Dance Studio Owner Life Coaching

In this episode of Dance Studio Owner Life Coaching, Ginger talks with Melody Hubert, founder of Melodic Movements Performing Arts Program, a nonprofit dance organization with two locations in Delaware.

Melody shares what it has looked like to grow her studio while raising her four-year-old son, including opening her second location when he was just one. She talks candidly about mom guilt, making room for self-care, adjusting her studio schedule as her son gets older, and creating a business that allows her to be present for the parts of motherhood that matter to her.

The conversation also digs into the practical side of operating two studio locations. Melody explains how hiring an operations manager changed her ability to lead both locations, why strong systems and policies are essential before expanding, and how her team helps maintain the culture and mission across both studios.

Ginger and Melody also talk about separating your identity from your business, hiring people who truly align with your mission, and the role faith has played in Melody's journey. Melody shares how what began as an idea for a praise dance intensive eventually became a studio that she views as mission work—something bigger than herself.

In this episode:

• Growing from one dance studio location to two
• Running a business while raising a young child
• Managing mom guilt and protecting time for yourself
• Adjusting your role as your family enters different seasons
• Hiring an operations manager to support multiple locations
• Strengthening systems before expanding
• Separating your personal identity from your studio
• Building a team around your mission and values
• How faith has influenced Melody's leadership and business

Melody is the CEO and founder of Melodic Movements Performing Arts Program, a multi-location dance studio in Delaware, and the first African American dance studio owner in the state to own multiple locations. She is known for her honest and intentional approach to educating dance parents on what it truly takes to build confident, disciplined dancers. With a background in special education, Melody is passionate about creating a safe and supportive space where every dancer is challenged to grow. She believes her work goes beyond training dancers—she is committed to developing strong, confident young people both on and off the stage.

Learn more about Melody and Melodic Movements at MelodicMovements.org.

Instagram: @MelodicMovements__ Facebook: Melodic MovementsDE

In this episode, Ginger explores what it means to be an introverted entrepreneur in a highly visible, people-centered industry. She shares how introversion has shaped her experience as a dance studio owner, from recital days and networking events to leadership, marketing, and managing her schedule.

Ginger explains that successful business owners do not have to be outgoing, highly charismatic, or constantly in the spotlight. Drawing briefly from Built to Last by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras, she discusses research showing that charismatic leadership is not a prerequisite for building a successful, enduring company.

She also emphasizes that introversion is not a reason to avoid leadership responsibilities. Difficult conversations, marketing, communication, and visibility are still part of business ownership, but introverted leaders can approach them through preparation, thoughtful follow-up, selective networking, and communication methods that fit their strengths.

The episode closes with practical ways introverted studio owners can protect their energy, including leaving space between meetings, avoiding overscheduled weekends, creating office hours, protecting recovery time after major events, and delegating responsibilities that are especially draining.

Book Recommendation: Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies is a book written by Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porras.

As a dance studio owner, you are constantly making decisions about programs, coaching, marketing, staffing, and where to invest your money. Some opportunities may be genuinely useful. Others can create pressure, urgency, or self-doubt that makes it harder to trust your own judgment.

In this updated version of Episode 14, Ginger revisits the importance of trusting your gut when something feels off. She shares why persuasive sales tactics, pushy staff, unclear policies, and financial pressure are all reasons to slow down and take a closer look before committing.

She also explains that trusting yourself goes beyond knowing what to avoid. It includes paying attention to the ideas you keep returning to, implementing more of your own plans, and allowing yourself to learn through action.

There are times when rest is the right choice, and there are also moments when showing up matters more than waiting to feel motivated.

In this episode, Ginger talks about using self-identity and action before feelings to follow through on the commitments you've made. She shares a real-time example of recording this episode when she would rather have rested, and explains how identifying as a professional, a leader, a spouse, or a business owner can help guide your next action.

You'll also hear how this applies to leadership, relationships, studio culture, and the projects that keep getting pushed to the bottom of your list.

The question to ask yourself is simple: Who did I say I wanted to be, and how would that person show up right now?

