Jackrabbit Dance: A Useful Tool For Dance Studio Owners.

Jackrabbit Dance is a Web-based dance studio software featuring online registration, billing, recital & costume management.

Since several of our followers are dance studio owners, we thought it could be useful to provide you with some information about a tool that is conceived to make your  dance studio management an easier task. If you’re a dance student you can always share this with your teacher to help them run their studio smoothly and efficiently.

We had a few questions about Jackrabbit. During one their conferences, they had 3 of their clients answer them to  share their first-hand experience with us. Enjoy and share your opinion by leaving a comment below!

Jackrabbit users:

Mandy Moore – Make Your Move Performing Arts – Opelika, AL

Pam Scheuerman – Tolbert Yilmaz School of Dance – Alpharetta, GA

Brandy Wix – CD Danceworks – Acworth, GA

Tezoro: How is Jackrabbit Dance different than other web-based dance studio software?

 Jackrabbit users: One client had purchased pc-based dance management software (Dance Manager) previously and didn’t even use it because it was so un-engaging and difficult to understand. The web-based platform Jackabbit offers is awesome for each client we talked to. And Jackrabbit offers so many features that you can do everything you need to do with it. Even those who aren’ computer savvy find it easy to use.

It is great that Studio Autopay integrates with Jackrabbit and can be updated by parents through the portal. It is also a great benefit that Jackrabbit’s integration with Quick Books is easy.

Unlike other programs, Jackrabbit is something that is so easy even a child could use it. This program actually allows owners/managers to offload work to employees without feeling like it will not be done correctly. Jackrabbit is also more client-friendly for the studio. Billing is better in Jackrabbit than in the pc-based software previously mentioned.

The level of customer service it provides sets Jackrabbit’s software apart.

Online registration eliminates ANY process that might require a line in the dance studio. Jackrabbit provides parents registering online an immediate indication of class availability so they can make better, quicker decisions. The studio can keep students from registering in the wrong classes with Jackrabbit registration capabilities.

Jackrabbit is self-serve for the studio client. Parents enter info during online registration and through portal so they are responsible for its accuracy. Because of Jackrabbit, studio data entry time is cut WAY down.

Jackrabbit comment:

Jackrabbit gives clients a robust system that is more managed and protected than any pc-based system individual studios own. The performance of Jackrabbit’s system surpasses that of other web-based dance management systems. Jackrabbit updates and enhances its features and framework more often than its competitors in any of the class-based system categories.

Tezoro: What are the benefits of using Jackrabbit Dance?

Jackrabbit users:

Jackrabbit is…

• Easy to use – even for less technology savvy
• All your info is in one system
• Online registration is an awesome feature that is easy and sets the studio apart from those down the street
• Staff/human resources are more productive – they can concentrate on more valuable things than figuring out bills
• Saves time and money – automated processes take a load off employees
• Saves lots of phone time answering questions because parents look at account online
• Online registration gives us ultimate control – lets studio decide which classes to expose to which clients
• Online registration is real time. System immediately indicates registrations so parents know when going through the process exactly which classes are available
• It is self-serve for parents
• Studio can be completely paperless.

Jackrabbit comment:

Jackrabbit gives clients a level of confidence in their system that they have not been able to enjoy with other systems. There is no worry about whether the system will go down or whether their data is accurate and safe. Jackrabbit totally takes the worry of systems and data away and enables owners and managers to do everything they need to be able to do to run and grow their studios.

Tezoro: What are the most common mistakes made in managing a dance studio?

