Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners

Is your dance studio merchandise making you money, or is it just another task on your never-ending to-do list?   In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast , host Cara Poppitt welcomes Carrie Bintz, CEO and founder of Plie Promotions , to share how studio owners can turn merchandise into a profitable revenue stream without adding more work to their plates. From choosing products fami...

Is there a missing piece in your dance studio business that's holding everything else back? Maybe it's the right team member, clearer financial information, better systems, or simply the courage to make a difficult decision. In this special episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, we're revisiting one of our favourite talks from Craig Burns, Inner Circle Mastery Executive Coach, who bring...

Your recreational dancers may only spend 45 minutes a week inside your studio, but are you creating an experience that makes them feel like they truly belong there? In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, we're re-sharing a jam-packed talk from DSOA CEO of the Year and Studio Growth Coach Sharon Uyar. Sharon breaks down how she's built a thriving recreational program by focusing...

Could your curriculum be one of the most valuable assets in your dance studio? In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, we're re-sharing a powerful talk from the Dance Teacher Web Conference & Expo in Las Vegas in August 2024, where Studio Growth Coach Alisa Finney shares her "13 Steps to Financial Freedom" and reveals why curriculum is so much more than a teaching tool. Alisa exp...

You can run a successful dance studio for years and still feel completely insecure when it comes to your numbers. In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, we're resharing a powerful talk from two years ago with Robyn Tedesco, CEO of Move With Grace Dance Studio, co-owner of Inspire Dance Challenge and Amplify Dance Lab, and a certified Board Director with the Performing Arts Educa...

Growing your studio shouldn't mean sacrificing your time, your family, or yourself in the process.  In this episode, we're sharing a powerful presentation from Nadine Selinger, originally delivered at DSOA's 2025 Inner Circle Member Retreat in La Jolla, San Diego. Nadine shares how she went from teaching 40+ hours a week and wearing far too many hats to building a team of empowered leaders with cl...

What if AI could become another assistant in your dance studio—helping you strengthen your systems, communicate more effectively, spark new ideas, and get valuable time back? In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, we're sharing a talk from Tanya Neary, CEO of Stars of Tomorrow and a member of the DSOA Education Team, originally presented at the DSOA Inner Circle gathering in Orl...

What would change in your studio if confidence, character,  connection  and leadership were intentionally built into every student's experience?   This week,  we're  resharing a powerful conversation filled with practical ideas for building a dance studio experience that goes far beyond teaching steps.   Jodi Shilling sits down with Loren Specht, founder of LoMastro Performing Arts Academy, Dance...

C an a stronger studio culture be the difference between families who stay for one season… and families who stay for a lifetime?   Today we are resharing one of our most-loved episodes, because every studio owner can  benefit  from its message. In this inspiring episode, guest host  Kim McSwain  shares practical leadership strategies for building a dance studio where students, parents, teachers, a...

Making your first hire can feel overwhelming, especially when  you've  built your studio with your own two hands.   We're  bringing back this insightful conversation from our podcast archives because its lessons on hiring, leadership, and delegation remain timeless for studio owners.     In this episode, Mary Giattino shares the personal story of taking over her family's dance studio, hiring her v...

Are you leading your team the way you want to be remembered?   We're  resharing one of our favorite episodes from Kelli  Leighton 's  Innovate to Thrive  series because its leadership lessons are just as relevant today as when it first aired. If  you've  ever felt frustrated by staff performance, struggled with accountability, or found yourself carrying too much of the workload, this episode will...

Have you built a successful dance studio... but  somehow   you're  still doing everything?   If  you're  constantly answering every question, making every decision, and wondering why your studio  can't  function without you, this episode is the wake-up call  you've  been waiting for.   In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast,  led by Katie Wilber (DSOA Operations  Specialist)    I...

