Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners

Your recreational dancers may only spend 45 minutes a week inside your studio, but are you creating an experience that makes them feel like they truly belong there?

In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, we're re-sharing a jam-packed talk from DSOA CEO of the Year and Studio Growth Coach Sharon Uyar.

Sharon breaks down how she's built a thriving recreational program by focusing on five key areas: studio culture, customer service, marketing, engagement, and convenience. From making families feel seen to rethinking schedules, communication, community events, and even the traditional recital, Sharon shares practical ways to create a stress-free experience that drives retention, revenue, and long-term loyalty. If you want your recreational families to see your studio as more than just another activity on their calendar, this episode is packed with ideas you can put into action.

What You'll Learn:

• How to make your studio stand out in a crowded extracurricular market

• Why recreational dancers need to feel just as connected as competitive dancers

• How to bring your studio's core values to life for families and staff

• Simple ways to involve parents, siblings, and the entire family in your studio community

• How consistent customer service training can strengthen retention

• How to make your marketing feel welcoming and accessible to recreational families

• Why community events can drive both engagement and new enrollments

• How to build schedules around the realities of busy family life

• Simple ways to make studio communication easier for parents to act on

• How shorter, more convenient recitals can improve the family experience and increase revenue

• How Sharon's studio sold more than 6,700 recital tickets and generated over $154,000 in ticket revenue

• Why making families feel valued, seen, and heard can turn them into studio families for life

Sharon Uyar is the Executive Artistic Director of Fusion Dance Centre, where she is celebrating her 23rd season, and has more than 30 years of dance teaching experience. A member of the Dance Studio Owners Association, Sharon was named DSOA CEO of the Year in 2024. She now serves as a Studio Growth Coach for DSOA's Inner Circle, supporting dance studio owners around the world.

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Could your curriculum be one of the most valuable assets in your dance studio?

In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, we're re-sharing a powerful talk from the Dance Teacher Web Conference & Expo in Las Vegas in August 2024, where Studio Growth Coach Alisa Finney shares her "13 Steps to Financial Freedom" and reveals why curriculum is so much more than a teaching tool. Alisa explores how a clear, progressive curriculum can create consistency across your team, strengthen student progression, protect your studio from teacher turnover, unlock additional revenue streams, and differentiate your business from the competition. Most importantly, she explains how delivering an exceptional, consistent product can build your confidence in your studio's value, helping you move away from discounts and compete on quality rather than price.

• Why curriculum should be treated as a foundational investment in your studio

• How standardized curriculum creates greater consistency across your teaching team

• How to keep classes progressing when teachers are absent, replaced or leave your studio

• Why a curriculum can reduce your business's dependence on individual teacher personalities

• How progressive levels create clear achievement pathways for students

• How exams, assessments, uniforms, awards and level progression can create additional revenue opportunities

• Why curriculum can strengthen teacher and student-teacher training

• How Alisa developed her own 13-level ballet and jazz syllabi

• How a strong curriculum can differentiate your studio from local competitors

• Why confidence in your product can transform your mindset around pricing and discounting

Alisa Finney is a Studio Growth Coach, dance educator and studio owner with more than 33 years of studio ownership and 40 years of teaching experience. She has developed 13-level Ballet and Jazz syllabi, presented internationally at Dance Teacher Web, and served as Artistic Director of the Melbourne Ballet Company for 17 years. Combining deep technical dance expertise with extensive business experience, Alisa now helps studio owners strengthen their teaching, leadership and businesses.

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You can run a successful dance studio for years and still feel completely insecure when it comes to your numbers.

In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, we're resharing a powerful talk from two years ago with Robyn Tedesco, CEO of Move With Grace Dance Studio, co-owner of Inspire Dance Challenge and Amplify Dance Lab, and a certified Board Director with the Performing Arts Educators of Canada.

Robyn shares how changing her mindset, learning her KPIs, creating consistent financial routines, and holding herself accountable helped her step into her CEO power—paying off more than $100,000 in debt in 18 months while still achieving a 22% profit. If getting on top of your finances keeps showing up on your 90-day plan, this episode is a reminder that you don't have to be a "math person" to understand your numbers and take control of your studio's financial future.