Jackrabbit users:

• Not contacting clients in a timely manner (immediate response on all topics)
• Failing to set up business systems and follow-thru with them
• They think they are going to make lots of money
• They don’t LOVE their students but treat them like a business unit
• Don’t get someone with a business sense to manage the business
• Not being consistent and sticking to their policies (making exceptions)
• Letting parents control their studios
• Failing to collect tuition (more difficult with traditional process)
• How has technology changed the way dance studios are run and marketed?
• According to one Jackrabbit client, technology has enabled dance studios to STAY
• in business. Technology makes running and marketing the business easier and cheaper (especially in marketing because you can use the Internet, email marketing and social media and stop paying for print advertising/yellow pages!!)
• Owners/mangers can be more creative and give back to students instead of chasing bills and registrations because processes like tuition collection happens at the touch of a button.
• Everything can now be electronic – even all of the studio music is on ipods.

Jackrabbit comment:

Jackrabbit unleashes not only managers and owners, but all of those working in the studio, from their desks and minimizes the time they need to spend with their faces in their computer screen. It is flexible – allowing iPads to be used for attendance and skills tracking. And mobile – allowing work to be done from anywhere there is Internet connectivity within any part of the system in real time. Owners can check key numbers even if they are away at a conference – or on vacation – and address any concern immediately (or prevent a blip from turning into a major issue).

 Get a FREE Trial of Jackrabbit here –> http://www.JackrabbitDance.com/freetrial.asp

Tags: dance studio, dance studio owner, Jackrabbit Dance, Tezoro Productions, Web-based dance studio software

Our New LATIN DANCE SERIES WITH LUIS SALGADO Will Warm Up Your Body And Your Soul!

Professional dance reality shows like Dancing With the Stars are inspiring dancers but also housewives and couples around the world to learn Latin dance as a hobby, exercise program or fun activity to do with other people. Needless to say, love and appreciation for Latin dance has become mainstream over the last few years. Tezoro Productions, has caught on to this consumer trend and released a five-part DVD and online video Latin Dance series with esteemed talented Film and Broadway star, Luis Salgado.

These DVDs are perfect for dancers who need to learn the basics of Latin dances as well as for non-dancers who’d like to have fun with their partner and/or friends. Our Latin Dance DVDs with Luis Salgado are also great to entertain children – as well as adults during birthday parties and other celebrations!

We recently had the pleasure to interview Luis. Check out what he had to say!

Tezoro: What’s the advice you would give to someone approaching Latin dances for the first time?

Luis: For me, the first thing you need to know about Latin dance is how it connects with our hearts and our souls. The rhythms are all grounded, rooted, so you must connect with the floor and open up in your chest. It’s a great way to build basic musical knowledge, the rhythms we teach in our collection evolve from the clear beats “on one” to the trickier “on two” beats and if you keep smiling while you approach the steps everything will start to make sense. By the time you work on a lyrical or harder jazz combination the Latin rhythms have given you the body awareness and confidence you need.

Tezoro: What’s your favorite Latin dance and why?

Luis: My favorite Latin dance is good flavored Salsa that provides many sensations, a salsa with a good “Clave” that all of the sudden jumps into a more funky feeling filled with Plena beats. One group I love is DLG because they often fuse their Salsa rhythms in the way that I love.

Tezoro: How did you start and develop your career? In your opinion what’s the main thing that allowed you to get where you are now?

Luis: Honestly the very first thing I learned was folklore like Plena, Bomba, Seis. These rhythms from Puerto Rico have made me an artist because they gave me the basics and access to a world of possibilities within the arts. That is why I am so passionate about using and sharing them as a basis for movement. Knowing where you come from and celebrating it is a big key to the success one can achieve. “KNOW THYSELF” says the scripture and I am blessed to know who I am through my dance and movement.

Tezoro: Can you tell us about your Non-Profit organization R.Evolución Latina?

Luis: R.Evolución Latina is an extension of who I am and what I believe, it’s a way of saying THANK YOU to my culture while helping others find themselves. We empower the Artistic Community to then inspire growth within our Latino community. It is a constant celebration of being who we are and using art as a way to find individual and collective growth. My new dream in collaboration with Tezoro Productions is being able to share our DVDs with kids that don’t always have access to dance or the Arts, so I am trying to find ways to bring this DVD to the schools and programs that need extra support to help kids stay involved in the Arts and in turn find confidence in themselves. I know the impact of the Arts and dance through first hand experience and R.Evolución Latina helps me pay it forward and serve my community with what I love the most, ART!

