Dance Studio 411

In this episode, we sit down with Brett Stuckey from Akada to talk about systems, efficiency, and how to eliminate the admin overwhelm that dance studio owners face daily. Brett shares how Akada’s family-run roots led to building a platform that genuinely understands studio life, plus what’s new, what’s coming, and how to make the most of your management software. Whether you’re tired of chasing unpaid tuition, struggling with email communication, or just craving a more organized system, this episode offers relief and real-world advice. Episode Time Stamps: [00:29] Meet Brett Stuckey & Akada’s origin story [03:13] From desktop CDs to the cloud: Akada's evolution [05:02] Listening to studio owners: How Akada builds based on feedback [07:10] Studio owner pain points: Disorganization and poor communication [09:06] What Akada does to reduce admin time [14:08] Sneak peek: New studio attendance app and features coming soon [16:01] Big update: One flat monthly rate with no hidden fees [17:26] Onboarding and su

What if recital season didn’t have to be stressful? In this episode of Dance Studio 411, we sit down with Joe Naftal of ShowSculptor, a proud Captivate Sponsor of the Energize Conference to explore how studio owners can level up their year-end shows from organized to unforgettable. We’ll talk about efficient backstage workflows, magical family moments, and how ShowSculptor is helping studios run smoother than ever. Episode Timestamps [00:28] – Welcome & Introduction [01:44] – The Birth of ShowSculptor [04:56] – Why Smooth Shows Matter More Than Ever [07:41] – What ShowSculptor Does [09:20] – Tech-Friendly & Flexible [12:05] – It’s Not Just for Recitals [13:38] – Supporting the Energize Conference [14:38] – Brunch & Learn Sneak Peek [15:28] – Rapid Fire Fun [17:42] – Why Energize Feels Like Summer Camp Key Takeaways Experience Matters: Today’s parents value well-run events. From parking to the final bow, every detail counts. Delegation Is Possible: ShowSculptor allows studio owners to stop bein

In this episode of Dance Studio 411, Jill Tirone chats with Bill Brown from Gerriets, a global leader in dance flooring solutions for over 75 years. They cover everything from choosing the right Marley floor to preventing injuries, cleaning and maintenance tips, and the latest innovations from Gerriets. Bill’s technical theater background and passion for helping studios shine make this a must-listen for any studio owner.   Episode Timestamps [00:28] – Meet Bill Brown from Gerriets Dance Floors [01:36] – Bill’s background in technical theater and his journey with Gerriets [03:52] – History of Gerriets: From curtains to Marley dance floors [06:00] – Why flooring matters: Cushioning, subfloors, and injury prevention [08:09] – Challenges of multi-use floors: Tap vs. ballet needs [09:36] – The Vario Beat floor: Balancing slickness and grip [09:58] – Overview of other popular Gerriets products like Vario Pro [12:19] – Common mistakes studio owners make when installing floors [15:45] – Cleaning tips and Gerriets n

In this episode of Dance Studio 411, host Jill Tirone sits down with Dotty Hancock, owner of Dance Arts Academy in Idaho. Dottie shares her 24-year journey of building a thriving studio while balancing family, health challenges, and a major studio relocation. From starting at age 21 to navigating cancer and COVID simultaneously, Dottie opens up about what it truly takes to lead with resilience. This episode is a must-listen for studio owners facing burnout or seeking renewed inspiration and leadership clarity. Key Takeaways Start Before You’re Ready: Dotty bought her studio at 21 with no business plan—courage often beats perfection. Real Life Happens. Lead Anyway: From NICU stays to cancer, Dotty shows that resilience in life fuels strong leadership. Culture Comes First: A thriving studio starts with being intentional about your values and the team you build. Community Prevents Burnout: Surrounding yourself with like-minded peers, both inside and outside the dance world, keeps you inspired and suppor