Do you find yourself only focusing on marketing when enrollment drops?    If so,  you're  not alone.   In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Lisa DeMaio sits down with marketing expert and former studio owner Maureen Craig of Creative Branding Studio. After owning a dance studio for 10 years, Maureen now helps studio owners simplify their marketing, build stronger visibility, a...

One of the most important skills a studio owner can develop is knowing when to say no.   In this episode, Inner Circle Studio Growth Coach Elisa Finney shares how defining a clear brand mission and set of values transformed the way she runs her studio, builds partnerships, and makes business decisions.   From costumes and choreography to sponsorships and strategic partnerships, Elisa explains how...

In Part 2 of our conversation with financial strategist, entrepreneur, and bestselling author Mel Abraham, we move beyond financial strategy and into the emotional realities of entrepreneurship.   Together, Lisa and Mel explore the hidden relationship many business owners have with success, achievement, identity, self-worth, and burnout. They discuss why so many entrepreneurs tie their value to bu...

https://gostudiopro.com/transform Are your financial decisions driven by strategy, or by a money story  you've  been carrying for years?   Many dance studio owners start with a passion for changing lives, but struggle to balance purpose with profitability. In this conversation led by Katie Wilber (DSOA Operations Specialist), financial strategist Mel Abraham shares how our beliefs, habits, and beh...

Hiring teachers is one thing. Keeping great teachers long-term is something else entirely. In this throwback episode, Annie Leese and Lauren Kelly break down the leadership, systems, and culture shifts that help dance studio owners build teams that stay invested, supported, and committed for the long haul.  Lauren shares how she transformed her mindset as a studio owner, what she learned inside th...

What makes families stay at a dance studio for years and what causes them to quietly walk away?  In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, relationship marketing expert Barb Betts shares why retention is built through emotional connection, authentic culture, and meaningful relationships. Guided by reflections from the DSOA's operations specialist Katie Wilber, this conversation exp...

What if your studio  isn't  struggling…  it's  just misaligned?   In this powerful episode, Jodi Shilling unpacks how authentic branding can completely transform your  enrollment , culture, and confidence as a leader.   Jodi Shilling is a dance studio owner in Los Angeles and a seasoned growth coach inside the DSOA Inner Circle. Known for her bold decisions and elevated  brand , Jodi has helped st...

    If your studio's marketing sounds like everyone else's… this might be why.   In this episode, branding expert Bruce Turkel shares why standing out has nothing to do with what you offer and everything to do with how people experience your brand.   From understanding what today's customers  actually care  about to breaking free from outdated "features-based" marketing, this conversation will cha...

What if the next level of your studio doesn't require more effort—but a different role? In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Cara Poppitt breaks down the critical shift every growing studio owner must make: moving from managing the day-to-day… to leading with vision as a CEO. Drawing from her own journey, Cara shares what it really takes to step out of the weeds, develop a cle...

In this special short episode, Lisa DeMaio , Inner Circle Program  Director, shares  an important update with the Dance Studio Owners Association community  regarding  a recent leadership change. This is a message of continuity, confidence, and forward momentum as we continue to evolve and support you.   Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group.  Click here...

Today's studio families want more than just great classes — they want to see growth and feel the progress. In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Inner Circle Growth Coach Annie Leese reveals: - How strategic use of simple class videos can dramatically boost loyalty and re-enrollment - Easy ways to highlight student achievements without turning into a full-time content creator -...

Getting students through the door is just the first step — real growth comes from keeping them excited, motivated, and emotionally connected to your studio week after week. In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Inner Circle Growth Coach Annie Leese shares: - Why loyalty and retention are built in the small, daily moments — not just big performances - 5 simple, interactive tech...

What starts as a simple across-the-floor jazz outline… ends up in a 2 a.m. TikTok spiral. We've all been there. This week on the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, we're breaking the cycle of burnout planning and giving you the ultimate shortcut to smarter, faster lesson design. Join Inner Circle Studio Growth Coach, Annie Leese, as she shares: - Her real-world tech workflow for building 30 weeks...