EPISODE 19 - ALL THINGS COMPETITION TEAMS

We're talking ALL things competition teams! 💃 Robyn is joined by special guest Mae from Dance on Pointe for an open and honest conversation about the world of competitive troupes — from how we structure our teams to creating the best possible competition experience for our dancers. We dive into: How we split troupe ages and structure our teams Competition Scheduling  Paying teachers for competition days Creating a positive and memorable comp-day experience for our kids Whether troupes should have different competitive levels — just like solos do And the decisions studio owners make behind the scenes to keep troupe programs running successfully If you're a studio owner or teacher or someone who has competiton teams in their school, this is a conversation you'll want to hear. What do you think — Should troupe sections have different levels? Should competition schedules look at how long each age group are there for?  🎧

This week, Katja from Katapult Performing Arts joins Robyn to discuss all things teachers, assistant teachers and what our students need from their teachers. Katja took over Katapult in 2022 and since her inception, she has gone from strength to strength not only with her student base but also with her incredible team! 

Join Robyn in our Special Studio Owner Series with Jessica Kinsela. Jessica is the owner of Parkes Dance Co and has been running her school since 2022.  In 2022, Jessica and another teacher were the only teachers with another joining halfway through the year due to her growth. In 2023, Jessica had three senior teachers teaching across 6 days a week. This year, Jessica has 3 head teachers with 3 junior teachers who trainined in the Dance Apprentice in 2023 and then has added another 4 assistants in the classroom who are undergoing Dance Apprentice in 2024. This year Jessica has increased her team trainings and meetings compared to last year and the year before where she barely had any.  Now she has at least 2-3 a term which has made a significant impact on her as a studio owner and her team.  

In Episode 16 of Transform Your Team, Robyn meets with the amazing Nicholle Andreuzza from I-mediate who has over 20 years experience in child protection. Nicholle gives us an insight into how we can implement strategies in our studio to ensure we are doing what we can to have everything in place to keep our students safe, what to do in the event a student discloses information and how to make a mandatory report. Online Self-Assessment for your organisation - https://cssa.ocg.nsw.gov.au/

Join Robyn and her incredible guest Will Centurion as they delve into ways that we can empower our staff and students wellbeing. Will provides some helpful tips to add into your tool box that includes the traffic light system, a pathway to assist those struggling with mental health, recognising burnout and implementing Self Care strategies.

There are dancers and then there are performers. How can we train our little ones to bring their confidence to the stage that includes the facials, energy and team work!? Amy Petsalis from Uncensored and Real talks all things about bringing out the performer in the dancer by coming back to their passion and why and visualising their true and authentic selves when performing. Robyn and Amy also delve into how we can prepare our teens for that next step in their dance career.

Are you looking at ways to inject some fun and energy into your tap classes that want the children coming back for more!? This week Mitchell Hicks joins Robyn to talk all things Tap! Mitchell gives an insight into ways to keep your tap classes fun and engaging but also ways for your students to retain the work they are being taught! Mitchell shares some insight into his new syllabus called Tap Mode which is going to take our industry by storm! 

Looking at putting your teachers through the RAD Ballet teachers program so they can be your next RAD registered teacher? Amy Fitzpatrick has 30 years of teaching experinece and is a RAD registered teacher as well as an adjudicator also known as the "Smiley Judge". Amy delves into how we can mentor and train our assistants in our ballet classes to be the next head ballet teachers in our schools. We also discuss what judges look for at eisteddfods along with some other controversial topics!

Welcome back to Transform Your Team for 2023. We are kicking off a new year with none other than Tyler Heath who is the lead educator for Injury Prevention Alliance and Head of Training at Dance Cirque. Join us as we talk about how we can train our assistant teachers to take on an acrobatics class, what they need to know and how we can encourage them to take initiative in these classes.

This week the amazing Maree Khoury from Dancing with Maree joins me to talk about how she decided it was time to invest in her team. Maree has invested heavily in different forms of teacher training which has changed the way her studio operates and has allowed her some extra time with her family.