Episode Description In this episode, Jill sits down with veteran studio owner and mentor Samantha Bower to talk about navigating the pressures of leadership with humor, heart, and flexibility. From tackling unexpected challenges and staff burnout to building joyful culture and sustaining creativity, Sam shares stories and strategies that are equal parts inspiring and practical. Key Takeaways Create Space for Rest and Recovery: Rest isn't just helpful, it's critical. The studio is intentionally closed during holidays to encourage genuine time off. Humor Is a Leadership Tool: Leading with humor builds trust and fosters a fun, supportive culture for staff and students alike. Meetings Matter When They’re Meaningful: Plan meetings well in advance and make them engaging with food, games, and personal connection. Intentional Curriculum = Confident Kids: Giving kids space to grow at their own pace builds confidence that lasts through their entire studio journey. Don’t Do It Alone: Studio ownership can feel isolat

Episode Description In this episode, Jill Tirone is joined by Amelia Fazio to discuss how dance studio owners can empower their teachers to become true stakeholders in their business. They explore why teacher engagement is essential, how to create a positive studio culture, and practical ways to help teachers feel invested in the studio’s success. Key Takeaways Why Teachers Matter as Stakeholders - Teachers are frontline brand ambassadors who shape the student experience. Building Teacher Engagement & Buy-In - Create a studio culture where teachers feel valued, encouraged, and included. The Power of Communication - Keep teachers informed about policies, schedules, and changes while Providing them with resources and clear paths for handling student or parent concerns. Encouraging Teacher Investment in Studio Growth - Provide ongoing education, leadership opportunities, and support for professional development. Showing Appreciation & Strengthening Relationships - Small gestures, such as studio logo we

Episode Summary: In this episode of Dance Studio 411, we dive into the world of tap with Julie Kay Stallcup, Melanie McGonigal, and Mandy Yip, the passionate team behind the innovative Tap Roots curriculum. This power house trio discuss the historically significant art form and their new curriculum, Tap Roots, which provides a structured and comprehensive approach to teaching tap in dance studios.  Key Takeaways: Preserving Tap’s Legacy: Tap dance is culturally rich and historically significant but often underrepresented, especially in competitions and conventions. Consistency is Key: The Tap Roots curriculum promotes consistency in terminology, helping students build on their knowledge even if teachers change. Teaching with Confidence: By offering structured resources, Tap Roots empowers teachers of all levels to teach tap with confidence and creativity. Magic in the Shoes: As Julie Kay beautifully puts it, “When tap shoes are on a child's feet, magic happens.” Time Stamps: 02:22 – Julie Kay shares her p

Episode Description: In this episode of Dance Studio 411, we sit down with Josh Olson, the founder of DRT Performance Tix, the leading ticketing provider in the dance industry. Josh shares how DRT Tix helps dance studios simplify the ticketing process, increase revenue, and protect against common challenges like chargebacks. With a customer-first approach and a newly launched Customer Success Management (CSM) program, DRT is revolutionizing how dance studios manage ticket sales. DRT Performance Tix is a 2025 Captivate Sponsor for Revolutions's Energize Conference. Key Takeaways: Customer Success Mindset: DRT is shifting from a transactional model to a proactive support system, helping studios maximize ticket sales and revenue. (05:48) Seamless Ticketing & Seating: Studios benefit from features like numbered seating layouts, premium seating options, and optimized price modeling strategies. (12:25) Revenue-Boosting Strategies: Price modeling techniques, including the "30/30 rule," encourage early sal

Are you ready to transform your summer from a financial struggle into a season of growth and success? In this episode, we sit down with Ginger Haithcox, a seasoned dance studio owner and business coach, to discuss actionable strategies for making summer a profitable and engaging time for your studio. From setting measurable goals to offering irresistible summer programs, Ginger shares her expert insights on how to maximize revenue, retain students, and avoid burnout. Tune in to learn how to make your summer as exciting as your recital season! Key Takeaways: Set Clear Summer Goals – Move beyond just breaking even and aim for profitability. Know Your Community – Conduct research to understand family needs and preferences. Offer Engaging Programs – Think beyond traditional dance classes and include full-day camps, preschool sessions, and evening workshops. Manage Finances Wisely – Budget strategically, set appropriate pricing, and track financial progress. Follow Through with Action – Plan summer offerings wit

