Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners

Hiring teachers is one thing. Keeping great teachers long-term is something else entirely.

In this throwback episode, Annie Leese and Lauren Kelly break down the leadership, systems, and culture shifts that help dance studio owners build teams that stay invested, supported, and committed for the long haul.

Lauren shares how she transformed her mindset as a studio owner, what she learned inside the Inner Circle, and why personalized leadership matters more than ever.

What you'll learn:

• How to hire based on studio mission and values

• Why feedback surveys can improve hiring decisions

• Creative ways to retain great staff

• The importance of compensation and financial stability

• How personalized leadership improves retention

• Why team culture starts with the owner

• What it means to lead like a CEO in the dance industry

Lauren Kelly is the owner and artistic director of Music and Motion Dance Studio. Since taking over the studio from her mother, Lauren has focused on building a culture-driven team rooted in education, leadership, and long-term sustainability.

Explore our partners:

Sign up for Studio Sync - dsoa.com/syncmembership

Try our Daily Decision Compass - dsoa.com/compass

Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join!

Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association:

Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation

What makes families stay at a dance studio for years and what causes them to quietly walk away?

In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, relationship marketing expert Barb Betts shares why retention is built through emotional connection, authentic culture, and meaningful relationships. Guided by reflections from the DSOA's operations specialist Katie Wilber, this conversation explores the deeper human side of studio leadership and the moments that make families feel like they truly belong.

Barb unpacks how studio owners can strengthen loyalty, improve communication, build stronger relationships with teachers and parents, and create a studio culture families never want to leave. From practical retention strategies to the power of authenticity and connection, this episode will challenge studio owners to think differently about what truly drives long-term growth and referrals.

• Why retention is rooted in belonging and emotional connection

• The difference between unavoidable attrition and preventable departures

• Why studio owners can never fully delegate relationships

• How stronger teacher relationships improve retention

• Practical ways to create community outside of dance classes

• Why authentic studio culture attracts the right families

• The power of intentional communication and personal connection

• How relationship-based leadership drives referrals and long-term growth

• The "small moments" that create lasting studio loyalty

• Why trying to be everything for everyone hurts retention

Barb Betts is a keynote speaker, CEO, relationship strategist, and author of The Relationship Advantage. With more than 23 years of experience building businesses through trust-based relationships, Barb teaches leaders how authentic human connection drives growth, loyalty, and long-term success. Her work has been featured in outlets including ABC, KTLA, and Us Weekly.

Explore our partners:

Try our Daily Decision Compass with a Free 7-Day Trial: dsoa.com/compass

Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join!

Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association:

Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation

What if your studio isn't struggling… it's just misaligned?

In this powerful episode, Jodi Shilling unpacks how authentic branding can completely transform your enrollment, culture, and confidence as a leader.

Jodi Shilling is a dance studio owner in Los Angeles and a seasoned growth coach inside the DSOA Inner Circle. Known for her bold decisions and elevated brand, Jodi has helped studio owners redefine their identity, attract aligned families, and build thriving, values-driven businesses.

This episode dives deep into what branding really means for dance studio owners and why it's often misunderstood. Jodi shares her journey from inconsistent, inauthentic branding to building a highly aligned studio that scaled from 250 to 800+ students.

From losing 70% of her clients to creating a brand that fuels connection, trust, and growth, this conversation will challenge how you think about marketing, leadership, and identity.

What You'll Learn:

• Why branding is NOT about logos, colors, or aesthetics

• How authenticity directly impacts enrollment growth

• The role of personal brand in building trust and sales

• Why repelling the wrong clients is essential

• How to create emotional connection through marketing

• The difference between polished vs. relatable content

• How to align your team with your brand values

• Practical ways to discover your personal brand

Jodi Shilling is a Studio Growth Coach with the Dance Studio Owners Association and the founder of Relevé Studios in Los Angeles. With over 17 years of experience, she helps studio owners grow revenue, impact, and freedom through aligned leadership and authentic branding.

If your studio's marketing sounds like everyone else's… this might be why.

In this episode, branding expert Bruce Turkel shares why standing out has nothing to do with what you offer and everything to do with how people experience your brand.

From understanding what today's customers actually care about to breaking free from outdated "features-based" marketing, this conversation will challenge the way you position your studio and help you connect in a way that drives real growth.

Bruce explains why function is simply the "cost of entry" in today's market and how the studios that truly thrive are the ones creating emotional connection, memorable experiences, and meaningful differentiation.