_____

FOR ONE WEEK ONLY!

Get one or more TEZORO’S LATIN DANCE DVDS and SAVE $5 on each. REGULAR PRICE $39.95 –> DISCOUNTED PRICE $34.95.

Save even more when buying THE COMPLETE LATIN DANCE DVD SERIES. REGULAR PRICE $199.75 –> DISCOUNTED PRICE $169.75 + a FREE ACTIVE-ISOLATED FLEXIBILITY DVD With Michèle Assaf (RETAIL VALUE: $49.95).

THE COMPLETE LATIN DANCE DVD SERIES includes:

Five, 60-minute Beginner DVDs:

-PLENA

-MERENGUE

-Cha-Cha MAMBO

-SALSA

-CARNIVAL

You can also access Tezoro’s Latin Dance Series through on-demand, online video as low as $15.95 (streaming or download).  The wide skill range of Latin dance exercises are tailored to meet the needs of trained dancers, dance teachers, moms and even kids!  Professional dancers can use the Latin Dance Series to expand their repertoire, couples can learn Latin dance together to spice up “date night”, or families can exercise with a Latin flare.  The Tezoro Latin Dance Series is really meant for everyone!

All Tezoro DVDs and on-demand videos are available at www.liveatbroadwaydancecenter.com.  Whether you prefer traditional DVDs or the flexibility of new on-demand options, you will find the perfect dance instruction and exercise for you and your family at Tezoro Productions.

About Luis Salgado

Luis played “Jose” and served as Latin Assistant Choreographer of the Broadway Musical “In The Heights – BEST MUSICAL 2008 at the Tony Awards. He is currently performing on Broadway as “Malik” in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.” Other shows include The Mambo Kings, Fame on 42nd Street and Aida. Film Credits include: Step Up 2 The Streets (Alejandro). Dirty Dancing 2 (Diego Luna’s Dance Double), Enchanted, Across the Universe, American Gangster and The Great Observer. Luis has assisted choreographer Maria Torres in the film Enchanted and Jamal Sims in Step Up 2 the Streets.  Luis is the director of R.Evolucion Latina – DARE TO GO BEYOND!, an artistic movement that celebrates the lives, careers, triumphs and existence of all Latino artists in and out of the New York Performing Art Community.

Luis has recently choreographed Roberto Clemente Story, a new musical written and directed by Luis Caballero. The musical opened on November 11th in the new TEATRO SEA in New York City (107, Suffolk Street, Manhattan) and it will run until December 4th.

Read more: http://broadwayworld.com/article/Luis-Salgado-will-choreograph-Roberto-Clemente-Story-20110822#ixzz1dK2uZR6O

The show presents the story of legendary pelotero, first PR and Latin American who entered the Hall of Fame of Baseball and scored 3,000 hits. He died December 31st 1972, in a tragic airplane crash in a trip to Nicaragua with food and medicines.

Tags: DVDs, Latin Dance, Luis Salgado, R.Evolución Latina, Tezoro Productions

The Art And Science Of Dance Conference + SPECIAL TEZORO DVD OFFER

THE ART AND SCIENCE OF DANCE:

AN INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE FOR 

THE CARE AND PREVENTION OF DANCE INJURIES

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Cedars-Sinai

8700 Beverly Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90048

9:00AM – 3:30 P.M.

 This second annual conference has been designed to bring together physicians, therapists, and dancers to discuss the care, treatment, and prevention of dance related injuries.

VISIT CEDARS-SINAI WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO AND TO SIGN UP

 To join CEDARS-SINAI in their effort to help dancers take care of their bodies and prevent injuries we decided to offer you a  SPECIAL DISCOUNT on our…

‘GET HEALTHY… STAY HEALTHY’ PRICE: $79.90 (LIST PRICE: $114.85)

Set Includes:

* Active-Isolated Flexibility DVD

* Active-Isolated Strength DVD

* Active-Isolated Flexibility Rope – FREE!

