www.facebook.com/DanceStudioOwner

Click here to download an example page and see the full product description

Coloring Pages Giveaway!

To celebrate Suzanne’s new column she’s offered to give away some of the Dance Coloring Pages CDs available at DanceStudioOwner.com!

26 printable coloring pages designed by dance teachers that you can print from the CD. They feature girls & boys, tap, ballet, recital and more. http://www.dancestudioowner.com/products/item9.cfm

Enter to win by placing a comment (name and email is a must!) on this post! Tell us why you love social media (or what is keeping you from trying it).

Suzanne is offering two CDs to give away here on the blog. Winners will be randomly selected from these entries and contacted by email. At this time I will ask for your mailing address so we can get the CD out to you. Any information provided will be used solely for the purposes of this contest. We do not sell or share and you will not be added to a mailing list.

The contest will close Friday at midnight EST. If you are contacted you will have 72 hours to respond or I will move on to the next name drawn. This Contest is Closed but your comments are still welcome on the article! Winners were selected using the random integer selector at RANDOM.ORG. Congrats to commenter #4 (Maria) and #2 (Vivette).

If you are a studio owner (or are going to be), I highly recommend Dance Studio Owner. It’s membership includes studio owners from 44 of the United States and countries all over the world including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, People’s Republic of China, and Norway.

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© Suzanne Gerety for Dance Advantage, 2010. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Featured, Giveaways, Online, Studio Admin | Who's talking about this article?

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2010/02/10/social-media-success/feed/ 17 America’s Best Dance Studio Contest 2010 http://danceadvantage.net/2009/12/16/abdsc2010/ http://danceadvantage.net/2009/12/16/abdsc2010/#comments Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:00:25 +0000 Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/?p=4036 Everyone thinks his or her dance studio is the best.

Dancers, teachers, parents, here’s an opportunity to shout it from the rooftops.

America’s Best Dance Studio Contest 2010 wants to know what makes your dance studio unique – what makes it different from the other dance studios in your area, and from other dance studios across the country. Via the ABDSC social network, you will have the opportunity to submit testimonials, videos, and photos highlighting all of the wonderful things about your dance studio – your teachers, your students, the classes you offer, your involvement in charities, non-profit organizations, and even dance competitions! Here’s a chance to rally the community and make some noise in support of your dance studio.

Dance instructor staffing agency, Kiner Enterprises, Inc. are the architects of America’s Best Dance Studio Contest. President, Ashani Kiner has been busy shooting video at some of New York City’s biggest (and brightest) landmarks to let you know more about the contest.


Click here to view video on YouTube

So here’s the nitty gritty…

To enter, you need to head over to americasbestdancestudio.ning.com. Create a complete profile for your dance studio, and of course, invite all of your friends, family, and fans to join too.

A select number of dance studios will be featured in a special YouTube video series throughout the contest. If you’d like to be featured, enter the contest before Dec. 30th, and your studio may be chosen!

While voters and members of your dance studio community can independently sign up at the America’s Best Dance Studio Contest network, there are some rules and participation requirements for dance studios officially entering the contest:

  • Entrants must be 18 yrs or older
  • Entrants must be a U.S. Resident
  • The Dance Studio must be in business for a minimum of 3 yrs.
  • The Dance Studio must have a website

Enter before December 30th and pay the early-bird entry fee of $30 (may be paid by check or money order); after that entrants pay $50.

Further details regarding video submission and where to mail your entry info can be found at americasbestdancestudio.ning.com

10% of the contest proceeds will be donated to Child Cry, a non-profit organization that feeds hungry children around the globe.

Voting will begin on January 1, 2010 and the studio with the most votes will win!

What does the winning studio receive?


Click here to view video on YouTube

  • A video feature on the DanceChannelTV.com website for an entire year
  • A dance marketing video package and e-book with money-making strategies for your dance studio from Dance Marketing Queen, and CEO of DanceMassTV, Dawn Demendonca
  • A stage backdrop from Grosh Backdrops and Drapery, for your end of the year recital performance
  • A website banner or logo redesign from the web design and development experts at DanceSignUp.com
  • An online press release and feature article on DanceAdvantage.net about your dance studio
  • 6 Months of free Social Media Management for your studio’s Facebook fan page, Twitter, and Myspace accounts from Kiner Enterprises Inc.
  • A banner to hang inside of your dance studio that reads, “The America’s Best Dance Studio Contest Winner 2010”

Yes, Dance Advantage has sponsored a prize for America’s Best Dance Studio Contest 2010! I will feature the winning studio here on Dance Advantage during National Dance Week (April 23-May 2). I look forward to showcasing the community that turns out in full force to support their dance studio.

