DSO Connect - By & For Dance Studio Owners

Stacey Morgan is a four-time business owner (including two dance studios), dance educator, podcast host, mom, wife, and business coach. Her main mission is to help women entrepreneurs thrive in their businesses and in their lives through coaching, accountability, and honesty. She has a no-fluff, direct approach to helping her clients to make their businesses work FOR them, to gain back more time in their lives, and to finally achieve financial freedom. In this episode, Casey and Stacey chat about how Stacey set her own path in dance, the importance of feedback, owning your strengths, the lessons dance taught her to help her become a successful entrepreneur, and how she makes the most of every day. To access Stacey's custom made to-do list, click here. Check out her services and resources at her website simplystaceymorgan.com and follow her in instagram @simplystaceymorgan.

Andrea Trench is the creator of DiscoverDance, a research-based Early Childhood Dance Education program. DiscoverDance offers dance educators resources for continuing education throughout their career, so the learning and growing never stops! From their online courses and training videos, to their innovative DiscoverDance Lab where you can create your own unique curriculum, to their DiscoverDance Library full of hundreds of class activities, this is a valuable resource for teachers at every stage of their career. In this episode, Casey and Andrea discuss the benefits of a concept-based dance program, classroom management tips for preschool age dancers, performance strategies with the little ones, and so much more!

Andrea Gibson is a self-compassion and mindset coach, dance teacher and choreographer, and mental health advocate. She is the creator and founder of UNCONDITIONAL, the self-love movement. Through Mindset Movement it is her mission to help dancers understand their own magic and how to tap into it. Whether through studio workshops or one on one coaching, Andrea focuses on building each child’s inner champion while creating mindset tools for both in and outside the studio. Learn more about Andrea and UNCONDITIONAL on her website here, and catch up with her on Instagram @theunconditionalmovement

This episode was recorded on April 1st, 2022. Mobile Preschool Dance Program guru Erin Burd joins Robin and Casey this week to talk about how to take your studio on the road to local preschools and daycares. She also shares how her dad inspired her to dive into coaching and helped her realize the power of the impact we make as studio owners, mentors, and educators. Want to connect with Erin? Check out her website here.

Robin and Casey are back to chat all about their 2022 Recitals: what worked, what went wrong, what they learned, and what they're planning on implementing for future shows. Join the DSO Connect Community on Facebook! Our next Community Coffee Chat is Friday, July 1st at 11am Eastern.

This week Robin talks with Personal Dance Trainer and owner of BodyKinect, Kendall Baab all about how to keep our dancers well with strength training, cross-training, injury prevention, and more. Kendall is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and a BASI Certified Pilates Instructor with a dance specialization. She is also a Certified Health Coach through Dr. Sears' Wellness Institute. Kendall works with dancers all over the United States on strength, conditioning, and flexibility to enhance performance and prevent injury. To learn more about Kendall and to inquire about working with her, connect with her on Instagram @trainwithkendall or visit her website: https://www.bodykinect.org/

When it comes to dancer drama, prevention is key. Veteran studio owner Suzanne Citere talks to Robin and Casey this week all about what she's learned over the years about how to handle dancer conflicts when they bubble up, plus what the pandemic has taught her, and what she learned from being a "clueless" horse show mom.

35-year studio owner veteran Rhonda Foote joins Robin and Casey this week to talk about how she creates performance opportunities for her Outreach Company dancers all year long. PLUS, her shows are ALL donation-based to raise money for local families and children in need. Learn about how Rhonda channels her impressive energy to create memories, connection, and support for her community.

Kristin Deiss and Michelle Loucadoux are on a mission to change the dance industry one dance teacher at a time. They created Danscend to bring mental wellness to the forefront of dance training by providing a space for education, application, and community to dancers, educators, and professionals. Through their extremely affordable resources for teachers and dancers, they tackle topics like performance anxiety, body image, self-talk, perfectionism, and so much more. To learn more, visit www.danscend.com

As dance studio owners, we just can't escape some tricky conversations. Whether it's parent complaints about casting or level placement, or drama between students, we have to be able to face these discussions with a level head. This week on the pod, Casey and Robin share recent instances in their own studios where they've had to handle delicate topics with parents and students. Got a sticky situation at your studio? Get some advice and clarity (and vent about it!) in the DSO Connect Community group on Facebook! Just answer the questions to join. We can't wait to meet you!

This week Amanda and Heather join the podcast with Robin and Casey to talk about professional development for studio owners: why it's so important, experiences we've each had at various events, and all about the DSO Connect 2022 Studio Owner Retreat, June 27th-29th in Phoenix, Arizona! We can't wait to see you there!

Casey and Robin are back this week to talk all about Open Marley Night - an event that Robin created years ago as a sort of Open Mic night for dancers. Plus, they share tips on how to find great guest artists for your studio.

Susanne Puerschel, former international ballerina and founder of R.I.S.E. Media joins Casey and Robin this week to talk about...well, a whole lot! From cultivating a growth mindset in our studios, to dancing in the metaverse, to shifting the dance education industry away from toxicity, this episode is packed with food for thought.

It's our 100th episode! We're quite proud to have made it to this podcasting milestone, and so eternally grateful to all of our listeners! THANK YOU for joining us for this ride! In this episode, Casey and Robin chat about what we've learned along the way, customer loyalty, and our favorite episodes. We want to know what YOUR favorite DSO Connect Podcast episodes have been! Share with us in the DSO Connect Community on Facebook (answer the questions to join!)

This week Casey shares her mental health journey and how she manages her symptoms as a business owner.

Shawna Kwan opened her studio Elan Dance Arts in London, Ontario with a focus on adults. Over the last 15 years she has grown a loyal following of adult students in both dance and fitness classes. From logistics to marketing to curriculum, she's been through the trial and error process with her adults, so she knows what works! To reach out to Shawna to learn more about her Dance Fit program, email her at shawna@elandancearts.ca

It's the new year, which means tax season is upon us! DSO Connect Community member and fellow studio owner Lynda Hammett joins us in this month's Coffee Chat call to answer all of our tax and finance questions. Not only is Lynda an amazing studio owner and foster mom, but she also works at an accounting firm AND is going to school to become an accountant. Have more questions for Lynda or the general studio owner community? Share them in the DSO Connect Community group on Facebook! Make sure you answer the questions to join. Don't miss next month's Coffee Chat on Friday, February 4th at 11am Eastern.

This week Robin sits down with DSO Connect Community member Amy Habel for our first ever Member Spotlight! As the owner of Crossroads Irish Dance in Richmond, Virginia, Amy has developed an impressive, well-thought out customer journey. She shares her strategies for lead tracking, the trial class process, follow-up systems, and on-boarding.

Robin and Casey are back! This week they reflect on their highlights of 2021, and set goals and intentions for 2022. Join the conversation! Share your highlights and goals in the DSO Connect Community on Facebook! Make sure you answer the questions to join this free group.

Happy Holidays! We'll be taking the next two weeks off to focus on spending time with our families and friends. If you're not already, join the DSO Connect Community group to stay connected! Make sure you answer the questions to join. This week Robin chats with our good friend Austin Roberson about his exciting new software, Class Kid. He shares how Class Kid can save you time and money by streamlining your studio processes and eliminating your subscription software services. Want to connect with Austin? Email him at austin@classkid.com