GET IT TODAY!

Tags: Active-Isolated DVD Set, CADARS-SINAI, Dance Conference, Dance DVDs, Flexibility, Strength, Stretching, Tezoro Productions, The Art And Science Of Dance Conference

Trick or Treat? Halloween Giveaway!

Halloween is right around the corner and so we decided to celebrate it by organizing a special GIVEAWAY for our great followers.

Starting today until Monday, Oct. 31st you’ll have the chance to win a $25 GIFT CARD to spend on StarsDancewear.net!

Stars Dancewear was created out of need for a fashion savvy style of clothing for the Dancewear industries. It all started by a conversation between two sisters, Stars Dancewear founder, a clothing designer, and a professional choreographer for figure skating. From 5 simple styles, inspired by one sister’s suggestion that her industry needed more to choose from, Stars Dancewear now consists of 50+ styles in 10 – 13 fabrications. The Stars Design Team makes an annual trip to Europe to ensure that Stars designs keep up to date on current trends in fashion so they can cater to the needs of contemporary dancers all over the world.

HOW TO PARTECIPATE:

You just need to follow us on Twitter (@TeozoroLIVE) AND/OR be subscribed to this blog!

How to do that?

Twitter: Just visit https://twitter.com/tezoroLive and click on “Follow“

Blog: Enter your email in the right sidebar where it says “DON’T MISS ANY UPDATE!” and click on “Sign Me Up!”. You’ll receive an email to confirm your subscription. After doing that you’ll be all set. Don’t worry your email is safe with us, we won’t share it with anyone!

If you already follow us on Twitter or you are already subscribed to this blog, you’ll be automatically entered in this giveaway.

DON’T MISS THE CHANCE TO WIN THIS $25 GIFT CARD. Stars Dancewear has a big variety of dancewear for any age and dance style!

Stars Dancewear is also on Facebook –> “Like” them to stay connected!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!! 

Tags: @TezoroLIVE, Dancewear, gift card, Giveaway, Halloween, Halloween Giveaway, Stars Dancewear, Tezoro Productions, Trick or Treat?

Seedance.com: The Dance directory to Promote, Find and Review!

We had the pleasure to interview Arsen Serobian, founder and owner of SeeDance.com, an online directory devoted entirely to dance and dance-related businesses.

Check out what he had to say and don’t forget to share your opinion with us!

What’s SeeDance.com and how did you come up with this idea?

SeeDance.com is powered by DanceChannelTV.com, an online network dedicated to the world of dance.  At Dance Channel TV, we produce original video content covering various styles of dance through unique series, feature stories and news casts, among other programs.  As part of our programming for Dance Channel TV, we would seek out dance companies and performances we wanted to cover.  We would also receive mass emails and post mail regarding shows taking place and requests to cover them. This process was somewhat unmanageable as there was not a single source one could tap into to find out about dance events and businesses.  So I decided to start SeeDance.com which would combine all of those resources on one website.

What’s the gap SeeDance.com is filling in the dance community?

There are a number of dance-related websites on the Internet.  The problem, however, is that there is no single source for all things dance.  Most are local in nature or have a particular focus.  SeeDance.com fills that void by congregating everything relating to dance in one place.  And it does not just cater to dance companies, dancers and dance businesses.  Our audience also includes just regular people who love dance or are interested to learn more about it.

How does SeeDance.com work?

Think of SeeDance.com as the Yelp.com for dance.  Much like Yelp.com, it is controlled by the users.  They list themselves and input the information about their companies, performances, etc.  SeeDance.com also allows dance enthusiasts from around the world to connect, review and learn about all things dance. Searching on SeeDance.com is very user-friendly because it relies on simple keyword and zip code searches.  We also recently unveiled our SeeDance iPhone App to make the information more accessible.

