From Stage to Studio: The Value of Perspective
“I want to own my own dance studio…. How do I go about opening my own place?”
Great question!
The steps you practice in the studio will not only further your movement quality and technique, but may also influence your ability to open doors to your own studio after the curtain closes.
Developing your individuality alongside your work ethic enables you to extend your dance career by preparing you for multiple roles and careers beyond the stage. There are several qualities that are positively shaped by your time in a dance studio and can even prepare you for the role of a dance studio owner. Here are a few tips for those considering the path of owning their own dance studio:
1. Perspective
It can be so easy to remain in a constant zoomed-in lens status, with a strict focus on your immediate roles and technical challenges that come with this beautiful art form. However, if you are able to adjust your lens and take in all of the class details - learn what training tips work best for each dancer, who is in what role and why, maintain your work ethic and character throughout your journey, etc. - you become a consistent and observant young professional with the ability to create multiple opportunities to succeed and serve others in the process.
2. Flexibility
The balancing act of an adagio can be difficult, but its beauty is always breathtaking! Keeping the ethereal quality as you make adjustments throughout your professional performance is also very important. That same adagio quality will be greatly needed during your role as a studio owner in your willingness to embrace and adapt to change quickly. Whether it’s an extrinsic or intrinsic change that is needing to be addressed, your flexibility is important to support the needs of your clients and also reflect the wants of your studio vision.
3. Mental Stamina
Stamina, the time an activity can be performed at maximum capacity, is always an important factor as a dancer. We all know returning from a holiday can be taxing on your physical stamina and cross-training is crucial to increase your stamina during the busy waves of a performance season. Mental stamina is just as important to maintain and strengthen throughout your professional career. Life will always throw an unknown value into the equation, and you can never allow life to make you forget why you do what you do!
4. Patience
We have all had a bad turning day or a golden day when everything clicks and goes our way in class. How you handle and react to those moments of frustration and success develops your character. When things happen that are unexpected, that’s when opposition makes a bold entrance, which leads to an exciting chance for personal growth to occur. Growth is sometimes messy, but having the patience to allow growth to occur through things you never saw coming is invaluable. Oftentimes, remaining steadfast throughout your endeavors leads to the most beautiful leaps of faith once you allow your resilience to shine! Be patient - the outcome will definitely be worth it!
5. Courage
All of the training and performances have unknowingly prepared you in areas of perspective, flexibility, stamina, and patience. Think about it… A lot of people would shy away from stepping on a stage and performing in front of large crowds. Dancers are trained to not only take on that heightened level of pressure but turn the nerves into exhilarating and inspiring performances! Dancers develop courage with each step they take and it is up to them to transition that courage into chasing their dreams. If owning a dance studio is something of interest, be courageous and give yourself opportunities to learn by expressing your interest to become involved in a dance program as a teaching assistant or student demonstrator. There may also be administrative work available within a studio/school program that could be worth exploring as well!
6. Gratitude
Everyone has their own experiences that allow them to pick up a special and unique skill set along the way. This unique “toolbox” enables you to persevere, as every stage in life demands a higher-level version of you. Your professional toolbox has allowed you to grow through changes within your experiences, interactions with others, and personal perspective adjustments. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the end result and moments of accomplishment. However, it is imperative to take a step back and assess who we are becoming as we continue on our journey. Think of how far you have come since the beginning of your season!
Being grateful throughout your training process and performance accomplishments is a quality that is imperative for any career, including owning a dance studio. The mental and physical work of operating a studio can be very overwhelming especially as your studio grows. However, it is important to recognize that you are working to create joyful memories and a safe space for students to develop and explore their own dreams! Take the time to press pause and enjoy the blessings of the journey yourself. Gratitude is a sweet daily practice of “reverance” that will allow you to maintain your graceful fearlessness and enable you to remain open-hearted as you continue to develop the vision your future studio will reflect!
Meet the Author
Stacy Young is an Auburn University graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. A former dancer with the Alabama Ballet, Mrs. Young will be celebrating 16 years of owning her dance studio, Variations Dance Studio, this Spring! In her free time, she serves on the Gogue Center Engagement Council for Auburn University and aims to serve local non-profit organizations through her studio’s outreach efforts. Stacy happily resides in Auburn with her husband Bryan and their two children, Thomas and Aly.
This mission of Variations Dance Studio is to share our joy of dance with the widest possible audience through immersive arts education and performance experience. We aim to provide a safe learning environment with effective and developmentally appropriate dance programming to support our students’ dreams of dance!
Follow us on Instagram at @variationsstudio.
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