Be positive, creative, and energetic!

Each and every dance studio is special and unique. I’m looking forward to witnessing the diverse ways you’ll show it. Good luck to all the competitors!

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© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2009. | Permalink | Category: Beyond the Bubble, Blog, Dance Media, News and Events | Who's talking about this article?

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]]> http://danceadvantage.net/2009/12/16/abdsc2010/feed/ 1 Confessions of a Busy Dance Mom http://danceadvantage.net/2009/12/14/busy-mom/ http://danceadvantage.net/2009/12/14/busy-mom/#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:00:58 +0000 Suzanne Gerety http://danceadvantage.net/?p=4082 Do you have one of ‘those’ moms at your studio?

You know, the one who doesn’t read the notices about payments due, rehearsal schedules, or performance times?

Or do you have one who drags their feet and doesn’t sign up until the last minute?

What about the mom who calls you all the time, emails constantly or has a million questions?

You might have more than one at your studio!

Communicating with parents is one of the most frequently reported challenges and problems that dance teachers and studio owners face when it comes to running a successful business.

Guess what? I am one of those moms!

I’m probably a great example of some of the moms at your studio. A mom who can barely find the time to get the lunches packed and get to school on time, let alone read the many papers and emails and notices that come home on a regular basis.

Here’s just a few reasons why:

  • My 3 year old daughter recently refused to go to dance class in anything except her fleeced footed PJ’s and absolutely freaks out at the idea of me putting her hair in a ponytail.
  • My minivan is what I call my ‘mobile office’. Some days it seems like I get in and out of my van to drop-off, pick-up, drop-off, run errands, pick-up about 20 times.
  • I get invited to dozens of events by email: pampered chef parties, scrapbooking events, birthday parties, girls nights out, volunteer days at my kids school, parent committees, the list is endless. If I can RSVP to half, I’m doing well.
  • My dining room table on most days serves as a place to fold laundry.
  • I run from work to soccer practice then to music class. We have school and dance class and work again. Then it’s over to the studio, back to my home office, and school again. My google calendar looks like a puzzle of appointments!

It’s no wonder that communicating with parents is a top concern and complaint of dance teachers and studio owners!

Can you relate? There’s good news here…

Teachers and Studio Owners, increase your success in effectively communicating with parents by keeping them engaged and involved through a variety of modes of communication.

  1. If there is an important date or deadline that I should know about please deliver that communication to me in a variety of ways, more than one time.
    • Post announcements in the studio, announce it after class, post it on the studio website, email me. I need more than one reminder and it’s not that I don’t care, it’s that sometimes I just cannot record that date into my calendar at that moment or the form could be lost among many others.
    • Thank you for going out of your way to let us know about important dates and deadlines.
  2. Ask me what I can do to help. Seriously.
    • Believe it or not, even in the midst of the chaos with a couple of kids most moms want to be involved and help out.
    • Do you need a parent volunteer at the show?
    • Need someone to steam costumes or maybe email moms I know to let them know spots are still open in dance class on Tuesday mornings? If you don’t ask, I think you have it all handled, by all means ask. If I can’t help this time around, I’ll make sure next time.
  3. I’m looking to the internet first, you should be too.
    • With my busy life, one thing has made my life easier: the internet. I like to register my kids for their activities at off hours, I check my email from my smart phone, I Google everything and I’m communicating with my friends and work colleagues on social media.
    • Thanks for keeping your website up to date, posting important news, and keeping in touch online. It really helps me know what is going on at the studio. Even better, I like to let my friends know and I’m happy to share it with them.

Lastly, and MOST importantly: Thank YOU

I am one of ‘those’ moms who may not say it often enough, or perhaps even at all.

Thank you. All I want for my child is to see them succeed and be happy. Thanks for making dance class fun for my kids. I appreciate the time and thoughtfulness you show with your enthusiasm and praise.

Dance class is a highlight of the week for my child. You create that moment each and every week.

From all those moms and parents out there that may not say it, thank you for all that you do to keep the joy and magic of dance alive in the world.

© Suzanne Gerety for Dance Advantage, 2009. | Permalink | Category: Blog, Featured, Studio Admin, Teaching | Who's talking about this article?

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