What You'll Learn:

• Why you don't need to be a "math person" to understand your studio finances

• The mindset shift that helped Robyn stop avoiding her numbers

• The essential KPIs Robyn started tracking in her studio

• Why payroll percentage can be an important financial warning light

• How Money Mondays and Financial Fridays created consistency and accountability

• How Robyn changed the way she managed and communicated with her bookkeeper

• The weekly enrollment and conversion metrics she monitors

• How separate savings helped her prepare for summer expenses

• How understanding her financials strengthened her confidence as a CEO

• How she paid off more than $100,000 in debt in 18 months and still achieved 22% profit

• Why the thing that keeps appearing on your 90-day plan may be the thing you need to tackle next

Robyn is the CEO of Move With Grace Dance Studio, co-owner of Inspire Dance Challenge and Amplify Dance Lab, and a certified Board Director with the Performing Arts Educators of Canada. With more than 30 years of experience in dance and leadership, she brings unmatched expertise and passion for helping studio owners grow, connect, and thrive.

Parts of this episode were generated with A

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Growing your studio shouldn't mean sacrificing your time, your family, or yourself in the process.

In this episode, we're sharing a powerful presentation from Nadine Selinger, originally delivered at DSOA's 2025 Inner Circle Member Retreat in La Jolla, San Diego.

Nadine shares how she went from teaching 40+ hours a week and wearing far too many hats to building a team of empowered leaders with clear roles, ownership, and opportunities for growth. She breaks down how developing her people, strengthening systems, and learning to delegate helped Dance City double enrollment from 400 to 850 students and grow annual revenue from $1M to $2M—all while creating more freedom for Nadine outside the studio.

• How to identify and develop leaders already on your team

• How specialized roles create greater ownership and staff retention

• Why delegation requires training, trust, and clear expectations

• How meetings, evaluations, and check-ins strengthen accountability

• How to create meaningful career opportunities within your studio

• Why you should hire strategically—not simply to lighten your workload

• How stronger systems and leadership can create more freedom for you as an owner

Nadine Selinger is the owner, instructor, and choreographer behind Dance City in Regina, Saskatchewan. A Royal Academy of Dance registered teacher and mentor, Nadine is also a Canadian Dance Teachers Association member in Tap, Jazz, and Ballet and is certified through ADAPT and Acrobatic Arts. With extensive experience as a dance educator, studio owner, choreographer, and competition adjudicator, Nadine is passionate about developing dancers, building strong teams, and creating a studio where both students and staff can thrive.

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What if AI could become another assistant in your dance studio—helping you strengthen your systems, communicate more effectively, spark new ideas, and get valuable time back?

In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, we're sharing a talk from Tanya Neary, CEO of Stars of Tomorrow and a member of the DSOA Education Team, originally presented at the DSOA Inner Circle gathering in Orlando, Florida, in January 2024. Tanya challenges studio owners to rethink AI, not as something to fear, but as a tool that can support them as leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs.

At the heart of Tanya's message is a powerful reframe: think of AI as "accelerating innovation." By embracing technology as an assistant rather than a replacement, studio owners can create more capacity, get valuable time back, and stay focused on the work that truly needs their creativity, intuition, and leadership.

• How to think of AI as an assistant, not a replacement

• Ways AI can support your studio systems and SOPs

• How technology can help improve productivity and team communication

• A faster way to organize and share competition judges' feedback

• How AI can help pull useful information from studio documents and resources

• Ways to jump-start ideas for costumes, music, class plans, camps, and choreography

• How Tanya generated ideas for an entire five-day themed dance camp in seconds

• How AI can help identify costume-change conflicts and build a possible recital show order

• Why AI still requires human intuition and thoughtfulness

• How to start small by finding one tool that can give you—and your team—time back

Some of the specific AI platforms and features discussed reflect what was available when Tanya originally gave this presentation in January 2024, but the bigger conversation remains an important one: How can studio owners use technology to work smarter without losing the creativity, relationships, and human intuition that make their studios special?

Whether you're already experimenting with AI or still figuring out where it belongs in your business, this episode offers plenty of ideas to get you thinking about what's possible.

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Your studio is growing. So why does success suddenly feel so heavy?

In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Katie Wilber sits down with Shannon Westveer, Professional Speaker, Founder & CEO of The Switch Finance & Studio Solutions, and DSOA Inner Circle Studio Growth Coach, to walk through the evolution of a dance studio owner—from opening the doors on day one to stepping into the role of a confident CEO.