How has technology changed dance marketing for dance companies, dance studios, dance merchandise and everything dance related?

We believe that the Internet is a powerful and effective means of communication. It is global, reaching to the far corners of the earth, making the world smaller and more connected.  It is making radical changes in our lives.  Because of the advances in technology, it is possible for more people to access information and to learn in new ways, connecting individuals to new people, places and experiences.  The new marketing channels are many, i.e. social media, forums, video sharing, and new ones are constantly springing-up.  In that context, the challenge for the dance community is two-fold: (i) figuring out how to join this new era of marketing and (ii) learning ways to stand out from the clutter and information overload.  It has been our experience that, although the landscape and opportunities in marketing are changing rapidly, many in the dance community are hesitant to embrace them, still clinging to the old tools.  We recognize the hesitation on their part but hope to help the dance community address those challenges through SeeDance.com, building awareness and visibility for your business and reaching a large targeted audience.  With funding for the arts decreasing, we are here to support the dance community and provide people with access to dance resources through the power of Internet.

Do you own one or more Tezoro DVDs? Be the first to review them on SeeDance.com!!!

Do you have a question about Seedance.com? Email contact@seedance.com or leave a comment below this article.

Tags: Dance Channel TV, dance directory, SeeDance.com

A Giveaway Is On Its Way For Our Great Followers! [CLOSED]

This week we are giving you one more reason to stay connected with Tezoro Productions through our social media channels! Not only you’ll have access to interesting and fun content but you’ll also have the chance to participate in our great monthly giveaways (Tezoro products, gift cards and MUCH MORE!)

For our first giveaway we decided to randomly choose TWO of our followers to receive something very special that we think every dancer and dance instructor should have…

“The Care and Feeding of a Dancer by Toni Branner” DVD

“The Care and Feeding of a Dancer” is a perfect guide to a successful and healthy future in the competitive world of dance. It provides you with all theinformation you need to take care of your body and the ones of your dance students!

 

A HEALTHY BODY IS THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT ASSET FOR EVERY DANCER!

About Toni Branner.

Toni is an exercise physiologist, author, and (most importantly) mother of a dancer, presents the latest research on free radical damage and oxidative stress in dancers and athletes. Develop your free radical defense system by eating foods with the right nutrients. Learn real and simple solutions to improve your family’s nutrition. Prevent disease, enhance your immune system, and achieve optimal health. Research regarding the prevention of memory loss, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and aging will be shared. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ENTERING OUR GIVEAWAY COULDN’T BE EASIER!

You just need to follow us on Twitter (@TeozoroLIVE) AND be subscribed to this blog!

How to do that?

Twitter: Just visit https://twitter.com/tezoroLive and click on “Follow“

Blog: Enter your email in the right sidebar where it says “DON’T MISS ANY UPDATE!” and click on “Sign Me Up!”. Don’t worry your email is safe with us. We won’t share it with anyone!

Make sure to follow us on Twitter as well as subscribe to our blog. Only if you do BOTH you’ll be entered in this and future giveaways.

HURRY UP!

You only have a few days to enter for the chance to win “The Care and Feeding of a Dancer by Toni Branner” DVD. We’ll choose the 2 lucky winners this Saturday October 1st!

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know more about Toni Branner? Here is some additional information…

Toni Tickel Branner, M.A. is an Exercise Physiologist, Professional Speaker, and Wellness Consultant. A former Professor at UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Fitness Director: Mecklenburg Aquatic Club, Charlotte, North Carolina, she has been providing health-related seminars and workshops for children, adults & seniors for over 20 years. She is also the author of several books including Wilby’s Fitness Book for children, The Care and Feeding of a Dancer and The Care and Feeding of an Athlete.

A former dancer and captain of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Tarheel cheerleading squad, Toni holds undergraduate degrees in Biology and Physical Education and received her Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she also served as director of the UNC Employee Health and Fitness center and as faculty member in the Department of Physical Education, Exercise, and Sports Science.

