What if your dance studio timetable was costing you thousands of dollars in missed revenue, and you didn't even realise it?

It's that time of year again. Concerts are coming, teachers are exhausted, 2027 planning is underway and somewhere in the middle of it all, you've got to put together a timetable that actually works.
But here's the thing. Your timetable isn't just about fitting classes into rooms and keeping teachers happy. It's one of the most important business decisions you'll make all year.

In this episode of the Dance Principals United Podcast, Amanda and Bec share the practical timetabling strategies they've used in their own studios, including how to fit more classes into your week, encourage students to enrol in more styles and make better use of your available space.

In This Episode We Discuss...

• Why your dance studio timetable should be built around students and families, not just staff availability.
• The three questions to ask your teachers before planning next year.
• How a 15-minute change to opening times could create significant additional revenue.
• Why 45-minute classes can work when teaching quality and class structure are strong.
• How to encourage more enrolments by grouping classes together.
• Why your most popular classes might belong on different days.
• How to protect prime afternoon teaching times from private lessons.
• When weekend classes could create more opportunities for your studio.
• Why you should think about sales and student progression before allocating teachers.
• How the new DPU Timetable Optimiser can help you approach your planning.

One of the biggest lessons from this conversation is that your timetable needs to be easy for families to say yes to.

If you'd love a student to take three classes, but those classes are spread across three different afternoons, you're making that decision harder than it needs to be.

Instead, think about the journey you want students to take through your studio.

Which classes naturally work together? How can you make it easier for a child to try another style? Are your most popular classes helping you fill the rest of your timetable?

These small decisions can have a huge impact on dance studio enrolment, retention and profitability.

Ready to rethink your 2027 timetable?

Tune in to this episode for practical ideas you can put to work straight away, along with a few entertaining detours into Dance Moms and reality TV.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Dance Principals United Podcast, leave us a review and share it with another studio owner who's currently deep in timetable planning.

And don't forget, podcast listeners can access two weeks free in Dance Principals United Tribe through the link in the show notes. https://danceprincipalsunited.com/dpu-tribe/

What does it really mean to run a successful dance studio?

Is it the trophies? The competition results? The students who go on to professional careers? Or is it something much bigger?

In this special episode of the Dance Principals United Podcast, recorded at our Fiji Retreat, Bec sits down with internationally recognised dance educator and choreographer Shannon Atkins for an honest conversation about dance studio ownership, student development, mindset and the lessons that have shaped her career.

From building a successful studio on the Gold Coast to selling it and starting again in New York, Shannon has experienced both the rewards and the pressures that come with running a dance business.

• How Shannon went from studying law to running a successful Gold Coast dance studio.
• The challenges of managing parent expectations and competition pressure.
• Why dance studio values matter more than maintaining a winning streak.
• The importance of teaching a broad range of dance and performance skills.
• Shannon's decision to sell her studio and pursue opportunities in New York.
• How confidence, preparation and putting yourself forward can create new opportunities.
• Why reflection, rest and positive self-talk belong in dance education.
• How Shannon's Dance Journal encourages students to recognise their progress.
• Why showing parents the personal development behind dance classes can support retention.
• The lasting value of dance education, even for students who never become professional dancers.

Listen to this episode of the Dance Principals United Podcast for a thoughtful, practical and inspiring conversation with Shannon Atkins.

Click here to pre-order Shannon Atkins' Dance Journal: https://inmotionsociety.com/products/shannon-atkins-dance-journal

If you enjoy the episode, we'd love you to subscribe, leave a review and share it with another dance studio owner who might need to hear it.

And if you'd like more support with the business of running your studio, check the show notes for our special offer of two weeks free inside Dance Principals United Tribe. https://danceprincipalsunited.com/dpu-tribe/

The Secret to Better Student Retention? Better Dance Teachers

You can have incredible marketing.

Beautiful branding.

A stunning studio.

The latest enrolment software.

But if your teachers aren't delivering an exceptional experience every week, families won't stay.

In this episode, Nathan and Bec dive into one of the most overlooked responsibilities of studio ownership: developing your teaching team.

Too many studio owners hire great people and simply hope they'll become great teachers.

The reality?

Teaching is a skill.

Leadership is a skill.

Both need coaching.

Bec shares why regularly observing classes has transformed her team, how to give feedback that actually helps teachers grow, and why staff development is one of the highest-return investments you can make in your studio.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why your teachers are your product
• The difference between great dancers and great teachers
• How often you should observe staff classes
• Simple ways to give constructive feedback
• Creating clear teaching expectations
• Why ongoing coaching builds staff loyalty
• The biggest mistakes studio owners make when managing teachers
• How better teachers improve student retention and profitability

Great teachers aren't born.

They're developed.

And that starts with leadership.