Dance Principals United: Dance Studio Growth & Marketing Podcast

Oh boy, have we got a treat for you this week! Amanda & Nathan are joined on the couch (literally!) by three fabulous studio owner friends - Nicky, Chelsea and Maree - for a heart-filled, hilarious and totally unfiltered chat about the real life of running a dance studio. From vomit mid-speech to fireworks triggering sprinklers, this episode is packed with the kind of chaos only a dance studio own...

Amanda and Bec are keeping it real: their studios finally hit that $1 million‑a‑year milestone: not by doing more, but by doing less. In this episode, they dive into the six surprising habits they had to quit so their businesses could flourish, and you can too. Think ditching the endless "wishlist" requests, pushing past word‑of‑mouth, and choosing vision over people‑pleasing. What you'll take awa...

Let's be honest: concerts these days need to do more than dazzle on stage. In this episode, Amanda and Bec are diving into how your end-of-year concert can (and should!) be a retention powerhouse, a marketing machine, and a profitable part of your studio year - all without sending your parents into meltdown mode. They unpack what today's parents actually want (hint: it's not 15 makeup changes and...

In this week's episode, Bec sits down with Robyn Parras - founder of Prodigy Performing Arts and Dance Apprentice -  to unpack her studio journey from a boutique brand to a thriving hub of dance, confidence, and culture. They dive into rebranding, insane growth (from ~250 students to nearly 800!), building a purpose‑driven space, and why teacher training is one of the biggest studio game changers...

In this episode, Amanda and Bec dive deep into the sometimes messy, always emotional world of competition teams - and they're not holding back. From parent tears at re-enrolment to evolving their own studio models, the girls share honestly how they've handled auditions vs invitations, the importance of inclusivity, and why letting go of control can be the best thing you do. Whether you're running...

This week, Bec is joined by Chloe and Kirralee from KICO Dance Studios - two powerhouse young studio owners who've turned their childhood friendship into a thriving business (and total vibe). They're sharing the real behind-the-scenes of buying a studio at 23 (yep!), surviving the Zoom era, launching a full-scale rebrand, and how they've used systems, time-blocking, and community love to build som...

Ever felt like your studio was running you, not the other way around? This episode is for you. We sat down with the fabulous Maree from Dancing With Maree, and let us tell you - her journey is the definition of transformation. From running three school halls (and crying in the car when they pulled the floor out from under her - literally) to running a thriving studio with 480 students, Maree share...

Pack your bags (mentally at least!) and join Amanda and Bec in this special episode recorded straight from sunny Fiji. While they were technically on a business trip (promise!), scouting the perfect venue for next year's Studio Growth Club retreat, they walked away with a whole lot more than tan lines and cocktail reviews. This episode is a deep dive into the magic of unforgettable customer servic...

It's Christmas season, which means... absolute mayhem for studio owners! But before you skip that local tree lighting or Santa parade, you need to hear why Bec says these events are studio gold. In this festive (and slightly frantic) episode, Amanda and Bec dive into: Why Bec runs nine shows and still makes time for Christmas gigs How she turns parades into powerful marketing events What to sell a...

Comp season is over, and Bec and Amanda are feeling every bit of that comp hangover! This week on the pod, they're deep-diving into everything that worked (and didn't) during a jam-packed competition season. From massive days and prop-hauling trucks to awkward award ceremonies and cranky comp staff, they spill it all. This is a must-listen for any studio owner navigating the wild world of comps, w...

Amanda and Bec spill all the tea from their latest Studio Growth Club retreat, and trust us, this is NOT your average conference recap. From blindfolded trust exercises and DIY wine pitching, to deep dives into studio systems and AI hacks, this weekend in the Hunter Valley was as jam-packed as a term four rehearsal week. Whether you've been thinking about attending a live event or just need a fres...

This one's for the studio owners with admin teams, or those thinking about hiring one. Amanda and Nathan unpack how to get the most out of your admin staff without micromanaging, overspending, or letting things fall through the cracks. They answer a listener question from Bec about admin strategy, and dive into real, practical steps you can take to build a streamlined, cost-effective, and high-per...