If you're tired of blending in and ready to build a brand families feel, this episode is a must-listen.

What You'll Learn

• Why most dance studio marketing sounds the same

• The difference between function and brand value

• How emotional connection influences buying decisions

• Why customer experience matters more than features

• The branding lesson dance studios can learn from Tiffany & Co.

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

• The key difference between good brands and great brands

Bruce Turkel is an internationally recognized branding expert, speaker, and author who helps businesses create more valuable and memorable brands. He has worked with major companies including Discovery Channel, Hasbro, Bacardi, and Miami, and is the author of several books on branding and customer experience, including All About Them, named one of Forbes' top business books of the year.

Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join!

Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association:

Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation

What if the next level of your studio doesn't require more effort—but a different role?

In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Cara Poppitt breaks down the critical shift every growing studio owner must make: moving from managing the day-to-day… to leading with vision as a CEO.

Drawing from her own journey, Cara shares what it really takes to step out of the weeds, develop a clear direction for your studio, and build a team that can help carry it forward. Because long-term growth doesn't come from doing more—it comes from leading differently.

If you've ever felt stuck in the operations of your business or unsure how to scale without burning out, this episode will challenge you to rethink your role—and step into the leadership your studio actually needs.

What You'll Learn:

• The difference between management and true leadership

• Why staying in "task mode" keeps you stuck and overwhelmed

• How to hire and build a team aligned with your vision

• The role of culture in retention and team performance

• How to stop being the bottleneck in your business

• Why leadership is about people, not just systems

• How to develop the skills needed to lead effectively

Cara Poppitt is a leadership expert, entrepreneur, and founder of two award-winning companies. She has helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs grow their businesses and is the author of the bestselling book Big Freakin' Change.

Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join!

Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association:

Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation

In this special short episode, Lisa DeMaio, Inner Circle Program Director, shares an important update with the Dance Studio Owners Association community regarding a recent leadership change. This is a message of continuity, confidence, and forward momentum as we continue to evolve and support you.

Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join!

Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association:

Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation

What if your studio's biggest growth lever isn't marketing, pricing, or even your curriculum, but your energy?

In this episode, Olivia sits down with Erin King, energy expert, entrepreneur, and founder of The Energy Institute. After building and selling multiple companies and experiencing burnout firsthand, Erin now helps leaders optimize energy for performance, clarity, and sustainable success.

This conversation dives deep into how energy is the real driver of leadership, culture, and business growth. Erin shares practical tools to help studio owners reclaim their energy, make better decisions, and lead with clarity. From tackling "heavy" tasks first to redefining success and separating identity from business, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you grow without burning out.

What You'll Learn:

• Why energy outperforms expertise in today's business landscape

• How to stop feeling drained—even when you're "doing everything right"

• The "heavy before light" rule for daily productivity

• How unresolved decisions are secretly draining your energy

• A simple exercise to separate who you are from what you do

• How your energy directly impacts your team, students, and retention

• Why avoiding hard conversations is costing you more than you think

• How to identify and operate in your "zone of genius"

Erin King is a three-time entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and energy management expert who helps business owners lead with clarity, improve decision-making, and avoid burnout. After building and selling multiple companies, she now teaches practical strategies to optimize energy, strengthen team culture, and operate in your zone of genius. Her research with over 10,000 people has led to proven frameworks for sustainable growth, productivity, and long-term success.

Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join!

Watch our video episodes and subscribe on YouTube here.

Explore our partners:

Get your 3-Step International Dance Day Campaign: dsoa.com/international-dance-day/

Try the Studio Owner Daily Decision Compass FREE for 7 days: dsoa.com/compass

Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association:

Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation

Follow Olivia Mode-Cater:

Instagram: @olivia.modecater | TikTok: @olivia.modecater

Most studios focus on marketing to get students in the door, but what if the real reason they leave is happening inside your classrooms?

In this episode, Olivia sits down with Katie Wilber, educator, operations specialist, and marketing expert, to unpack the powerful role teachers play in shaping your studio's brand and retention.

This conversation dives deep into the disconnect between external marketing and in-class experience and how that gap can make or break trust with families. Katie shares real classroom stories, actionable teaching strategies, and the mindset shifts both studio owners and teachers need to create consistency, loyalty, and long-term success.

