Make Dance Fun

Episode 72: From Year-End to Start Over Again: A Big Recap!

- **Welcome Back!** 
  - After a long break, we’re excited to return with Episode 72! Our last podcast was about planning your summer, and now we're sharing what came next—a lot has happened in the past six months!

- **CAMP CONFETTI Success**
  - Launched our most successful camp ever, “In My Sparkle Era.”
  - Other popular camps included "Pink Pajama Party" and "Dancing in My Dreams."
  - “Perfectly Pink Destination Dream Vacation” was also a big hit.
  - We loved seeing how great everything looked, and we're so proud of how everyone nailed it!

- **Rhythm Nation Barbie Dream Vacation**
  - Produced the opening number for our show with 75 dancers.
  - This production set the tone for our year-end shows and was a collaboration of our company faculty and guest choreographers.
  - Came together in about 10 days before hitting the stage.

- **Company Auditions**
  - Over 300 dancers auditioned, and we successfully cast 11 companies.
  - We used our tried-and-true formula, which we shared in Episode 42.
  - Auditions were held in April, allowing us to organize schedules for the season.

- **Company Party**
  - Hosted two giant Barbie-themed parties, highlighting our graduating seniors and recognizing every dancer with awards.
  - The event was filled with all things PINK.

- **Year-End Shows**
  - Faced a few more technical difficulties than usual, particularly with media on the LED wall, but everything worked out in the end.
  - We elevated the lobby experience with custom setups, including a “Hotel Rhythm” registration desk, balloons, and banners.
  - We went full out with props and sets but plan to scale back this year to cut costs.

- **Summer Camps at Rhythm**
  - This summer was our biggest ever, with 2-3 camps running each week.
  - Camp Rhythm, our full-day musical theater camp, was so successful that we’re considering adding a third session next season.

- **The Dance Awards**
  - Enjoyed seeing our students perform their best routines of the season.
  - Recorded a special two-part podcast episode with an amazing guest—stay tuned!

- **Welcome Back Party & Staff Kickoff**
  - Themed around the Olympics with "TEAM RHYTHM - Let The Games Begin!"
  - Activities included a pennant craft, obstacle course, and a step and repeat.
  - We kicked off the season with new staff members, custom shirts, and notebooks during a catered dinner at the studio.

- **Energize and Other Conventions**
  - Attended Rhee Gold’s Dance Life and Dance Teacher Web with Shelley and Beth.
  - Introduced new WOW Cards and a subscription service—more info coming soon!
  - Gained inspiration at Revolution’s “ENERGIZE” conference in Chicago, where we previewed new costumes and attended seminars.

- **Season 32 Begins!**
  - Last Monday marked the start of Rhythm’s 32nd season.
  - We have several exciting podcasts planned for the fall—stay tuned for more consistent episodes!

- **Closing**
  - Thank you for listening! We hope you’re having a great start to your season. Have a fantastic week—bye!

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Welcome to Episode 71 of Make Dance Fun! Today, we're diving into summer planning.

• Summer Launch
  • Introduce theme with decorative elements 
  • Fun game and prizes for engagement.
• Next Steps:
  • Use a Google Form to gauge teacher interest and skills, allowing for new opportunities and assistant training.
  • Maintain weekly promotion of camps via email schedules, posters with QR codes, and coordinated social media posts.
  • Employ Facebook ads for lesser-registered camps and include in newsletters.
  • Schedule Summer planning meetings to organize camp details and tasks.
• Summer Planning Meeting:
  • Set up working sessions to organize crafts, schedules, playlists, etc.
  • Communicate details with staff involved in specific camps.
• Promotional Content:
  • Capture fun photos with studio dancers for camp promotion.
  • Keep announcing Summer Company Dates and other requirements clearly.
• Camp Confetti Planning:
  • Plan a detailed session in May with Camp Confetti teaching team to outline activities and schedules.
• Preparation Importance:
  • Early planning ensures filled camps, staff readiness, and smooth operations.
• Reminder:
  • Camp Confetti new themes are still on special; grab yours now!
• Conclusion:
  • Thanks for tuning in! If you're at SOU, come say hi!

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In this episode, we are sharing details on our amazing "team behind the scenes" and their roles! We share a short description of our ELT (Executive Leadership Team) and how each person's role contributes to Rhythm.  These employees are key in our success and keeping the studio running smoothly! 

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In Episode 69, we're covering our busy holiday season and our focus for launching summer at our studio in early 2024!