For more practical support for creating more peace and more profit in your studio, sign up for the Leadership Roundtable Newsletter at thestudioownerlifecoach.com/newsletter.

In this summer series episode, Ginger shares what she learned from clearing clutter at home and at her studio.

After cleaning out closets, drawers, storage rooms, and office areas, she realized that requests for more storage can be a sign to reassess what is already being kept.

Ginger connects physical clutter to the emotional and professional clutter that builds over time, including unresolved feelings, unused ideas, old costumes, props, and equipment kept "just in case."

She encourages studio owners to evaluate what still fits who they are and how they operate today, then clear out what has run its course before the new season begins.

For more practical tips, sign up for the Leadership Roundtable Newsletter at thestudioownerlifecoach.com/newsletter.

Have you ever avoided committing to something because you were afraid you might not follow through?

In this episode, I'm talking about the resistance to commitment and the thoughts that often sit underneath it. Sometimes we tell ourselves that life is too unpredictable, our schedules are too busy, or we need more control before we can commit to a plan. But when we dig deeper, the real concern may be the fear of missing the mark.

I share a coaching conversation with a client who wanted to add a blog to her website but resisted creating a regular posting schedule. Through a few probing questions, we uncovered that the hesitation was connected to not wanting to fail.

The Leadership Roundtable Newsletter is sent on the 1st and 15th of each month and includes practical tips, education, and encouragement for dance studio owners.

Sign up at:

thestudioownerlifecoach.com/newsletter

Do you ever find yourself making big decisions based on one comment, one complaint, or one request?

As studio owners, we're natural problem-solvers. When a parent asks for a new class, a family questions a policy, or a staff member raises a concern, it's easy to jump straight into action mode. Before long, you're rearranging schedules, rewriting procedures, creating new offerings, or spending hours trying to solve a problem that may not actually exist.

In this episode, Ginger explores the difference between reacting to feedback and evaluating it. She introduces the concept of "data mode"—a simple mindset shift that can help studio owners reduce stress, make better decisions, and avoid wasting valuable time and energy.

Looking for practical strategies, mindset coaching, leadership insights, and business tips created specifically for dance studio owners?

Subscribe to The Studio Owner Life Coach Newsletter and get weekly encouragement, actionable ideas, and tools to help you create more peace and more profit in your studio.

Subscribe here: https://thestudioownerlifecoach.com/newsletter

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with another studio owner who could use a little more peace and a little more profit.

Summer often gives dance studio owners a rare opportunity to pause, reset, and think about what comes next.

For some owners, the next chapter involves improving systems, strengthening the team, or creating more freedom in their schedules. For others, the studio is already successful. The debt has been paid, the staff is dependable, and the major goals have been accomplished. Reaching that point can bring an unexpected question:

What do I do now?

In this episode, Ginger explores the studio owner's role as the most valuable human resource in the business. Delegation can create flexibility, but a studio still needs the owner's vision, leadership, and connection to its mission.

Your business may be capable of operating while you take time away, but your role extends beyond completing daily tasks. You set the direction. You notice cultural shifts, study the financial numbers, anticipate future needs, and help the people around you grow.

For longtime studio owners who have already accomplished many of their original goals, the next level of fulfillment may come through service. Your experience could help develop a teacher, mentor another owner, support someone in your community, or strengthen the dance industry beyond your own studio.

This summer, consider how your leadership might evolve and where you may be ready to pay forward the guidance you once received.

• Why summer can become a natural season of renewal for studio owners
• The difference between creating flexibility and becoming disconnected from your business
• Why the owner remains an essential part of the studio's leadership
• What can happen after you accomplish the goals you spent years pursuing
• Recognizing when you have outgrown your current rooms and conversations
• Finding renewed purpose through mentorship, leadership, and service
• Ways experienced studio owners can give back to others

Where could your experience, leadership, or resources make a meaningful difference for someone else?

Get practical information about money, mindset, leadership, and studio ownership delivered on the first and fifteenth of each month.

Visit thestudioownerlifecoach.com/newsletter to subscribe.

