As a dance teacher, you know that the dance industry looks very different this year than ever before. Between dance studios re-opening amid a pandemic and those looking to pivot their services online, COVID-19 has presented a scenario that we never would have expected.
Luckily, there are a plethora of available resources out there to help studios like yours adapt to the ever-changing world. At DanceStudio-Pro, we specialize in equipping dance teachers and studio owners with powerful tips and tools for success. That’s why we’ve created this handy guide to help individuals like yourself handle this new era of online dance classes.
If you’re looking to better manage your dance students and engage with them more effectively even from afar, we suggest you incorporate the following best practices into your overall strategy:
Invest in high-quality dance software.
Offer flexible learning opportunities.
Make your classes fun.
Ready to learn how to host engaging, top-tier dance classes that your students will love? Let’s get started.
1. Invest in high-quality dance software.
One of the biggest problems dance studios are facing in the move to virtual engagements is the lack of technological infrastructure in place. And if you’ve never offered online dance classes before, it makes sense that you might be missing some critical pieces of the puzzle.
Luckily, powerful dance studio-specific software exists to ease the transition to online classes (as well as improve your overall dance studio operations).
So how do you know what a good software provider is for your studio? Our DanceStudio-Pro guide to dance studio software emphasizes that the right solution should accommodate the following:
Communication and scheduling: Make sure students and parents can easily sign up for the classes they want to take online with streamlined scheduling tools. Plus, you’ll want to be able to send out mass messages to communicate with dancers and their families in just a few clicks.
Tuition and payment processing: When you start accepting tuition and other payments online, you create a more convenient experience for parents, while also ensuring you get paid on time and without hassle. Customers should also be able to schedule automatic recurring payments with ease.
Student and class management: Use your software solution to take attendance, plan and schedule lessons, research and purchase pre-made choreography, track individual dancers’ progression, and more. Teaching a dance class will be easier than ever.
When you invest in a dedicated dance studio software provider, you lay the foundation for high-quality dance lessons for your students. It’s hard to make such a big change in operations on your own—and luckily you don’t have to.
2. Offer flexible learning opportunities.
With the move to virtual dance classes, it’s a good idea to open up your studio to more flexible operations. While you might have typically hosted an hour-long dance class twice a week, digital options provide the opportunity to expand your class options and get more students involved.
We recommend offering the following types of online dance classes:
Live group classes will most likely resemble what your typical dance classes look like in your studio. You’ll gather a group of (like 8-10) students of similar age and experience level and teach them in real-time via live-streaming tools.
Live solo lessons also take place in real-time, but provide students with a one-on-one opportunity to get personalized instruction from their dance teachers. This option can be fantastic for both new dancers and highly experienced ones who want a chance to ask questions and receive individualized feedback.
Pre-recorded content can be accessed online by your students at any time, so they can learn to dance when it’s most convenient for their schedules. This is a great choice for students who want to advance their skills in their free time, or might have an unpredictable schedule to squeeze lessons into. It also allows students to rewind and rewatch any techniques they’re struggling with.
Make all of your online classes accessible by incorporating them within your mobile dance studio app. This way, your dance students can participate from their own homes, and with their own devices, with ease.
3. Make your classes fun.
Just because you were able to keep students engaged with an hour-long practice before the pandemic doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be able to do the same virtually. That’s because students sitting with their computers or tablets at their own homes have a much lower attention span than they would if they were on-site at your studio—meaning you really have to earn their attention.
Your dance students want your classes to be fun. After all, fun is one of the most-valued aspects of dance classes and other recreational activities—especially for younger students.
To create an entertaining experience, you might consider incorporating gamification elements into your typical dance class. For example, you might have your students practice their moves with exciting activities such as freeze dance, virtual scavenger hunts, or ballet move bingo.
Although you likely made the move to virtual dance classes as a result of the pandemic, this adjustment actually has the potential to be a powerful business strategy going forward. By essentially opening up your studio to a wider audience, you can set yourself up for continued success. Good luck!