Having co-owned and grown a Chicago dance studio to $1.7 million in revenue, Shannon knows firsthand what happens when every decision, task, and responsibility runs through the owner. She shares why growth requires more than working harder—and why delegation, financial clarity, intentional team building, and strong systems need to become part of your business before burnout forces them to.

Together, Katie and Shannon explore the shift from operator to CEO: identifying what truly belongs on your plate, creating roles around the work you can delegate, training your team to take real ownership, and using your numbers to make confident decisions about hiring, growth, and even paying yourself more. Whether you're opening your first studio or realizing the business you've built depends far too heavily on you, this conversation offers a roadmap for building a studio that can grow with you—not just because of you.

What You'll Learn:

• Why "the owner is the system" in so many growing dance studios

• How to identify what only you can do—and what should be delegated

• The mindset shift from studio operator to studio CEO

• Why delegation starts with clearly defined roles and expectations

• How proper training builds trust and gives team members autonomy

• Why taking time to train now can create a much bigger payoff later

• How financial clarity helps you make better hiring and growth decisions

• Why knowing your numbers can make it easier to confidently pay yourself more

• The three things Shannon believes studio owners should build into their businesses from day one

• Why your three-year vision, financial plan, and brand identity should guide your decisions

• What to remember when studio ownership feels overwhelming

Shannon Westveer is a Professional Speaker, Founder & CEO of The Switch Finance & Studio Solutions, and a Studio Growth Coach inside the DSOA Inner Circle. She co-owned and grew a $1.7 million dance studio in Chicago and has taught dance to tens of thousands of children over the past 25 years. Today, she uses her experience in business, finance, leadership, and studio ownership to help dance studio owners build stronger businesses and become more confident leaders.

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What would change in your studio if confidence, character, connection and leadership were intentionally built into every student's experience?

This week, we're resharing a powerful conversation filled with practical ideas for building a dance studio experience that goes far beyond teaching steps.

Jodi Shilling sits down with Loren Specht, founder of LoMastro Performing Arts Academy, Dance Mastery Institute and Virtuosity Dance Festival, to explore how intentional programming can support the whole child, strengthen faculty and improve retention. Loren shares how her WINGS character-development program, confidence coaching and behavior support systems help students feel seen, take risks and build life skills, while giving teachers practical tools to respond to classroom challenges. She also explains why positioning her studio as a curriculum-based school—not a transactional service—has changed how families perceive its value. The episode is a powerful reminder that lasting retention is built when students feel connected, teachers feel supported and parents see the studio as a meaningful partner in their child's growth.

What You'll Learn

• How to intentionally weave studio values into your curriculum

• What Loren's WINGS character-development program includes

• How to adapt one program for different ages and dance subjects

• Why visible student activities help communicate value to parents

• How character-building programs can support connection and retention

• Why confidence needs to be developed like a muscle

• How confidence coaching can help dancers take more creative risks

• Why Loren begins confidence work before students reach middle school

• How journaling and reflection can reinforce confidence outside coaching sessions

• A simple end-of-class exercise that helps students recognize their progress

• How to find the right outside expert or community partner

• Why studio owners do not need to personally lead every new initiative

• How behavioral coaching can give dance teachers practical support

• Why "behavior is communication"

• How small classroom responsibilities can help students reset

• Why solution-focused support is more effective than venting

• How curriculum consistency strengthens the student experience

• Why positioning your studio as a school can increase perceived value

• How words such as "tuition," "classes" and "education" shape parent expectations

Jodi Shilling is the owner of Relevé Studios, an award-winning studio recognized by the Dance Studio Owners Association, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and the American Business Awards. She is also the founder of Elevate School Arts, a DSOA Inner Circle Studio Growth Coach and an accomplished television, film and improv performer.

Loren LoMastro Specht is the founder and director of LoMastro Performing Arts Academy, Dance Mastery Institute and Virtuosity Dance Festival. An experienced instructor, choreographer and curriculum developer, she is dedicated to creating intentional, whole-child dance education and supporting teachers with the tools they need to help every student succeed.

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Can a stronger studio culture be the difference between families who stay for one season… and families who stay for a lifetime?

