Dance Principals United: Dance Studio Growth & Marketing Podcast

What makes a dance teacher unforgettable? It isn't the loudest voice in the room. It isn't the toughest corrections. And it definitely isn't running a class through fear. In this episode, Bec is joined by her daughter BeBe for a fun, honest conversation about what really makes kids thrive in dance class. Together they share practical teaching strategies they've developed inside their own studio th...

Have you ever looked at someone successful and thought, "They're just naturally confident"? Yep… this episode is here to completely bust that myth. This week, Bec sits down with the incredibly talented Stephen Tannos for one of the most honest conversations we've had on the podcast. From anxiety and imposter syndrome to panic attacks before speaking on stage, Stephen opens up about the fear that a...

This week on the podcast, Bec sits down with choreographer, creative powerhouse, and longtime friend Stephen Tannos for one of those chats that feels equal parts nostalgic, inspiring, and wildly honest. From the early days of quirky choreography pieces that didn't place… to creating work that people still remember decades later… this episode is a reminder that originality matters more than trophie...

This week's episode is a little chaotic, very relatable, and full of those "WAIT… you can do THAT with ChatGPT?!" moments. Amanda and Bec are chatting all about the random, practical, hilarious and surprisingly helpful ways they're using ChatGPT in both studio life and everyday mum life - from planning birthday weekends and decorating rooms, to role-playing difficult parent conversations and figur...

This week on the Dance Principals United Podcast, Amanda and Bec are back with Part 2 of their chat about the real reasons some studios struggle to grow. This one might sting a little. From social media mistakes to leadership gaps, they're diving into the things studio owners often don't realise are quietly stopping growth behind the scenes. Bec shares the hilarious (and slightly horrifying) story...

Ever feel like you're doing everything in your studio… but growth still feels frustratingly slow? In this episode, Amanda and Bec unpack some of the biggest reasons dance studios get stuck - a few of them might hit a little close to home (in the best way possible 😅). From treating your studio like a passion project instead of a business, to spending way too much time answering emails instead of m...

If you've ever thought… "We're full, there's no more money to make…" "Facebook ads don't work for us…" "I don't want to feel salesy…" …this episode might lovingly call you out a little bit. In part two of this chat about making more money in your studio, we are diving into the BIG things that actually move the needle when it comes to revenue, growth, and profitability. From marketing that actually...

Most of us didn't open a dance studio because we love spreadsheets.  In this episode, Bec sits down with Nath to talk about the money side of studio ownership - but in a way that actually makes sense. No complicated accounting jargon. No scary finance talk. Just practical, real-world strategies that can help studio owners increase revenue without burning themselves out. From understanding the diff...

Ever finish the day wondering… what the heck did I actually achieve today?  In this episode, Amanda and Bec are diving into one of the biggest struggles studio owners face: feeling constantly busy but never quite getting to the important stuff. From shiny object syndrome and endless scrolling to juggling kids, clients, staff, admin and trying to grow a business at the same time - this is a very re...

If you've ever looked at your studio bank account and thought, "I'll just pay everyone else first and see what's left for me…" this episode is for you. This week, Amanda, Bec and Nathan are having a very honest conversation about something so many studio owners avoid talking about… paying yourself. From the studio owners taking home nothing, to those building genuine wealth through their businesse...

This week's episode is a little bit special… because it was recorded LIVE on stage at Dance Teacher Expo 2026. And yep, you might miss the slides (and there are a couple of live-audio quirks), but trust us… the value in this one is HUGE. Amanda dives into the world of AI, but not in an overwhelming, techy way. This is real, practical, "how does this actually help me run my studio better?" kind of...

This week's bonus episode is a special one, and it might just shift the way you see your studio's impact. Amanda sits down with Namine from Ronald McDonald House Charities to chat all things Dance for Sick Kids: a feel-good, community-driven campaign that's doing some seriously life-changing work for families going through incredibly tough times. From spontaneous dance parties in hospital common r...

This week Bec's chatting with Candice from Footloose Studios in Hornsby, and honestly… if you've ever felt like a shy little mouse in a room full of "real business owners" (same), you're going to feel VERY seen. Candice shares her journey from teaching at 15, opening a studio in a church hall with 12 students, and hitting that "something's gotta give" moment at 40 students… to investing in busines...