What You'll Learn:

• Why teachers are the true extension of your brand

• How classroom experience directly impacts retention

• The importance of consistency in teaching and communication

• What parents actually perceive as "value"

• How to balance creativity with curriculum

• The small moments that build lifelong student loyalty

Katie Wilber is the operations specialist with the Dance Studio Owners Association and the Studio Sync member success specialist. With experience in classrooms, marketing, and studio systems nationwide, she brings a unique perspective on aligning teaching with brand and business growth.

Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join!

Watch our video episodes and subscribe on YouTube here.

Explore our partners:

Get your 3-Step International Dance Day Campaign: dsoa.com/international-dance-day/

Sign up for Studio Sync - dsoa.com/syncmembership

Try Dance Photo Pro - dancephotopro.com

Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association:

Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation

Follow Olivia Mode-Cater:

Instagram: @olivia.modecater | TikTok: @olivia.modecater

Your studio is growing… your students are growing… your team is growing…

So why does your brand suddenly feel off?

In this empowering solo episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater breaks down a moment every growing studio owner hits—but few know how to fix: when your business evolves, but your messaging doesn't keep up.

If you've ever looked at your social media, your website, or your team's communication and thought "this doesn't feel like us anymore"—this episode is your wake-up call.

Olivia dives deep into what branding actually is (hint: it's not your logo), why delegation often creates brand inconsistency, and the simple system she used to realign her messaging, scale her team, and build trust with the right customers.

This episode will challenge you to step into your role as CEO and take ownership of the one thing that drives trust, growth, and long-term success: your brand.

You'll hear:

• Why branding is a feeling, not just visuals or design

• The identity shift that happens as your studio grows

• Why delegating marketing often creates brand misalignment

• The real reason your messaging isn't attracting the right families

• How inconsistent messaging breaks trust (and slows growth)

• The exact system Olivia uses to align her team's messaging

• How to define your customer avatar beyond surface-level insights

• Why "generic" marketing will never cut through the noise

• How to create scalable brand consistency across your business

• The CEO-level responsibility most studio owners avoid

If your studio is growing but your messaging isn't keeping up, this episode will show you exactly how to realign, refocus, and scale with clarity.

Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join!

Watch our video episodes and subscribe on YouTube here.

Explore our partners:

Get your 3-Step International Dance Day Campaign: dsoa.com/international-dance-day/

Sign up for Studio Sync - dsoa.com/syncmembership

Try Dance Photo Pro - dancephotopro.com

Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association:

Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation

Follow Olivia Mode-Cater:

Instagram: @olivia.modecater | TikTok: @olivia.modecater

What if the thing holding your studio back… is actually how you're showing up as the leader?

In this powerful and honest conversation, Olivia Mode-Cater is joined by Inner Circle Studio Growth Coach Shannon Westveer to unpack the identity shifts required to grow a sustainable, scalable dance studio. This episode goes beyond strategy—and into the real internal work that studio owners must face as they evolve from doing everything… to leading something bigger than themselves.

Shannon shares her journey from overwhelmed studio owner to confident CEO, revealing the mindset shifts, leadership challenges, and uncomfortable decisions that ultimately changed everything. Together, Olivia and Shannon explore why so many studio owners stay stuck—not because they lack tools, but because they haven't yet stepped into the next version of themselves.

If you've ever felt stretched thin, unsure how to grow, or like your studio depends entirely on you—this episode will challenge you to think differently about your role, your leadership, and what's truly required to scale.

You'll hear:

• Why growth requires an identity shift—not just new strategies

• The difference between operating as a teacher vs. a CEO

• Why letting go feels so hard (and how to actually do it)

• The hidden cost of staying in "control mode"

• How to start building a studio that runs with you, not because of you

• The mindset blocks that keep studio owners stuck in overwhelm

• What it really takes to lead a team effectively

• How Shannon redefined her role to create more freedom and growth

• Why clarity and decision-making are leadership skills, not personality traits

• The moment studio owners realize: "Something has to change"

If you're ready to stop doing everything yourself and start leading a studio that can grow beyond you, this episode is your wake-up call.

Shannon Westveer is a former dance studio owner and Inner Circle Studio Growth Coach known for helping studio owners step into stronger leadership, build sustainable businesses, and navigate the mindset shifts required for long-term growth.

Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join!

Watch our video episodes and subscribe on YouTube here.

Explore our partners:

Studio Sync - dsoa.com/syncmembership

Dance Photo Pro - dancephotopro.com

Studio Growth Pathways - dsoa.com/pathways

Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association:

Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation

Follow Olivia Mode-Cater:

Instagram: @olivia.modecater | TikTok: @olivia.modecater