Studio Culture - The Untold Growth Strategy That Fuels Success

I always say, it’s not about how many students you can get....It’s about how many you can keep.Because when you think about it, every time you lose a student, you lose their term fee, their concert costume, their merchandise purchase, their word-of-mouth potential, andtheir impact on your community vibe.So if we can keep more dancers longer, not only do we grow, but we grow in a way that feels grounded, connected, and joyful.

If you’re attracting the right people and making it easy for them to try a class, this part becomes really simple...but only if you’ve done the groundwork....Because what happens during and right after that first class? That’s where the magic is or the missed opportunity.

In Part 2 of the Simplifying Your Foundations Series, I’m diving into the next step after attracting the right families - enticing them to actually try a class.If you’re getting enquiries but they’re not turning into bookings, this episode will walk you through what to say, what to offer, and how to make that “yes” feel like a no-brainer. From VIP enrolment bonuses to simple follow-up reminders, I’ll show you how to build trust and make trial bookings effortless.Whether you’re just getting started or refining your enrolment flow, this episode will help you turn interest into action, without feeling salesy or overcomplicating things.

Join me as I sit down with Nadia Vella-Taranto, studio owner,teacher, talent agent, and mum...and the creator of 'Set The Scene.'Founder of Nadia’s Performance Studio, and having spent over 20 years helping young performers , Nadia has created - 'Set The Scene' - a plug-and-play acting program designed especially for dance and performing arts studios. It's designed to easily add acting to your studio's class schedule - no prior acting experience required from teachers! The weekly classes are fun, structured, and designed to boost student confidence, creativity, and collaboration. Whether you're looking to diversify your class offerings, boost enrolments, or simply engage students in a fresh new way, Set The Scene is your all-in-one solution. Perfectly suited for primary-aged students, this program integrates seamlessly into your existing timetable and adds a powerful performance layer to your studio's curriculum. Launching soon in the USA and CanadaWant to know more???Check out the links below:AustraliaUSACanada

One minute it’s AI, the next it’s TikTok, and somehow you’re also meant to be designing concert packs, replying to enquiries, and thinking about retention, all before 9am.If your brain feels full, your list feels endless, and you’re wondering how on earth you’re meant to grow your studio when you can barely keep up, you are not alone.If you want to scale, you have to simplify...and that is what this episode is all about.

In today's episode, we’re talking about enrollments and, more specifically, why more marketing might not be the solution you think it is. Because I hear this line from studio owners constantly:“If I could just get more students… everything would feeleasier.”But here’s the thing...sometimes, getting more students isn’tabout pushing harder or creating more marketing content.Sometimes, what’s really holding you back is hiding in plainsight - in your systems, your messaging, your follow-up, or even your mindset.Let’s dive into what’s really stopping your enrolmentgrowth—and how to fix it.

Today’s episode is going to hit home for a lot of you, because we’re digging into something real...Your biggest expenses and whether they’re actually servingyour studio in the way you think they are.Now, I’m not here to tell you to stop paying rent, sack yourteam, or ditch every extra program.We need these things in some capacity to run a thriving studio.But here’s the thing, If you’re feeling like your studio is growing, but your profit isn’t…If you’re filling classes, but still not paying yourself properly…Then it might be time to audit your expenses and seewhere things need to shift.

Today’s episode is about systems that actually stick - even if you’ve tried before and fallen off, even if your studio feels more reactive than planned.....And especially if you’re starting to resent how much it relies on you to hold it all together.

“How do I get my team to step up… without having to watchover their shoulder 24/7?”If you’re feeling like your team isn’t quite getting it,or you’re constantly following up on things, or you can’t switch off because someone might drop the ball…You’re not alone.And here’s the good news: there’s a way to lead your teamwhere things don’t fall apart the second you step away.

Let me tell you about a studio owner I worked with a couple of years ago...She had great programs, talented dancers, solid marketing, but every term she was scrambling for teachers, chasing enrolments, and constantly putting out fires with staff.Her systems were okay. Her branding looked great.But the culture? That was the missing piece. And I get it—because I’ve been there too. And once I really nailed the culture inside my own studio, everything changed.