This week Amanda & Bec are talking about the thing so many dance studio owners love to hate… social media.  If you've ever stared at your phone thinking, "What am I even meant to post?"—this episode is your permission slip to stop making it so hard. They break down why social media is non-negotiable for studio growth these days (and why "I hate socials" isn't a strategy), what simple content actua...

This week on the podcast, Bec sits down with the incredible Shannon Atkins for a chat that is equal parts inspiring, honest and wildly helpful for studio owners raising the next generation of dancers. From growing up as a comp kid and opening her own studio in her early twenties, to building an international career as a choreographer, teacher and judge, Shannon shares the journey behind the succes...

This episode is one of those "you don't know what you don't know" conversations… and wow, it's a good one. Bec is joined by Zoe and Kristy from Act It Out - two powerhouse women with seriously impressive careers across dance, acting, TV, and beyond. But what they're sharing today isn't just about performing… it's about what our students are missing. Because let's be real - our industry is overflow...

This week on the podcast, Bec chats with Ellie from Carnival Dance Challenge - and honestly, this conversation is such a good one for any studio owner who's ever sat at a comp and thought, "Surely there's a better way to do this." Ellie shares her own dance journey, from growing up in the Southern Highlands to training full-time at Brent Street and performing professionally, before a massive life...

Mid-year concerts… let's talk about the underrated MVP of studio life. In this episode, Amanda & Bec break down exactly what a mid-year concert is, why it's not just "another thing to add to your plate," and how it can seriously boost retention, parent buy-in, class upsells and even profit - without the chaos of full costumes and theatre-level stress. They also chat about Bec's slightly unhinged (...

This week's episode is a little different… We're giving you a behind-the-scenes sneak peek inside a recent live coaching call from the Dance Principles United Tribe, and we're talking about something that can make or break your studio: Your team. Most studio owners spend all their time worrying about marketing, enrolments, comps, concerts, broken toilets… and staff becomes the "I'll deal with that...

Dance for Your Life hits cinemas April 2,  and this episode goes behind the scenes. In this powerful conversation, Amanda is joined by Jade Barnes (producer) and Lucas Newland (Executive Producer, and Owner and Artistic Director of Brent Street) to talk about the journey from the Dance Life series to the brand-new feature film Dance for Your Life. They dive into: How the movie came to life after t...

It's the most chaotic, sparkly, high-energy weekend of the year… and it's nearly here.  In this special episode, Amanda & Bec are talking all things Dance Teacher Expo - happening April 11–12 at ICC Darling Harbour, Sydney - and why it's the one event that can genuinely re-energise you, upskill your team, and remind you why you do this whole studio life thing in the first place. They share what th...

This one's a big conversation. Bec sits down with Cara Dixon from Relative Motion to talk about something we're all feeling… but maybe not saying out loud. The tricks. The extremes. The Instagram pressure. The comp cycle that just keeps escalating. We love seeing dancers achieve incredible things. We love excellence. But at what point are we pushing bodies beyond what's safe… for a trophy that won...

School holidays are done, the kids are back at school… and if you're anything like us, you're equal parts relieved and READY.  In this episode, Amanda and Nath chat about how to squeeze a bit more magic out of that January/Feb enrolment momentum, even if you feel like you've "missed the window" (spoiler: you haven't). If you've got inquiries sitting in your inbox, ex-students in your database, or...

What do you get when you mix a cyclone, a lost hot pink suitcase, and two powerhouse studio owners in outback Queensland? One heck of a podcast episode! This week, Bec travels (via bumpy plane and shed-sized airport) to Moranbah to visit the amazing duo behind Pulse Performing Arts - Bek and Kat. What started as a prize visit for their Open Week success turns into a hilarious and heartfelt deep di...

In this episode of the Dance Principles United podcast, Amanda and Nathan sit down with some epic studio owners - Nicky, Chelsea, & Maree - for a heart-to-heart about the turning points that shaped them. We're talking court dates, financial messes, syllabus overhauls, and ego checks... with a whole lot of laughter and love sprinkled in. This episode is a warm hug for anyone who's ever cried behind...