Great Ideas

Useful Tips from The Goldrush

Recital Concept

Our 42^nd year-This year we did Miss Mary Lou’s Neighborhood. We made (backdrops of) some of the neighborhood stores for dancing in or through, such as dancing school, party store, dress shop, pet store, bank, locksmith, music store, bakery, and pack and ship center. Basically we danced through the town’s businesses, parks, churches, police station, fire station, and schools. And for the finale we used Dancin’ In The Streets. (I loved this concept. It brings the entire community into the dance school. Good for the school’s business (marketing),

 Good for the community, etc.- RG)

Karen Hale-Assante, Mary Lou Hale’s School of Dance, Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey

Classic Performances

Early in September we hold “auditions” for our annual Nutcracker performance. Criteria: all students must have been enrolled for the previous summer session of classes. All who audition are cast in a role-no matter how large or small. Our storyline is parallel to the original but we bring it into the current day with up to-date-arrangements of Tchaikovsky’s musical score. We offer modern, jazz, character, tap, and ballet and pointe. By doing this, students can become familiar with a classic story and still have fun with the choreography. The two performances are done for donations-only with all proceeds given to charity. We ask for food donations, too, that are brought to the local food bank. We’ve never had fewer than 1500 pounds of food donated! And the charities have always received very generous contributions. I feel this approach teaches our students a great way to raise funds for the needy.

Terrie Legein, Legein Dance Academy, Coventry, Rhode Island

“Parent” Numbers

I have been doing the Daddy Dance for 30 years. I have used songs such as My Daddy’s Taking Me Out, Honestly Daddy, I’m as Good as Gold, Hey Daddy. I usually plan a Daddy Dance every three to five years. The little girls, average age five, do a song and dance before the curtain opens and all the dads are standing upstage in black tuxedos. Dads dance with their daughters, and then have the opportunity to be featured with the famous Trench Step.

With dads on their knees, the little girls finish the routine singing to them, while sitting on his lap.

Barbara Piotrowski, Miss Jeanne’s School of Dance Arts, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Happy Birthday

Create a flow of potential students through your school by offering your space for birthday parties. The service could be available to both your students and those not registered at your school. Market the parties in your brochure, website and in your ads. Each party guest receives a gift bag that includes a brochure, a coupon for a FREE class and a fun gift with your school name and contact information printed on it!

Reverse Psychology

The word “late-fee” seems to have a way of irritating our clientele. Use reverse psychology; go up $5.00 on the monthly tuition, then offer an “early payment discount” of $5.00 to those who pay their tuition prior to the due date.

Registration

Send Them Your 24-Hour Brochure

Often we’re not at our school office when potential clients are looking for information on our classes. Announce your website address on the school answering machine so callers have instant access to registration and scheduling information. It’s faster and more direct than having the caller leave a message and waiting for someone to call them back.

Dress Rehearsal

Start With The Finale

Don’t wait until the end of the dress rehearsal to run through your recital finale. Rehearse it at the beginning or right after Act 1. Parents and children who are in the first act only will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Eliminate Recital Stress

Create an Extras Box. In it, keep everything your dancers could possibly forget: extra tights, hats, canes, props, bobby pins, hair elastics, safety pins, a sewing kit, pointe shoe elastic and ribbons, and anything else you imagine might “save the day.”

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