There’s a moment most studio owners hit at some point.
You’re working harder than ever.
You’re teaching all the classes, answering emails at 10pm, posting on Instagram when you remember, trying to keep parents happy, keeping staff organised, planning concerts, fixing costumes, and somehow still attempting to have a family life.
And yet… your studio still feels stuck.
Not failing.
Just not growing the way you hoped it would.
That’s exactly what Amanda and Bec unpacked in this week’s podcast episode — and honestly, some of it might feel a little uncomfortable.
Because often, the things stopping growth aren’t massive business disasters.
They’re the small habits and blind spots we don’t even realise we’ve created.
This was probably one of the biggest takeaways from the episode.
A lot of dance studios accidentally market to other dance teachers instead of parents.
And look — it makes sense.
As studio owners, we notice the technical things.
We notice sickled feet. We notice flexibility. We notice performance quality. We notice choreography.
But most parents?
They’re not looking for any of that.
They’re looking for confidence. Friendships. Smiles. A safe environment. A place where their child feels included.
Bec shared a hilarious story about taking her partner Tim to his first dance event.
To her, the costumes were completely normal. To him, seeing young kids in fishnets and PVC outfits was genuinely shocking.
And that moment completely changed how she viewed social media.
Because your Instagram isn’t just for the dance world.
It’s the first impression parents get of your studio.
Amanda also spoke about something studio owners do all the time without realising:
Using social media like an internal newsletter.
Things like:
“Fees are due tomorrow!” “Concert rehearsal this weekend!” “Congrats to Jessica for winning a title!”
Now — there’s absolutely nothing wrong with posting those things.
But if that’s ALL your feed is, new parents can feel like outsiders.
They scroll your page and think:
“Oh… this place already has its people.”
Instead, your social media should invite people in.
One of the best examples from the episode was changing a simple “congratulations” post into a story.
Instead of:
“Congrats Jessica on your title!”
You could say:
“Jessica started dance with us as a shy three-year-old who wouldn’t walk into class on her own. Watching her grow in confidence over the years has been so special.”
Suddenly, that post becomes relatable.
It helps parents picture THEIR child there too.
This was another big point the girls touched on.
So many studio owners say:
“I just don’t like social media.”
But the reality is — your future customers are there.
Parents are scrolling while drinking coffee. They’re shopping online. They’re researching activities. They’re clicking ads.
And if your studio isn’t showing up consistently, you’re missing opportunities.
The good news?
Dance studios actually have incredible content opportunities.
Cute kids. Fun classes. Exciting moments. Community. Transformation.
You don’t need perfectly curated content.
You just need intentional content.
And most importantly — clear calls to action.
Amanda explained this perfectly in the episode.
Don’t just post:
“We have tap at 3:30!”
Tell people what to DO next.
DM us. Book a trial. Click the link. Send an enquiry.
People need direction.
The girls also got very passionate about paid ads.
Specifically, studio owners spending huge amounts of money paying someone else to run them.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with outsourcing eventually.
But Amanda made such a good point:
Nobody knows your studio, your town, or your customers better than you do.
Learning basic paid ads might feel intimidating at first, but it’s a skill.
And just like dance training — nobody gets it perfect immediately.
You learn. You practise. You improve.
That mindset shift alone can save studio owners thousands of dollars.
The second half of the episode shifted into leadership.
And honestly? This part was huge.
So many studio owners hire teachers… but never actually train them.
They walk in. Get handed a class. And are expected to magically know everything.
How to manage behaviour. How to speak to parents. How to handle injuries. How to retain students. How to sell classes.
Then when they struggle, they’re labelled a “bad teacher.”
But as Bec explained, many young teachers simply haven’t been taught yet.
One of the most powerful parts of the episode was hearing how much staff actually WANT feedback and training.
People want leadership. They want support. They want to improve.
And when your team grows, your studio grows too.
The girls wrapped up the episode with one really important reminder.
Don’t overwhelm yourself trying to change everything overnight.
Just pick one thing.
Maybe this week you finally schedule social media time. Maybe you audit your Instagram. Maybe you start a monthly staff training. Maybe you improve your calls to action.
Tiny changes create momentum.
And momentum creates growth.
So if your studio has been feeling stuck lately, maybe this is your reminder that growth isn’t about doing more.
Sometimes it’s about doing the right things more intentionally.
And that’s a whole lot more achievable.
🎧 If this episode resonated with you, make sure you listen to the full podcast episode.
And if you’d love extra support, guidance, and studio-owner conversations that actually make you feel understood, check out Dance Principals United Tribe.
You don’t have to figure all of this out alone.