This week, Amanda and Bec dive into something every dance studio owner has… but might not have touched in years: your website. They're not pulling punches in this one - you'll hear real talk about what your website is actually for, what most studio owners get wrong (hint: it's not about you), and how to make it easier for busy parents to say yes to a trial class. And yes, there are some laughs - i...

In this week's episode, Nathan and Bec go deep on a question a lot of studio owners wrestle with: should you expand (open a second location) or lean into optimising what you've got first? They share stories from their own journeys, cautionary tales, and strategies you can use now to grow smarter - not just bigger. We talk about why expansion isn't always the answer, what "fullness" really means in...

In this week's episode, Amanda is joined by Nathan as they dive into one of their fave mantras: "Big moves = big results" - especially when it comes to enrollment pushes in your dance studio. They share what works (and what doesn't), real numbers from members who went all in, and how to confidently lean into follow-up (even when you're terrified of sounding "salesy"). In this episode you'll hear:...

Buckle up! In this week's episode Bec and Nath go deep on one of the biggest, most emotional events in studio life: the end‑of‑year concert. They talk about why it often doesn't make money, what costs secretly drag you down, and how small shifts in ticket pricing or marketing can make thousands more in profit. And yes, there's talk about late‑night hair, juggling sick kids, and what being a studio...

Backstage at concert time doesn't have to be a disaster waiting to happen. In this week's episode, we are diving into the real nitty-gritty of how to turn concert chaos into absolute kiddo magic. We share everything from cringe-worthy horror stories (yep, preschoolers in actual cubicles) to the sweet, simple ways we've transformed backstage into a place kids never want to leave. This one's full of...

This week, Nathan and Bec dive into giving clients that coveted "five‑star experience" in your studio - even if your budget doesn't match a fancy hotel chain. After some hilarious (yet cringe-worthy) hotel misadventures - keys to wrong rooms, falling door frames, showerheads dropping mid-rinse - they ask: if hospitality fails there, how do we ace it in our studios? Expect oodles of practical tips...

Amanda and Bec are keeping it real: their studios finally hit that $1 million‑a‑year milestone: not by doing more, but by doing less. In this episode, they dive into the six surprising habits they had to quit so their businesses could flourish, and you can too. Think ditching the endless "wishlist" requests, pushing past word‑of‑mouth, and choosing vision over people‑pleasing. What you'll take awa...

Let's be honest: concerts these days need to do more than dazzle on stage. In this episode, Amanda and Bec are diving into how your end-of-year concert can (and should!) be a retention powerhouse, a marketing machine, and a profitable part of your studio year - all without sending your parents into meltdown mode. They unpack what today's parents actually want (hint: it's not 15 makeup changes and...

This episode is a must-listen if you've ever found yourself working your butt off in the studio… only to realise you didn't get paid again this week. 😩 Amanda opens up about the moment that changed everything: when she was 21, running her studio, and realised she couldn't afford to pay herself… even though she'd just done 10x the work of her staff. Yikes. This episode dives deep into the real rea...

Ever dreamt of taking a proper break from your studio - like, a whole month off - but felt that sinking guilt or panic set in? In this episode, Amanda and Bec chat all about how Bec managed to take a four-week European holiday (yep, four whole weeks!) and came back to a studio that was still buzzing along beautifully. They share what had to be in place to make that happen, including systems, trust...

Bec is back from a whirlwind overseas adventure and she's got stories to share: from Pineapple Studios in London to the Amalfi Coast in Italy, and everywhere in between. Bec's daughter, BeBe, just won Teen World Dancer of the Year at the World Dance Movement comp (go Beebs!), and the experience was nothing short of life-changing. From self-choreographing her street routine to being scouted by a US...

It's a big one this week, friends! Amanda and Nathan are unpacking all the behind-the-scenes wins from their Studio Growth Club competition, and let's just say that $30,000 extra revenue in a single week is no joke. If you've ever wondered how to make Open Week actually work for your studio, this ep is pure gold. We're also diving into something that could totally change how studios market themsel...

Ever found yourself stuffing dinner into a lunchbox because there's no time to sit down as a family? Yep, us too. In this week's episode, Amanda and Bec get real about how becoming dance mums changed everything: from the way they teach to the way they run their studios. Turns out, juggling comp hair and homework gives you a whole new level of empathy. They share behind-the-scenes stories from thei...