In this episode of the Dance Studio 411 podcast, we’re speaking with Leo Moore from DRT Performance Tix, where we discuss top tips for stress-free performances. Leo shares her extensive experience in the industry, offering valuable insights on on how to streamline your shows and create memorable experiences for both your students and audience. From understanding different types of seating arrangements to managing multiple shows and gathering feedback from families, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you reduce stress and ensure a smooth and enjoyable recital planning process. Whether you're a seasoned studio owner or just starting out, you'll find plenty of useful tips to make your performances run seamlessly. Key Takeaways Types of Seating Multiple Shows Ask your families Keep it easy Time Stamps [04:31] The pros and cons of general admission, assigned seating, and tiered/premium seating, and how studios can structure ticketing to meet their needs. [08:26] Strategies for adding extra

Episode Summary: Join hosts Suzanne Blake Gerety and Jill Tirone as they discuss practical and heartfelt strategies for overcoming burnout in the dance studio business. They tackle challenges faced by studio owners, share actionable tips, and provide a fresh perspective on rediscovering your passion for dance and leadership. Key Takeaways The Dance Studio Paradox Recognizing Burnout Outgrowing Roles Delegation is Key Leverage Your Superpower Embrace Change Timestamps [00:28] Jill introduces Suzanne and the episode’s focus: overcoming burnout and reigniting your passion. [01:13] Suzanne emphasizes the complexity and beauty of running a dance studio. [02:42] Insights into Suzanne’s dance studio upbringing and her transition to working with Revolution. [04:43] A candid conversation about the prevalence of burnout and how it manifests. [07:42] Burnout solutions from the personal side: Reflective questions for studio owners. [13:16] Tips for outsourcing or delegating draining tasks. [15:20]

Episode Summary: In this episode of Dance Studio 411, host Jill Tirone welcomes Shanna Kirkpatrick, a veteran dance studio owner with over 19 years of experience, to discuss the value of feedback in running a successful studio. Shanna shares personal insights and strategies on how soliciting and responding to feedback from families, staff, and students has transformed her leadership approach and studio operations. The episode dives into the challenges of receiving feedback, especially for creative professionals, and highlights actionable practices for turning feedback into a powerful growth tool. Key Takeaways: Importance of Feedback: Studio owners benefit significantly from feedback, not only for professional growth but for maintaining a healthy, responsive studio environment. Best Practices for Feedback: Shanna advises creating structured, regular opportunities for feedback, such as using simple Google Forms or initiating casual conversations with parents and staff. Implementing Feedback: Rea

In this episode of Dance Studio 411, host Jill Tirone sits down with the talented Taylor Hiller, Revolution's Channel Brand Manager and seasoned choreographer. Taylor reveals her tried-and-true formula for creating flawless recital choreography. Whether you're a seasoned dance instructor or just starting, Taylor’s insights on curriculum structure, lesson planning, and choreography processes are sure to inspire. Plus, you'll learn her tips for balancing creativity with structure, emphasizing the importance of organization, preparedness, and efficiency in the classroom so your recital performances shine. Key Takeaways: What’s the Formula? Understanding goals and expectations to selecting music and costumes. Class Efficiency = Performance Proficiency: Discover how being organized in class leads to a more confident and polished recital performance. Curriculum, Syllabus, Lesson Plans: Taylor clarifies these key elements and how they help create a cohesive learning experience for students. Choreographic Process:

Episode Description In the podcast episode "Back to Basics: Making Money In Your Dance Studio with Tiffany Henderson," Tiffany provides clear and focused strategies for increasing revenue in dance studios. The episode highlights two primary revenue streams: optimizing class curriculum and organizing successful holiday shows and recitals. Tiffany discusses how to structure classes to enhance their value and attract more students, while also creating memorable recitals that boost ticket sales. She emphasizes the importance of calculating and maximizing profit per dancer throughout the season, offering practical advice to help studio owners boost their financial outcomes while maintaining high-quality dance education. Key Takeaways Focus on Core Revenue Streams: Prioritize class tuition and recitals as the main sources of income for your studio. Structured Teacher Training and Curriculum: Implement a clear, replicable curriculum and offer consistent training for your teachers to improve class quality. Studen

