Help...opening a dance studio!?

Question

I have a few questions...PLEASE-only if you know what you know what your talking about :]

1. What classes should we have weekly?? (Detailed please)

2. In a suburban mostly middle class area, how much should teachers be payed per class?

3. Where should we go about looking for instructors?

4. Is Pergo flooring doable? Or should we just splurge on wood floors?

Thanks!!

Answer 1

Hi Kayla,

Im opening a performing arts school this september and here is some info ive found.

1. For a dance studio (like the other posters have said) Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap. But i would also include other secondary classes such as Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, Capoeira, Aeriel Dance, Contact Improvisation.

2. Payment varies by location and teacher experience. Take a look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.BLS.gov. Outside of Boston, I have teachers aking for $50 an hour. I know that in NYC some teachers can make $80, then in other places people may pay $15. This is all very negotiable. The BLS predicts the industry will increase one half a percent in the next ten years. You could also try a sliding scale where a teacher gets a piece of each head in the class.

3. Contact your local cultural council (every town has one) Find out which organizations can let you post for free. I use Hireculture.org and Boston Dance Alliance. another option is to go with CraigsList. Also contact the career services at local universities with dance majors. You can pay a recent grad less than a long term pro. In the start up world all you need is a few capable teachers, not Limon or Tharpe.

4. If you plan on pergo over concrete then no. IF you want a dance studio you need the right floors to dance on. Ive been to countless universities and am annoyed that these places couldnt shell out a couple thousand for a dance floor. Look at stagestep, they sell dance subfloors that you can install yourself. Dont touch roscoe floors way way overpriced. your floor depends on your building, my space is on a concrete slab, for subfloors im putting in stagestep for the dance studio, dricore for the acting studio, marley like top for the dance studio and masonite/hardboard for the acting studio.

another option is to build your own floor. take a look at alvas.com

good luck! there are so many more questions im sure you are getting to. Remember you only can work one step at a time. dont get bogged down thinking all the big pieces, work consistently and each day enjoy the fact that you have a chance to put your dream together!

Answer 2

1.  your classes should include but are not limited too...

ballet

classes should be offered more than one time a week and different classes for different levels (ballet is a main source of dance other styles branch from this)

-tap jazz modern lyrical hip hop-

all once a week with different classes for different ages and skill level

streching

offering a streching class is nice to keep students limber and less prone to injury.

ballroom?? pointe??

2. teachers should be paid 15-20 dollars per class  ??? (not exactly sure)

3. look any local universities with music and dance majors. put adds in the paper.

4. i suggest ROSCO floors dance floors.

goodluck =)

Answer 3

1)

Ballet-Monday/Wednesday/Friday/5:00pm-...

Tap-Tuesday/Thursday/5:00-6:30pm

Jazz-Saturday/12:00pm-2:00pm & 3:30pm-5:00pm

2)

Ballet-$150-monthly

Tap-$100-monthly

Jazz-$100 monthly

3) you should explore other dance studios...or...post up a job listing/auditions

well...here's most of your answers...hope this helps...=]

good luck with your studio! =]

Answer 4

you should have three levels of classes and dont go by age just skill level... you should provide ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, maybe a leaps and turns class, tricks class for more advance idancers and a strech and condioning class of all levels.

you should pay the teacher depending on how many kids are in the class and maybe one forth of the tution of classes

look at the local univerisity maybe in their dance or dance team area

i would do wood or marley floors eaiser to turn on

if i can suggest any thing  else do a punch card system we do at my studio do what you would pay for a drop it class and have ten or twenty classes on a card and the you can show up if you want or if you are busy they dont have to come and you would just punch at the beginging of classes and then the would pick it up at the end or they can pay the montly tution... it helps me because i am also a  cheer leader and i miss half of my classes that i pay for.

then at the end of the season or year you can refund their money on the punch card or they can use it the following year

you should also have a studio store where they can buy shoes, tight, sweatpants with your studio name on it then you get free averisemnet when the students where it to school or were ever they go, sweatshirst and tshirts are also good ideas

Good luck to you and your studio

Answer 5

1.Ballet,Tap,Jazz,Hip Hop,Praise,Modern,Lyrical,Production,Tum... students will have lots of fun lol

2.I'd say 20-30$(Teachers teach atleast 2-3classes a day if not more)

3.You can make flyers, talk to friends that might know some people.

4.I'd suggest spring wood..But Pergo flooring is fine.

GOod luck __xo btw where would your dance studio be ?? you can email me [e-mail]