Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners

Hosted by Dance Studio Owners Association

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100

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Nov 2026

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About the show

Behind every great studio is a story of transformation. The Transform My Dance Studio Podcast is your weekly lifeline for leadership, clarity, and community. This podcast is for studio owners at any stage of their journey who are ready to build profitable businesses that support their lives. Each episode sparks inspiration and strategies to transform your studio and your life. You'll hear real-life stories from studio owners, mentors, and coaches who've been in the trenches, candid solo episodes that explore the personal and professional growth of studio leadership, and thoughtful deep dives with industry experts offering practical insight for studio owners. This show is designed to help studio owners move beyond survival mode and into a more intentional way of leading that supports financial growth without sacrificing joy, energy, or fulfillment. If you're building a studio you care deeply about, but know there's a better way to do it, Transform My Dance Studio is here to support you every step of the way.

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60 recent

November 2, 202644 min

How To Turn Your Studio Merch Into A Revenue Stream with Carrie Bintz of Plie Promotions

Is your dance studio merchandise making you money, or is it just another task on your never-ending to-do list? In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast , host Cara Poppitt welcomes Carrie Bintz, CEO and founder of Plie Promotions , to share how studio owners can turn merchandise into a profitable revenue stream without adding more work to their plates. From choosing products families actually want to pricing for profit, planning seasonal launches, and creating excitement around your studio brand, Carrie reveals how to make merchandise a strategic part of your business. You'll walk away with practical ideas to increase sales, simplify operations, and build a studio store that supports your bottom line. What You'll Learn How to turn your studio merchandise into an intentional, profitable revenue stream. Why planning merchandise around your studio calendar can increase sales and reduce last-minute stress. How to choose products that dancers and families actually want to buy. Why offering too many merchandise options could be hurting your sales. How to price your merchandise strategically to protect your profit margins. Why creating urgency and exclusivity can encourage families to purchase . How to promote merchandise without feeling pushy or adding pressure to families. How to simplify ordering, payments, and inventory management so your studio store doesn't become another full-time job. Why delegating your merchandise strategy could create more opportunities for growth in your studio. Carrie Bintz is the CEO and founder of Plie Promotions , a company specializing in custom merchandise, apparel, and online stores for dance studios. A former dance teacher and choreographer known for creating high-scoring competition routines, Carrie built her business from the ground up, transforming a small home-based venture into a successful company serving thousands of dance studios. Her passion for dance, entrepreneurship, and helping studio owners succeed drives her mission to make branded merchandise easier, more exciting, and more profitable for the dance industry. Ready to Elevate Your Studio Merch? Visit Plie Promotions to request a studio account and book a quick call with their team to explore merchandise options for your studio! Exclusive Listener Offer: Use code DSOA for 10% OFF your first order when you sign up and place an order within one week of the episode! Visit plie-promotions.com to get started.

October 12, 202625 min

Building Your Own Picture of Studio Success

Is there a missing piece in your dance studio business that's holding everything else back? Maybe it's the right team member, clearer financial information, better systems, or simply the courage to make a difficult decision. In this special episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, we're revisiting one of our favourite talks from Craig Burns, Inner Circle Mastery Executive Coach, who brings over a decade of coaching experience, including five years working specifically with dance studio owners and hundreds of hours of one-on-one coaching conversations. Through a powerful personal story and an interactive puzzle exercise, Craig explores how the pieces of our businesses and lives fit together, and why some pieces simply don't belong. His message is a reminder that building a successful studio requires clarity, the right information, and the willingness to stop forcing solutions that aren't working. What You'll Learn: How to identify the missing information, conversations, data, or processes that could be holding your studio back. Why making business decisions without all the facts can lead to costly mistakes. How searching for the perfect team member might be distracting you from the bigger picture. Why copying another studio's strategies doesn't necessarily mean they'll work for yours. How to recognize when a person, process, or strategy isn't the right fit. Why understanding your own business vision is essential to making the right decisions. How to approach business challenges piece by piece instead of trying to solve everything at once. Why letting go of the wrong pieces can help your studio move forward. We hope this episode will encourage you to take a closer look at the pieces of your business and recognize which ones you still need to find. 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

October 5, 202618 min

How to Scale Your Studio Without Losing Your Community

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. 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

September 28, 202618 min

The 13 Steps to Financial Freedom

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. What You'll Learn 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. 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

September 21, 202617 min

From $100K+ in Debt to 22% Profit: How To Find Your CEO Power

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 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

September 14, 202632 min

How To Create Full-Time Careers AND Gain Personal Freedom

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. What You'll Learn 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. 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

September 7, 202639 min

How Studio Owners Can Use AI It to Save Time and Create More

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. What You'll Learn 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. Explore our partners: Don't miss the Drop! Head to LimelightTeamwear.com and start your free custom teamwear design today. 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

August 24, 202635 min

Beyond Dance: Programs That Transform Students

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. Explore our partners: Try our Daily Decision Compass: dsoa.com/compass Claim Limelight Teamwear' s exclusive offer for new studio partners by emailing info@limelightteamwear.com and mentioning DSOA podcast! 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

August 17, 202622 min

The Secret to a Truly United Dance Studio

C an 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. Explore our partners: Sign up for Studio Sync - dsoa.com/syncmembership Claim Limelight Teamwear' s exclusive offer for new studio partners by emailing info@limelightteamwear.com and mentioning DSOA podcast! 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

August 10, 202621 min

Delegation is About Empowering Someone Else!

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. Explore our partners: Try Studio Pro FREE for 30 days: gostudiopro.com/transform 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