Today we are resharing one of our most-loved episodes, because every studio owner can benefit from its message. In this inspiring episode, guest host Kim McSwain shares practical leadership strategies for building a dance studio where students, parents, teachers, and staff all feel connected and valued.

From strengthening communication and empowering your faculty to giving students a voice, Kim shares simple, actionable ideas to help you create more than just a dance studio—you'll build a community where families feel they truly belong.

What You'll Learn

• Why studio owners must lead by creating connection, not just managing operations

• How being visible and available strengthens your studio culture

• Practical ways to build stronger relationships with parents and families

• Why your teachers need to be present beyond the classroom

• How clear communication builds trust and loyalty

• Why giving students a voice creates deeper engagement

• Simple activities that strengthen parent-child connections through dance

• How your studio can become a safe place and true community for everyone

Kim McSwain is an internationally respected dance educator, mentor, and speaker with decades of experience training dancers, teachers, and studio owners. After performing professionally with artists including Britney Spears, NSYNC, and Michael Jackson, Kim dedicated her career to developing exceptional educators and helping dance studios build stronger cultures through her Changing Lives program.

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Making your first hire can feel overwhelming, especially when you've built your studio with your own two hands.

We're bringing back this insightful conversation from our podcast archives because its lessons on hiring, leadership, and delegation remain timeless for studio owners.

In this episode, Mary Giattino shares the personal story of taking over her family's dance studio, hiring her very first studio manager, and learning that true delegation isn't about giving away tasks. It's about empowering others to lead. Through honest reflections on hiring, trust, systems, and leadership, Mary offers practical insights to help studio owners build stronger teams and create a business that can grow beyond themselves.

What You'll Learn

• Why your first hire is one of the biggest leadership decisions you'll make

• How Mary transitioned from Broadway to owning her family's dance studio

• What to look for when hiring a studio manager

• Why delegation is about empowerment—not just assigning tasks

• How to build trust while maintaining accountability

• The importance of systems and clear communication

• Why culture fit matters just as much as skill set

• How delegation allows studio owners to focus on vision and growth

• Lessons Mary learned from growing her admin team over the past 12 years

• Why leadership and delegation are continual learning processes

Mary Giattino is a Broadway choreographer, educator, and longtime dance studio owner. She owns Stage Door School of Dance in Long Island, New York, serves as a DSOA Inner Circle Studio Growth Coach, and has worked on numerous Broadway and national touring productions, including Billy Elliot, Dear Evan Hansen, Fun Home, and White Christmas. Today, Mary combines her professional performing arts experience with decades of studio leadership to help dance studio owners build stronger businesses and teams.

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Are you leading your team the way you want to be remembered?

We're resharing one of our favorite episodes from Kelli Leighton's Innovate to Thrive series because its leadership lessons are just as relevant today as when it first aired. If you've ever felt frustrated by staff performance, struggled with accountability, or found yourself carrying too much of the workload, this episode will challenge you to look at leadership from a new perspective.

Kelli shares the mindset shifts and practical strategies that helped her build a stronger, more innovative team. You'll also hear about the unique role she introduced in her studio—the Director of Removing Friction—and how it's helped streamline operations, improve communication, and reduce stress for both her team and her clients.

What You'll Learn

• Why your team is a direct reflection of your leadership

• How to perform an effective team audit

• The importance of accountability without sacrificing culture

• How innovation starts with leadership, not creativity alone

• Why your team needs a mindset shift—not just new systems

• How to separate emotional feedback from real business data

• The difference between macro and micro client pain points

• Why empowering staff leads to better decision-making

• What a "Director of Removing Friction" does—and why every studio needs one

• Practical ways to build a forward-thinking, innovative team

Whether you're growing your team or refining the one you already have, you'll walk away with actionable ideas to become a more confident leader and build a studio culture that supports long-term success.

Kelli Leighton is the owner and Artistic Director of Leighton Dance Project in California and a longtime member and coach inside the Dance Studio Owners Association Inner Circle. Passionate about helping studio owners embrace innovation, Kelli combines creativity with practical leadership strategies to build thriving businesses, strong teams, and exceptional studio cultures. Through her Innovate to Thrive series, she encourages studio owners to think differently, lead confidently, and turn big ideas into meaningful action.

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