Dance Studio Owner Life Coaching is a podcast for studio owners who want a peaceful life and a profitable business.

Owning a dance studio can place a unique strain on a marriage, especially during busy seasons when recital deadlines, competitions, staffing challenges, and unexpected problems demand your attention.

In this episode of The Life We Build series, Ginger talks with Connie O'Reel, owner of Southwest Synergy Dance, about building a strong marriage while growing a successful dance studio. Connie shares how her husband has supported her throughout her 20 years of studio ownership, from helping with hands-on projects to offering encouragement behind the scenes.

Ginger and Connie also discuss the importance of recognizing when business stress is affecting your relationship, making time for connection outside of the studio, and understanding what kind of support your spouse is best equipped to provide.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• How Connie and her husband found ways to spend time together during the early years of studio ownership
• Why busy seasons can create tension at home
• The importance of showing appreciation when your spouse supports your business
• How scheduled date nights can help couples stay connected
• Why your spouse may not always be the best person to process studio drama with
• How to communicate clearly when you need a listening ear versus a solution
• The value of creating family time that has nothing to do with dance
• How to make sure your spouse is included in the rewarding parts of studio ownership

Mrs. Connie O'Reel is the Director and Owner of Southwest Synergy Dance, bringing over 40 years of training in jazz, hip hop, ballet, and lyrical. A former competitive dancer and Illinois state champion at Lockport Township High School, she began assistant teaching at age twelve and became a principal instructor by nineteen. Since assuming leadership in 2006, Miss Connie has grown Southwest Synergy Dance into an award-winning, community-centered studio, named Southland's Best Dance Studio, and has expanded its reach with a second location. Her choreography spans competitive as well as local high school programs. Connie is an active member of The Rhee Gold Company's Gold Alliance, Gold Alliance Masters, and The Organized Executive Club, where she continues to advance her leadership and business expertise. Known for building confident dancers and strong communities, Connie remains committed to developing the next generation through discipline, creativity, and connection.

https://swsynergy.com/

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In this episode of Dance Studio Owner Life Coaching, Ginger talks with Laura Giacomelli, owner and founder of Libra Dance Studio in Warminster, Pennsylvania.

Laura shares openly about divorce, single motherhood, business ownership, financial independence, and what changed when she stopped playing small. Her story is honest, practical, and deeply relevant for dance studio owners who are building businesses while also navigating real life.

Laura talks about filing for divorce in January 2024, the importance of protecting her business with a prenup, and how that decision helped her keep ownership of the studio she had built. She also reflects on how she changed after divorce, describing how her ambition and creativity expanded once she had the freedom to make decisions fully on her own.

The conversation also explores what it means to run your studio like a real business. Laura explains why studio owners need to know their numbers, set financial goals, make profitable scheduling decisions, and think long term about owner pay, retirement, and personal financial stability.

Laura also shares about being a single mom to her son Cole, advocating for him as a child with special needs, and creating a business structure that allows her to be present for her family. With strong systems, delegation, and the right team in place, Laura has built a studio that supports her life and gives her room to grow.

About Laura Giacomelli

Laura Giacomelli is a Philadelphia native, entrepreneur, and dance industry professional with more than 15 years of experience as a studio owner and 23 years as an educator. She is a sought-after business presenter, social media content creator, and mentor who is passionate about helping dance studio owners build successful, sustainable businesses.

As a single mother to her son, Cole, who is autistic, Laura is also a dedicated advocate for neurodiversity and inclusion. Her personal and professional experiences have shaped her commitment to creating supportive environments where all children can thrive. Laura has intentionally built a business and lifestyle that prioritizes both professional success and family, demonstrating that it is possible to achieve meaningful work-life balance while growing a thriving studio and remaining fully present as a parent. Through her speaking, mentoring, and educational content, she inspires others to pursue success on their own terms while leading with purpose, passion, and authenticity.

You can find Laura online at:

Studio Website: libradancestudio.com

Instagram: @misslauragiacomelli

If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to get on The Leadership Roundtable newsletter. Enjoy twice monthly tools, inspiration and life coaching delivered to your inbox. Subscribe today.