Through 22 years of wellness classes for children, adults and seniors, as well as numerous speaking engagements, workshops and academic presentations, Toni has shown thousands of people the way to prevent disease, perform effective, injury-free fitness and achieve optimal health. She is a gifted teacher, passionate about making a difference in the health of families.

Tags: Dancer's Health, DVD, Giveaway, Tezoro Productions, The Care and Feeding of a Dancer, Toni Branner

Welcome our Complete Beginner Dance DVD Series!

What’s better than one of our Beginner DVDs? The answer is easy…. 15 of them, all together, at super special price!

Start enjoying all our easy-to-follow Beginner Dance DVDs from Jazz Dance to Latin Dance, from Hip Hop to Street Funk and learn new warm-ups and across the floors as well as many different pieces of choreography.

The entire collection of DVDs is perfect for a variety of different people and purposes:

- Dance Teachers will find new and innovative information and ideas for teaching the basics of several dance techniques to kids or beginner adults.

- Advanced dance students can use them to start learning a new dance style they may need for an audition or just to complete their preparation. While beginner students, who are already taking classes in one or more of these styles, may use our DVDs as a way to support their in-class learning.

- Non-dancers who’d like to discover the beauty of dance and why not, burn some calories in the meanwhile. Yes, our beginner DVDs are also perfect for those who want to work out in a more fun and engaging way.

- Moms (but also dads) who are looking for a way to have fun with their children doing something that will keep them active. Our DVDs are great to teach kids coordination and improve their sense of rhythm.

Each DVD is broken down to its simplest form with engaging music and innovative backgrounds.

THIS SERIES INCLUDES:

 • Hip Hop with Dana Foglia – Volume I, II, III (each includes a Complete Warm-up with isolations, cardio and stretches and 3 different Hip Hop dances)

• HOPSdance & DanceMIX with Tyce Diorio & Krista Saab – Volume I, II (each includes across the floor and choreography in: Jazz, Hip Hop, Latin and Theatre Dance)

• Latin Dance with Luis Salgado – Volume I, II, III, IV & V (each dedicated to a specific Latin Dance Style; ‘PLENA’, ’MERENGUE’, ’CHA-CHA MAMBO’, ‘SALSA’, ’CARNIVAL’. Every volume includes basic elements of the style and a fabulous piece of choreography with partnering elements as well!)

• Country Line Dance with Summry Whaley – Volume I (incudes every line dance you have always wanted to learn!)

• Street Funk with Joe Loera – Volume I, II (each includes 4 fabulous dance combinations incorporating many sports and Hip Hop moves! Great DVD if you have boys in your classes or homes!)

COMPLETE BEGINNER DVD SERIES 

Special price: $450 (retail $600)

GET IT NOW!

 You can always purchase these or any other Tezoro DVD individually. Just visit www.liveatbroadwaydancecenter.com and choose the ones you prefer.

One more thing you’ll love…

When buying our DVDs individually at their regular price, you can use danceCOUPON to get a 20% discount plus $10 Gift Certificate toward any streaming purchase! (This coupon cannot be used for the Complete Beginner DVD Series).

USE YOUR danseCOUPON NOW!

Tags: Complete Beginner DVD Series, Country Line Dance, Dana Foglia, DanceMIX, danseCOUPON, Hip Hop, HOPSdance, Joe Loera, Krista Saab, Latin Dance, Live At Broadway Dance Center, Luis Salgado, New DVD Release, Street Funk, Summry Whaley, Tezoro Productions, Tyce Diorio

New Media Has Changed The Way to Market Dance Studios.

We had an amazing interview with Suzanne Gerety, owner of DanceStudioOwner.com, an amazing resource for those of you who own a dance studio.

We hope you enjoy! Make sure to read until the end for some useful tips Suzanne shared with us…

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is DanceStudioOwner.com and how did you come up with this idea?

