DSO Connect - By & For Dance Studio Owners

33. Trash the Trophies with Chasta Hamilton [Part 1]

This week Robin and Casey chat with author and DSO Chasta Hamilton about her new book, Trash the Trophies: How to Win Without Losing Your Soul. Chasta made the bold choice to remove her studio, Stage Door Dance Productions, from the dance competition world. Through this enormous shift, she learned a lot about leadership, communication, and trusting your gut. This book is a must-read for dance educators, studio owners, and leaders everywhere!

32. To Mask or Not To Mask While Dancing

You know your own clientele the best! This week Robin and Casey discuss their very different mask policies at their studios and how they arrived at these decisions. The bottom line is: your values have to lead your decisions.

 

No matter what kind of studio you run, or where you're located, competition or not competition, if you're more urban or more rural, you can find someone to align with in the DSO Connect Community. Join the group, make connections, and be a part of the conversation! 

31. DSO Connect's Favorite Things

This week all six ladies of the DSO Connect team sit down to share some of their favorite things! From essential oils to watches to apps to lipstick, we're covering all our bases on products and services that make our lives better!

 

Join the conversation and share your own favorite things in our FREE Facebook group: DSO Connect Community. We can't wait to meet you!

30. Making the most of a Social Media Manager with Santina Rigano-Lesch

Your plate is SO FULL as a DSO! Take one big thing off your to-do list by hiring a Social Media Manager! In this episode, Robin talks to her own Social Media Manager, Santina Rigano-Lesch. Santina is a former DSO herself, so she gets what your business is all about! If you're interested in learning more about working with Santina, email her at hello@santinarigano.com

29. Tech tips for Zooming at your studio

You know holding classes on Zoom is probably going to be a part of the future of your studio...but what now? Are you wondering how to set up an efficient system for teaching remote classes in the studio? We sit down with Melanie Boniszewski, owner of Tonawanda Dance Arts, who tells us all about her professional Zooming set up!

28. All about the DSO Connect Membership

We're back after a HUGELY successful Virtual Retreat last week! We're all about keeping the momentum going by joining our exclusive Membership program! This week on the podcast, Robin and Holly take a closer look at what amazing content is included in this monthly membership, from master class webinars, to task calendars, and done-for-you social media posts. All this for just $27 a month! Listen in to learn more about the benefits of our Membership. We've been working hard on it and we can't wait to share it with you!

 

Missed out on the retreat but want to catch up on what you missed? You can find recordings of all our amazing content on our website!

 

Visit us online at www.dancestudioownerconnect.com for more info and to join our membership today!

27. What we wish we would have known

This week we're featuring a conversation all about what we wish we would have known when we first started our studios and all the important lessons we've learned along the way.

 

The DSO Connect 2020 Virtual Retreat is THIS WEEK, Tuesday July 14th through Thursday July 16th. You don't want to miss this amazing event! Learn more and sign up on our website: www.dancestudioownerconnect.com We can't wait to see you!

26. Making the commitment to connection

We're back with another great interview! This week Casey sits down with Chan'tele Rountree, owner of The DREAM Center in Tucker, Georgia. Their conversation touches on everything from Chan'tele's experiences growing up as one of just a few black students in a predominantly white studio, to her calling to create an innovative new Preschool program, to our very own DSO Connect community!

We want to hear from YOU! Have feedback or suggestions to share? Want to be interviewed on a future episode of the DSO Connect Podcast? Just want to share some love? Email us at dsoconnect6@gmail.com and put Podcast in your subject.

The DSO Connect 2020 Virtual Retreat is right around the corner! July 14th-16th, all ONLINE! Click here for more info and to snag your spot!

25. It's about making amazing human beings

This week, Casey sits down with Ami Dowden-Fant, owner of River City Dance and Performing Arts Theatre in Richmond, Virginia. Ami discusses her experiences with racism as a student and professional dancer, and her insights into how dance educators can help their students become amazing humans, regardless of their color.