Things to Focus on for Summer Preparations:

1. Summer Camp Planning Meetings:
   • Scheduling camps and determining closed weeks.
   • Identifying camp types and durations.
   • Emailing staff for summer availability.
   • Initial discussions on communication and marketing strategies.
2. Determine What Camps and Themes You will Offer:
   • Here's what we are doing! 
     • Pink Pajama Party: Dancing in My Dreams (Preschoolers - Barbie themed).
     • Perfectly Pink Destination Dream Vacation (Elementary - Barbie themed).
     • In My Sparkle Era (Taylor Swift themed).
   • Return of other our other popular camps like Fierce Fashionistas & Very Vogue Villains, Brightfeather Academy Magic, Twirltopia Princess Academy, DJ Dino's Hip Hop Stomp, WOWza LUAUza, The Enchanted Confetti Casita, Pom Pom Unicorn's Magical Carnival on a Cloud, The Fancy Freeze: A Frozen Adventure
   • Emphasizing the versatility of Camp Confetti for various camp durations and event types. You can use it for a 3-day, 5-day or single day play party! Our themes are so versatile and flexible! 
3. Save the Date - Announce Dates Early:
   • We stress the importance of releasing dates early for summer camps.
   • Try sending out a preliminary "save the date" flyer before the holiday break.
   • Preparing for a Summer Launch week in February, involving the entire studio and offering discounts on camp registrations. We make it fun, very themed and involve our Year-End Show characters! 

Check out all 35 of our Camp Confetti Themes to get your summer planning organized and ready to go f

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Episode 68 of the Make Dance Fun podcast is a special Q&A episode inspired by your DMs and emails!

• Studio Wall Creativity: We delve into our studio's vibrant walls, offering insights on creating a fun wall space. From seamless photo backdrop paper to teachers' bulletin board paper and fabric, we share different bases and tips to make your studio walls pop.
• Summer Dance Camps Sneak Peek: Get the inside scoop on our Summer Dance Camps planning! Discover the significance of early announcements and registrations, our tradition of Summer Launch week in February, and this year’s theme: Barbie! Plus, a teaser about the exciting new Camp Confettis.
• Guiding Young Dancers to Practice: Encouraging home practice for our 6-8-year-old company dancers is a journey! We discuss starting the conversation early, gentle reminders during classes, and using Dropbox for routine videos, involving parents in the practice process.
• Crafting Engaging Social Media: Navigating social media content for our studio can be a whirlwind! We share insights into our strategy, from thematic planning to adapting content based on studio events. Dive into our use of Reels, TikToks, and the playful #rhythmphotodump technique for an authentic online presence.
• Resources and Future Insights: We highlight the need for dedication in social media management and share favorite podcasts and resources for inspiration. 

Let's Get Social!

• Join our FREE Confetti Circle
• Request to join our private Facebook Group
• Follow us on Insta, Facebook and Pinterest

Let's Get Social!

• Join our FREE Confetti Circle
• Request to join our private Facebook Group
• Follow us on Insta, Facebook and Pinterest

Episode 68 of Make Dance Fun is a special Q&A episode inspired by your DMs and emails!

• Studio Wall Creativity: We delve into our studio's vibrant walls, offering insights on creating a fun wall space. From seamless photo backdrop paper to teachers' bulletin board paper and fabric, we share different bases and tips to make your studio walls pop.
• Summer Dance Camps Sneak Peek: Get the inside scoop on our Summer Dance Camps planning! Discover the significance of early announcements and registrations, our tradition of Summer Launch week in February, and this year’s theme: Barbie! Plus, a teaser about the exciting new Camp Confettis.
• Guiding Young Dancers to Practice: Encouraging home practice for our 6-8-year-old company dancers is a journey! We discuss starting the conversation early, gentle reminders during classes, and using Dropbox for routine videos, involving parents in the practice process.
• Crafting Engaging Social Media: Navigating social media content for our studio can be a whirlwind! We share insights into our strategy, from thematic planning to adapting content based on studio events. Dive into our use of Reels, TikToks, and the playful #rhythmphotodump technique for an authentic online presence.
• Resources and Future Insights: We highlight the need for dedication in social media management and share favorite podcasts and resources for inspiration. 

Let's Get Social!

• Join our FREE Confetti Circle
• Request to join our private Facebook Group
• Follow us on Insta, Facebook and Pinterest

In episode 67, we're pulling back the curtain to reveal the magic that went into our recent photoshoot extravaganza! We cover what we did, how we did it, how it all went, and what's coming up next.

What We Did:

• A comprehensive overview of the various scenes and setups we created.
• Highlighting key moments and campaigns, including a Taylor Swift-themed backdrop.
• Shelley's dedication to crafting the Swift-inspired social media campaign.

How We Did It:

• The incredible effort that went into making it all happen in a short timeframe.
• Coordinating with 20 different models, scheduling, styling, and more.
• The hard work and reward of bringing it all together and capturing great photos.