DanceStudioOwner.com is a comprehensive resource and membership site with information on everything related to starting, running, or growing your dance studio business.  We like to think of it as having your own personal advisory team at your fingertips 24/7.

As for how we came up with the idea… as the daughter of and now the second-generation owner of a large performing arts school in Southern New Hampshire – my entire life has been focused on the dance studio.

The idea for DanceStudioOwner.com came when my son was a newborn; it wasn’t easy – in fact it was nearly impossible, to leave the studio or travel to a big city for a live event to meet face to face with other business owners and dance colleagues.  Determined not have to navigate this business alone if something were to happen to my mom suddenly, we decided to create a place where dance studio owners were able to collaborate no matter where they were in the world.  It was especially important because this is an industry that can be lonely and at times the competition fierce.

Everything we work on with our members is relevant to studio ownership today and it’s based on tried-and-true experience from having over thirty five years of consistent growth in the face of changing trends, personal losses, studio splits, and economic ups and downs. Kathy Blake, my mom and co-founder and I are actively running our own studio of over 900 dancers, 25 faculty and staff, on a day-to-day basis as well so we can relate to and help our members with managing the million details it takes to keep your studio thriving.

Our members often say that they don’t know what they would do without the personal support they receive from us and the other successful studio owners on our discussion forum.  We do everything we can to help our members leverage their unique gifts and talents and expertise.   This is a very personal business – dance studio ownership – one size does not fit all.

Ultimately our focus is in giving our members and readers information that not only saves them time and money but also contributes to growth in their business both financially and artistically.  In a business where it’s easy to burn out, we help people keep their passion for dance alive as they grow their studio.

DanceStudioOwner.com would have never been possible without the use of new media. How do you think new media has changed the dance world and what do you think we should expect in the near future?

I’d say that new media has had a big impact on the ways that dance studios and schools market their classes and programs.  It used to be that you could print a nice looking brochure, send it to your mailing list, wait for the phone to ring and people would call to register. Or you could run an ad in the local paper and people would know you were open for classes. There were a few direct paths for people to follow.

Now we have online registration, automated billing, instant website updates, social media interactions, video sharing/critique from our teachers, email groups for communicating, text messaging, automated messaging, and much more.  Students and parents are taking their good…and at times bad reviews to sites like Google, Yelp, and Merchant Circle.  New media calls us to focus on customer service now both offline and online.  Compound that with mobile check ins on Foursquare or photo and location tagging on Facebook; there are so many places that people can go to get and share information.

Not only do the dance studio owners have many, many more marketing channels to communicate with current and potential students, they have to learn how to compete against the information overload to keep their business running and growing.

Would you like to provide a quick tip for the studio owners reading our blog?

Whether your studio focuses on ballet, Middle Eastern dance, classes for adults, ballroom, musical theatre, Irish step, dance fitness, or general performing arts – we all need students in order to stay in business.  Although the dance disciplines, teaching methods, and personal student concerns can vary widely, I find that each studio owner has a lot in common with one another when it comes to starting, running and growing their studio.

But just like in dance, it’s important to practice the fundamentals consistently over time.  Try not to get overwhelmed by having to do everything all at once or get trapped in feast or famine marketing attempts.  Focus have a professional looking website that is updated regularly with your schedule, make it easy for people to do business with you, use feedback as an opportunity to grow.

William Faulkner said it best “Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.”

Do you have a question for Suzanne? Post a comment below this article.

Tags: dance, dance studio, dance studio owner, DanceStudioOwner.com, new media, run a dance studio, Suzanne Gerety

Please Help Us Welcome danseCOUPON. The ONLY Coupon Website Entirely Dedicated To The Dance World.

We are pretty sure almost all of you have used a daily deal site at least once in your life. We definitely have!

Groupon started it all in November 2008 and what began as a simple basic idea has now evolved into a multi-billion company used every day by millions of customers in 43 different countries around the world to get deals on “the best stuff to do, see, eat and buy”.