24. Asking the right questions for lasting change

The conversation on race and racism continues this week with Keisha Stewart, owner of Barre None Dance Company and Power House Dance in Virginia. Together Keisha and Casey discuss the importance of hair, tights, and having open, honest conversations in order to create truly diverse dance communities. 

23. We have to rock the boat in order to move forward

This week Casey interviews Darby Pack, owner of the Maryland Academy of Dance in Pikesville, Maryland. Together they discuss issues of race and racism in the dance industry and what white studio owners need to know to help their dancers of color feel welcomed and included.

22. Embracing leadership and advocating for our industry with Amanda Cacciotti

We're back after taking a break last week! This week Casey interviews DSO Connect's Amanda Cacciotti. Together they talk about how to be a strong and effective leader and Amanda shares how she advocated for our industry to get dance studios considered in New York state's re-opening plans.

21. Planning for Safe Reopenings And Beyond

This week, Robin interviews Co-DSO Connect Co-Founder Heather, who has miraculously reopened her studio in Georgia. She's got plenty of insight and lots of wisdom to share!

 

Join the conversation! Our FREE Facebook group is DSO Connect Community. We can't wait to meet you!

20. Cautious But Optimistic Fall Re-Opening Plans

We've figured out our Recitals, we've got our summer plans all but locked down, so what about fall? This week Robin and Casey discuss their cautious but optimistic plans for re-opening in the fall. What precautions and procedures need to be in place? What new considerations for scheduling need to be made? And the dreaded subject of increasing prices (spoil alert: we're all gonna have to do it!)

 

Join the conversation in our FREE Facebook group: DSO Connect Community. This Wednesday, May 20th at 10pm Eastern is our monthly Wine Down Wednesday! Grab a drink and hop on Zoom to chat with your fellow dance studio owners about whatever's on your mind! We can't wait to see you!

19. Handling Mental Health as A Studio Owner

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this week Casey sits down with fellow studio owner Amy Hornberger to discuss their own mental health struggles, how Amy's background in Psychology helps her as a studio owner, and how she balances her own wellness with running her business.

 

Join the conversation! Our FREE Facebook group is DSO Connect Community. We can't wait to meet you!

18. Maintaining your studio culture online and other wisdom with Trish Moulton

This week Casey interviews DSO Connect member Trish Moulton, owner of Dance Studio of Maine. Together they discuss how to maintain your studio's culture while teaching online, moving forward with message marketing, regrettable costume choices of the 80s, and so much more.

Join the conversation! Our FREE Facebook group is DSO Connect Community. We can't wait to meet you!

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17. PPP Issues, Summer, and Recital

Robin got her PPP money, yay! But that opens the door to a whole new fun list of issues. This week she and Casey also discuss this along with their plans for summer, Recital, and more.

 

Please subscribe, rate, and review! Share this podcast with your friends in the dance industry! 

Join the conversation in our FREE Facebook group, DSO Connect Community. We can't wait to meet you!

16. COVID...again

Yup, we're talking about COVID again! This week Robin and Casey discuss what technologies they're using now more than ever, how they're pivoting their businesses, what life might look like when we re-open, and options for summer. Oh and Robin has some BIG news to share!

 

Join the conversation! Our FREE Facebook group for dance studio owners is DSO Connect Community. We can't wait to meet you!

15. Boosting Your Business With Class Packages and Membership Pricing

Are you daydreaming about the day you get to reopen your studio and welcome students back into your classrooms? Us, too! What if you were able to re-launch your studio after COVID madness has subsided with a stronger, healthier, more robust business model? It's possible! Listen to Robin as she explains how she's built her business to include class packages, perpetual programs, and membership pricing, with amazing success! Let's come out of this better than ever!

 

Join the conversation! Find our FREE group on Facebook, DSO Connect Community. We can't wait to get to know you!

14. COVID Era Updates & Ideas

This week, Robin and Casey are back to talk about how they're doing in our "new normal," including government funding opportunities, staffing and delegating, Recital plans, community engagement, and more!