How It Went:

• An overview of the successful execution and outcome of the photoshoot.

What's Coming Up:

• Teasers for upcoming content, including the Camp Confetti promo and In My Confetti Era.
• Planning for the rest of the season with the shots we've gathered.

Discussion Questions:

• Exciting aspects of the shoot and favorite moments.
• Challenges faced during the shoot.
• Anticipation for the upcoming season and what to look forward to.

Join us as we delve into the highs and hurdles of our photoshoot journey, offering a glimpse of what's on this season's creative horizon for us at Confetti on the Dance Floor!

For more fun tips, check out these other episodes where we covered photo shoot details:

• Episode 11: Photo Shoot Fun!
• Episode 46: Fast + Fun Photo Shoots

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In Episode 66, we're sharing details about our Recital Planning Retreat you can use when you host your own! We dive into the highlights of our recent retreat and share 5 fun and 5 practical tips that made our retreat a huge success.

5 Fun Things:

1. Decor: Create a colorful theme with napkins, plates, cups, and more incorporating elements related to your show theme.
2. Cocktails & Candy: Design themed cocktails like Barbie mimosas and create a candy board for a sweet treat.
3. Pinterest Vision Board: Bring your vision board to life by printing it out and using it as decor. It's a great visual tool for inspiration.
4. Goody Bag: Prepare goody bags with theme-specific items for your team, creating a fun photo opportunity.
5. Call Bell: Use a call bell to celebrate each costume selection, adding excitement and motivation.

5 Practical Things:

1. Spotify Playlist: Share a collaborative playlist for music selection, streamlining the process.
2. Assign Tasks: Clearly define each team member's responsibilities and priorities.
3. Costume Boards: Create visual boards with stickers for costume details.
4. End of Weekend Recap: Review what was accomplished and assign concept directors.
5. Post-Retreat Meeting: Get together with the staff soon after the retreat to share details and set expectations.

If you want a deeper dive into our show planning process, check out our recital planning course Your Fun Big Show available for immediate download. Don't forget to visit the Rhythm Instagram for behind-the-scenes glimpses of our Rhythm Nation Barbie Dream Vacation planning.

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In episode 65, we continue our discussion of creating costumes, but this episode focuses more on costumes for rec classes and lower cost options for customizing your costumes!

• Custom isn't always feasible: Not every dance piece calls for a custom costume due to budget constraints. We begin by discussing the choreographer's vision and create Pinterest boards to capture the desired look and vibe.
• Mix & Match Magic: For Hip Hop and Tap, we often mix and match streetwear elements, selecting a color scheme and purchasing items to style creatively. Amazon, Urban Outfitters, ASOS, and more are our go-to resources.
• Crafty Touch: We love crafting sashes, corsages, capes, and other accessories to add a unique touch to basic costumes.

Year-End Show (Rec Class) Costumes:

• Catalog Curation: Limiting the number of costume catalogs used streamlines the process and facilitates exchanges and coordination.
• Customization: We select pre-made costumes for most themes, but sometimes we can't find the perfect fit. In these cases, we get creative. For instance, for an "Alice in Wonderland" theme, we paired a blue dress from the catalog with custom white aprons, resulting in adorable Alices.
• Theme-Specific Customization: "Are You Madder than a Hatter?" inspired Mad Hatter costumes with sequin dresses, top hats, and show logo patches. We utilize custom printed patches from THE STUDIO for a personalized touch.
• Creative Innovation: We apply custom touches to around 5-6 costumes each year, adding unique flair to fit our themes.

Recital Hip Hop Costumes:

• Customization for Teens: Many off-the-shelf teen hip hop costumes don't match our themes, so we order separates like pants from Weissman's and add a custom hoodie or t-shirt featuring theme-specific graphics.
• Personal Style: We provide accessories like bandanas, hats, and bracelets for teens to add their personal style to their costumes, ensuring a unique look.
• Thinking Outside the Costume Box: Consider combining costume pieces with blazers, vests, and more to create a tailored look that fits your theme.

Final Thoughts:

Dive deeper into costume design and think creatively to make your costumes perfectly complement your choreography and themes. While finding the ideal costume may not always be as easy as flipping through a catalog, the extra effort can make all the difference in the final performance.

Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the creative costume journey!

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In this episode (Part 1 of 2), we are sharing our process for creating custom costuming for our Performing Company at Rhythm Dance Center! It is one of our favorite things...from finding inspiration and creating Pinterest boards to sketching the design and searching for the perfect fabric, we cover how we make it happen! We also share some of our favorite places to shop for fabric in Atlanta and in NYC (our fave!)  Check it out! 

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