But Groupon is definitely not the only daily deal site you can use nowadays. Companies such as LivingSocial, Trubates, LifeBooker and many others have been gaining popularity in the last couple of years. Several people are members of more than one of these websites to get daily deals on as many things as possible – even on things they don’t really need…yeah ok, right now you’re trying to convince yourself that you really needed a new customized dog carrier but the reality is that you just got it because it was 50% off! Do you even have a dog?

At Tezoro we are huge fans of daily deal sites! Using several of these services, we noticed that while more and more coupon companies began focusing on specific areas such as travel, spas, pets and so on, none of them were really doing anything for our beloved dance community.

Being dance people ourselves and knowing how expensive it is to be a dancer, dance teacher/studio owner or a parent of a dancer, we felt we needed to do something about it…

That’s how the idea to create danseCOUPON – the online coupon site for dancers – began.

danseCOUPON allows you to easily find special offers from dancewear companies, professional dance studios, workshops, competitions, DVD companies and many more. You have the possibility to redeem monthly coupons by printing them out and following individual coupon instructions, or purchase limited-time only weekly coupons direct from  danseCOUPON.com.

We are working every single day to get more vendors involved with us to offer you the best dance deals possible. And this is where your participation can be extremely important too!  Is there a specific company/brand you’d like see offering deals on danseCOUPON?  Dancewear, dance shoes, costumes, dance floor, dance music, conventions, workshops, dance services, dance magazines…ANYTHING you need and like as a dancer, teacher or studio owner!

Please let’s us know about it! We’d love to hear from you! Send us an email at info@danseCOUPON.com, leave a comment on our Facebook wall or write a comment below this article and we’ll make sure to do our best to get in contact with those companies!

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“WHERE THE HELL IS MATT?”. See Where a Spontaneous Silly Dance Can Take You…

If you love watching videos on YouTube you may have already heard about Matt and his “Where The Hell Is Matt” project a few years back around 2006.

Matt, a 34-year-old guy from Connecticut (USA) has now become quasi-famous as “that guy who dances on the Internet”. He had never thought to be a world traveler but one day he realized he wanted to do something different in his life. In February of 2003, he quit his job in Brisbane, Australia and used the money he’d saved to wander around Asia until it ran out. He made a website to keep his family and friends updated about where he was.

One day while traveling a travel buddy asked Matt to do “that” dance (a particular dance he always did just to have fun) and he would record it. The video was then posted on YouTube.

A couple of years later, people started finding the video on YouTube and sharing it with other people. That’s when the phenomenon started. As the video began spreading, the people at Stride gum (a popular American chewing gum brand) noticed it and decided to contact Matt to ask him if he’d take another trip around the world sponsored by them.

In 2006, Matt took a 6-month trip through 39 countries on all 7 continents and he recorded a video of his dance in every single place he went to. The second video he posted on YouTube acquired even more popularity.

People from all around the world began e-mailing him and this generated a new idea…

Matt realized how dance (even in its silliest form) pushes people to aggregate, and he wanted to create a new project to transform his dance into something more than a “solo performance”.

He contacted the people at Stride and told them he wanted to travel around the world one more time and invite the people who wrote him to join him where he was to dance too. This was the beginning of his new adventure.

It really seems like the power of the universal language of dance can manifest itself in every form, no matter how silly it may be. Give people a chance to have fun with a few simple steps and they’ll find the way to communicate together even without a common culture and language.

That’s the power of dance!

Combine this with the incredible power of the Internet and you’ll get Matt’s unique project.

Matt is currently continuing his amazing journey to work on a new video. For this new video, he’s actually learning how to dance. He’s collecting dance styles from all over the world and teaching them to groups in other parts of the world.

Check out his journal to find out how his adventure is going.

Want to dance with Matt? Visit http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/signup/ and sign up for his alerts to be notified when he’s dancing in your area.

For more info about Matt and his “Where The Hell Is Matt?” project visit his website.