In this episode of Dance Studio 411, Jill is joined by Joe Naftal from Naftal Creative. Joe shares his expertise on how dance studio owners can take their holiday shows to the next level. Whether you’ve been running holiday performances for years or considering starting one, Joe offers practical advice on organizing, managing, and profiting from holiday shows while ensuring they are stress-free for both staff and families. He also introduces Check In Pointe, a performance management platform designed to simplify backstage operations. Timestamps (00:29) – Jill introduces guest Joe Naftal, who shares his background as a second-generation dance studio owner and how he developed Naftal Creative. (02:03) – Discussion on how to reduce stress in planning holiday shows by using calendars, to-do lists, and project management tools. (03:46) – Importance of holiday shows for students, dance families, and business profitability. (05:21) – Joe explains the significance of budgeting and how to ensure profit from holiday s

In this episode of DanceStudio411, we're joined by Stephen Reinstein from Market Muscles to explore the essential elements of a dance studio website and how to optimize it to attract and retain more students. Stephen will walk us through common pitfalls studio owners often face, like putting too much emphasis on current students, overwhelming their site with information, or displaying schedules and pricing too soon. Discover how these missteps can hinder your lead generation and learn actionable tips to enhance your website and attract more students to your studio. Key Highlights Stephen’s background and Market Muscles [1:46] The purpose of a website for a dance studio / common mistakes [8:43] Retraining our students and parents on where to find information [12:40] What improvements can you make to your website to make it convert better [14:07] What type of images, copy, and call to actions should you be featuring on your website [20:18] Why removing your schedule & pricing from your website is so effe

In this episode of Dance Studio 411, hosts Jill Tirone and Patty Rielley dive into the popular topic of themed dance shows. Should your recital have a theme, or should you keep it simple? Patty, a seasoned dance studio owner and Revolution's Rewards Manager, shares her insights, experiences, and expert advice on managing recital themes that excite students, engage families, and boost retention. Key Highlights: To Theme or Not to Theme? [2:50] Patty explains the benefits of having a themed recital, from boosting student excitement to fostering studio retention. While some studio owners worry that themes might restrict teachers, Patty emphasizes that themes can be flexible and enhance creativity. Managing Faculty Expectations [5:05]: Patty offers valuable tips on navigating faculty pushback when implementing themes, stressing the importance of clear communication and collaborative planning. Use project management tools like Trello or Google Sheets to streamline the process and ensure everyone is on the same pa

In this episode of Dance Studio 411 podcast, Jill Tirone welcomes Cathy Graziano, Executive Director of the National Dance Foundation, to discuss the exciting changes to National Dance Week and how dance studios can get involved. Cathy shares the history of the foundation, the mission behind its initiatives, and why the shift of National Dance Week to October is a game-changer for the dance community. From promoting kindness, inclusion, and community to engaging students in various activities, Cathy provides insights on how studio owners can leverage this celebration to grow their businesses and inspire their dancers. Key Topics Covered: Introduction to the National Dance Foundation [1:14]: Cathy shares her journey to becoming the Executive Director and how the foundation evolved from National Dance Week, highlighting its mission to promote the benefits of dance across communities. Why National Dance Week Changed Dates [5:34]: Learn about the decision to move National Dance Week to October, creating an oppor

In our latest episode, our special guest, Ginger Haithcox discusses a topic that comes directly from our member group and it is one of the biggest challenges dance studio owners face: finding, hiring, and retaining high-quality staff. Listen in as Ginger talks about what dance studio owners can do to attract applicants for Job openings, how using KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) is a game changer, and how to avoid headaches when delegating to your staff. We’re grateful to Ginger for providing her insight and expertise. You can get the Studio Staffing Success course for your dance studio here: https://learn.revolutiondance.com/courses/studio-staffing-success As a special bonus... Podcast listeners can take $50 off Ginger's course - use code "staffing50" at checkout! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Running a dance studio is hard work, and growing your studio is even more of a challenge. No matter if you're just starting out or you're a well-established owner, we understand that it's a uniquely demanding and personal busine

In this episode of the Dance Studio 411 podcast, we sit down to have a very frank, open conversation with Amelia Fazio to discuss dance and body image and how you can develop a positive and supportive dance studio environment. The goal of this episode is to keep it real and we hope this outlines how important body positivity and positive language practices are to your studio. We can't wait for you to listen to this episode with Amelia because her passion shines through in all she does. We hope this conversation inspires you to create a studio environment where everybody feels welcome! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For the full episode recap and to download Revolution's Costume Preference Worksheet visit: https://dancestudio411.com/dance-and-body-image-developing-a-positive-and-supportive-studio-environment/