Are We Turning Away Potential First-Time Dancers?
Dance Studio Accolades
When promoting our dance schools, we often showcase what we see as our biggest successes—students who become national champions, land roles on Broadway, or perform in the opening number of the Academy Awards. These are incredible achievements and reflect the skill and dedication we bring to our teaching. Naturally, we share these accolades on social media and websites to validate our expertise and celebrate our dancers.
But what if I told you these very accolades might be intimidating potential future students and their families?
Many of our prospective clients aren’t looking for their child to become the next Broadway star. In fact, that idea might scare them. They’re often looking for something simpler: a once-a-week dance class where their child can have fun, grow in confidence, and shine in a year-end recital.
Here’s the disconnect: When these parents visit our websites or social media pages, they’re often greeted with images of advanced teenagers doing impressive leaps or holding extensions that might seem unattainable. They see lists of awards that mean little to them. What they don’t see is someone who looks like their 7-year-old beginner daughter—happy, engaged, and just starting their journey.
First-Time Dancers
Meanwhile, the parent researching dance classes might stumble upon a studio that shows smiling kids who look like their child, prominently features beginner-level offerings, and makes it easy to find class info, schedules, costs, and registration details. That’s where they’re likely to enroll.
The truth is, while our accolades are important and worth celebrating, the heart of our business lies in those first-time dancers—the never-danced-before kids who will become the foundation of our studio’s future. It’s their journey, from their very first skip across the floor to their high school recital, that we need to highlight.
So, celebrate your wins, but balance them with the imagery and messaging that speaks to the majority of your clientele. Show happy beginners on your social media. Share the joy of kids discovering dance for the first time. Showcase how your studio nurtures dancers of all levels and ages, from their first steps to wherever their passion takes them.
That’s what truly makes a successful dance studio—not just the championships and star performers, but the ability to inspire a lifelong love of dance in every student who walks through your doors. Have an awesome day and enjoy the journey–Rhee
Want to learn more about dance studio marketing? Join us for the 2025 DanceLife Teacher Conference: https://rheegold.com/dancelife-teacher-conference-2025/
