At the Barre with Jane Grech

It’s the time of year when dance studios in Australia and NZ start preparing for the new dance year so, in this episode, we’re chatting about putting together your dream studio team of teachers and admin staff. I reveal my top tips for filling those stressful gaps in your teaching staff and why it’s NEVER a good idea to hire out of desperation. We talk about why it’s important to “hire hard” when looking for new team members and how you can start growing your team from within. I also have some useful tips for dance teachers looking for work that may surprise you.

CONNECT WITH ME Email – [email protected] Instagram @dancestudiosuccess @dancearts, @dancestep00

Facebook Group ‘The Collective’ (For Dance Studio Owners) https://bit.ly/3J0STC3

Learn more about DanceStep – Student Teacher Education Program www.dancestep.com.au 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Receiving negative feedback at work is always tricky - we can get 99 positive comments but it’s the one negative one that will stick with us. In this episode, I’m talking about how to deal with “feedback” without letting it derail your day (or disturb your sleep). We touch on how to respond to negative comments on social media and why you don’t need to enter every argument you’re invited to. And in relation to an issue we know will resonate with many studio owners, find out why comments about profits can be particularly triggering and how to deal with them appropriately.

CONNECT WITH ME Email – [email protected] Instagram @dancestudiosuccess @dancearts, @dancestep00

Facebook Group ‘The Collective’ (For Dance Studio Owners) https://bit.ly/3J0STC3

Learn more about DanceStep – Student Teacher Education Program www.dancestep.com.au 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Creating positive experiences for our students outside of their dance lessons is one of the keys to retention. In this episode, I’m talking about my recent Studio Formal which I held this year for the second time and how deepening relationships between students and my team contributes to creating a positive studio culture. Find out how I resisted the temptation to “overplan” the event and what I did to build excitement in the lead-up to the big night!

CONNECT WITH ME Email – [email protected] Instagram @dancestudiosuccess @dancearts

Facebook Group ‘The Collective’ (For Dance Studio Owners) https://bit.ly/3J0STC3

Learn more about DanceStep – Student Teacher Education Program www.dancestep.com.au 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Donna Hann, life in the summer of 2020 couldn’t have been better. She had started reshaping the way she ran her thriving regional Queensland studio and was enjoying the newfound freedom that came with her decision to strategically systemise parts of her business. But when Covid hit and Donna’s relationship with her husband suffered a setback, it forced a major rethink. After growing her studio from the ground up, she decided to branch out and start a new venture helping women reshape their own businesses in order to be more present for their families. In this episode, I talk to Donna about removing herself from the centre of her business, why it’s OK to change who and what you value, and the importance of listening to your inner knowing AND having the courage to act on it. A must-listen for any DSO who has thought about selling their studio and how life might look on the other side.

CONNECT WITH ME Email – [email protected] Instagram @dancestudiosuccess @dancearts Facebook Group ‘The Collective’ (For Dance Studio Owners) https://bit.ly/3J0STC3 Learn more about DanceStep – Student Teacher Education Program www.dancestep.com.au

CONNECT WITH DONNA donnahann.com Instagram @donna_hann_sib Donna’s signature online program - Ready to Rise - is a 12 week group coaching program created for mums in business who want to start or reshape their business and go from feeling exhausted and overwhelmed to becoming energised, fulfilled and thriving as a business owner. For information about the program, www.donnahann.com/course

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all been in a meeting that could have been an email! However, if they’re run properly, meetings can be an extremely powerful driver in moving your business forward and achieving your goals. In a studio environment, meetings can be an important communication tool and will help keep your whole team - admin staff and teachers - singing from the same song sheet. In this episode of At The Barre, we’re talking about the value behind scheduling a regular meeting with your studio team and I share the exact agenda I use to ensure meetings with my team are productive and don’t drag on (bonus tip: set the meeting for just before lunch!).

CONNECT WITH ME Email – [email protected] Instagram @dancestudiosuccess @dancearts

Facebook Group ‘The Collective’ (For Dance Studio Owners) https://bit.ly/3J0STC3

Learn more about DanceStep – Student Teacher Education Program www.dancestep.com.au 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jen Sutton runs Pazaz Dance Company in Belmont and Rockingham WA, and has for… wait for it…. 21 years. It was only in the last 3 or so years though that Jen has been working with a VA in a VA’ry real way, and has totally changed the way she manages her growing business and her growing family. In this episode Jen discusses ‘taking the leap’ into the unknown, how to start working with a VA and her advice on not waiting…. There are some real nuggets of wisdom hidden within this chat – I can’t thank Jen enough for sharing so openly. For more information on working with a VA, check out episode 14 ‘Virtually a dream come true’ when I chat with ex DSO and now Dance Studio VA Chelsea Spresser.

CONNECT WITH ME Email – [email protected] Instagram @dancestudiosuccess @dancearts

Facebook Group ‘The Collective’ (For Dance Studio Owners) https://bit.ly/3J0STC3

Learn more about DanceStep – Student Teacher Education Program www.dancestep.com.au 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most listeners know the name Sharon Saunders. Why? Because Sharon has been a familiar face and name within the Australian Dance Industry for over 30 years. In this interview with Sharon, we celebrate her immense contribution to dance education and congratulate her on her retirement as she takes her final curtsey. Sharon and I reflect and reminisce on the way dance studios have changed throughout her 30+ years and how she is excited to begin not only a new chapter of her life, but a new book. Congratulations Sharon and thank you for being such an inspiration to so many. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining me At The Barre today is Samantha Pulvirenti from Pulsate Dance Force in Wangaratta, Victoria. When I have conversations with my guests At The Barre, I always have a loose structure and thought pattern on how I think the conversation will go, but what I love the most about these chats is how open and authentic my guests are, and how the conversations just flow in a really natural way, and today’s episode is a wonderful example of that. Throughout this conversation, Samantha talks about the unfolding of her leadership and the challenges that come with that.

CONNECT WITH ME Email – [email protected] Instagram @dancestudiosuccess @dancearts

Facebook Group ‘The Collective’ (For Dance Studio Owners) https://bit.ly/3J0STC3

Learn more about DanceStep – Student Teacher Education Program www.dancestep.com.au 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I’m joined by Kaitlin Hague, Director of Bayside Dance in Brisbane Qld. During this conversation we chat about Kaitlin’s PHD research into Talent Development in dancers and how she manages a large studio with two young children. Kaitlin has a LOT going on, and in this episode, she shares some of the strategies she has implemented to assist her in managing it all.

CONNECT WITH ME Email – [email protected] Instagram @dancestudiosuccess @dancearts

Facebook Group ‘The Collective’ (For Dance Studio Owners) https://bit.ly/3J0STC3 Learn more about DanceStep – Student Teacher Education Program www.dancestep.com.au 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is a delight to welcome Melanie Gard back to the Barre. Melanie is a regular contributor to the podcast and I always value her thoughts and wisdom. In today’s episode we speak about our studios in a post Covid World. We chat about grief, burnout, self-compassion, questioning ‘why’ and changing our approach to the way we manage our business in 2022.

CONNECT WITH ME Email – [email protected] Instagram @dancestudiosuccess @dancearts

Facebook Group ‘The Collective’ (For Dance Studio Owners) https://bit.ly/3J0STC3 Learn more about DanceStep – Student Teacher Education Program www.dancestep.com.au

CONNECT WITH MEL Instagram @melanieannedance @peninsuladance Loved this episode? Leave me a rating and review to help others find us. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.