Dance Studio Marketing: Staying Competitive Through the Internet

Dance studio marketing is a topic of interest to many studio owners and managers today. Operating a dance studio, just like any other business, requires a lot of hard work and determination. Internet marketing has been taking on an increased role in many of the studios' marketing programs in recent years due to its lower cost and higher levels of reach as compared to direct mail.

Studio managers have a wide array of dance advertising to choose from in the quest to stay competitive and reach more customers . These include operating a website incorporating SEO, utilizing social media marketing, sending out email promotions, writing articles about the dance studio, and running banner ads on websites relevant to dancing.

Another approach to entertainment marketing is to hire an SEO firm. SEO stands for search engine optimization. This is a tactic whereby a website, through the use of rich keywords and phrases, achieves a higher ranking in the results sections of the major search engines. Higher rankings will equate to more site hits , which hopefully will translate to more conversions. Dance studio managers can consult with an SEO firm to help out with this difficult and technical task. It should be noted that SEO must be joined with website content that is of the highest caliber and constantly updated. Without fresh and updated content, SEO service alone will not be effective.

In addition to operating a website incorporating SEO, a dance studio manager can use the various social media networks to promote his or her dance studio. Social networking websites contain millions of fresh leads for marketers, and it is possible to target extremely specific demographics through such media. For instance, dancers within a certain age group who are interested in ballet could be targeted. In addition to the many fresh and targeted leads that social media sites are capable of providing, it is also cost efficient to promote dance studio activities on them. Social networking websites continue to experience rapid growth and are a relatively new phenomenon, which makes them an attractive vehicle from which to promote dance-related activities.

Next, owners of dance studios can send out emails as part of their marketing plans. Emails can also be sent to current studio customers and prospects. On top of making sure that the emails are sent out to the appropriate lists, care has to be taken to ensure that effective email subject lines, text, and images are used. There are so many emails already flooding' peoples inboxes, and it is critical that emails stand out from the competition. Furthermore, there are rules to follow to ensure that emails do not end up in their recipients' spam folders. Some tips to avoid spam folders include not using exclamation points in the subject line and not utilizing the word free anywhere in the promotional text.

Studio managers can also write articles about their dance studio that contain hyperlinks to their companies website within the articles. These articles can be distributed to various article websites throughout the Internet. Such article sites are accessed by thousands of people. Well-written articles furthermore have staying power and can be passed on to a constant source of new leads. When people read the articles, they can click on the hyperlinks and visit the studios website.

Last but not least, studio owners can place banner ads hyperlinking to the studio's website on targeted sites. The intent of course would be for people to click on the banner ads and then hopefully sign up for dance lessons. A dance magazine, for example, would be a good place to purchase banner ads promoting the studio.

In conclusion, dance studio owners have increasingly relied on Internet marketing to promote their businesses and increase registration. Some of the advertising activities that they have been engaging in include operating a website incorporating SEO, utilizing social media marketing, sending out email promotions, writing articles about the dance studio, and running banner ads on websites relevant to dancing.

Improvisation Inspiration

I took a really cool improvisation dance class today with dancers that are less experienced and I felt very inspired after.  The way that they moved was more "pedestrian" like however, sometimes I find that to be the most interesting and unique.  As a dancer, when you are training your body for all of those years, sometimes the will to let go and just be natural can get lost.  These dancers were younger than I, but their readiness to try anything was so cool to watch.  It reminds me of why I dance and I hope some of their natural feeling rubbed off on me...

Dance is the only art of which we ourselves are the stuff of which it is made.  ~Ted Shawn, Time, 25 July 1955

A DANCE, ROCK MUSIC & ART tribute to Pink Floyd Volusica County Daytona Beach Summer 2010

Another Brick In The Wall


July 9 & 10th

A DANCE, ROCK MUSIC & ART tribute to Pink Floyd
Volusia County Summer 2010


Volusia County’s resident professional dance company, Surfscape Contemporary Dance Theatre, presents “Another Brick in the Wall” at The Coliseum on July 9th & 10th. Back by popular demand, this rock opera features a full-scale professional dance performance and highlights live music and ideas from Pink Floyd’s, The Wall. Dance enthusiasts and rock music lovers alike will enjoy an engaging evening of live music, light shows, videography, and professional dance. Presented in a night club setting, “Another Brick in the Wall” features the company’s highly trained dancers, compelling choreography by the company’s two founding Artistic Directors, Rachael Leonard and Kristin Polizzi, and music by Pink Floyd cover band, Earthbound Misfits. In addition, the multi-media show will include videography by Doug Ratcliff, artwork by Orlando's prodigal son-Morgan Steele, the Organic Lightshow and performance art by PeregoLive with music by Rob Real. Own a Perego original painting! His Pink Floyd's "the Wall"- inspired piece will be auctioned off at end of each show!


Although different from the company’s highly acclaimed repertory dance performances, Surfscape’s ground-breaking Pink Floyd tribute show is a "don't miss" event!..Although anyone is welcome to attend the performance, it is recommended for people over the age of 12.


Performances of “Another Brick in the Wall”, held at The Coliseum, are set for Friday, July 9th at 7:00pm and Saturday, July 10th at 7:00p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for students/youth and can be purchased through the SCDT box office: 386-366-5108.


In addition, the company will perform new choreography this fall/winter.


For more information about SCDT, please phone 386-233-4885
or log on to http://www.surfscapedance.org for photos and a calendar of events.


To see PeregoLIVE videos checkout- http://www.youtube.com/user/ArtArmyFILMS

New Choreography Reel Shannon Johnson Thomas

Hey guys!! Check out my new Choreography Reel! I will be editing and adding more choreography to it soon but, am excited in the mean time!









http://www.dancebrought2u.com

Dancer's Vegan Diet

Dancers need a healthy diet full of protein, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Being a vegan has helped me change my diet to help me feel healthy and trim up. Eating a diet high is meat and dairy can be very fattening and cause you to gain unwanted fat. I cut all meat products and dairy and switched to all organic vegan foods and yes that means no butter!!! I started to have a protein shake every morning with hemp milk, steamed vegetables, beans and rice, salads, nuts of all kind (no salt!), hummus and tabouli! I started to eat foods I would not have normally chosen to eat but, began to crave them just as you would chocolate! I was an occasional drinker, but I cut alcohol from my diet compeletly since they are empty calories.

As I changed my diet, I changed physically and mentally. I began to look at food as something to nourish my body with versus the pleasure of indulging. This mentality alone has been worth every trip to the health food store and every sacrifice made. Soon after these changes were made, I began to drop the weight and finally reach my goal physic as a dancer. To be in the best shape I can of coarse but caring about what I put in my body is the most rewarding.

I know that becoming vegan is extreme for some people. The majority of Americans eat meat and have dairy on a regular basis. The problem is that it is processed and high in fat, especially at the fast food chains. However, you can make a difference in yourself even if it means you cut meat and dairy out of your diet 1 to 2 days a week. Even a small change like that can make a big difference. When it comes to being a dancer, our body is our instrument. We have to fill it with healthy nutricious foods to keep it running as long as possible. Becoming vegan has made a positive change in my life and my dance life. Dancers can be vegan! :)

Dancer's Etiquette

Dancer's Etiquette

In the dance world, there are certain rules of etiquette that should be followed to show respect in the classroom. Dancers show respect for themselves by showing respect to others. Dance class offers discipline, self improvement, and work ethic in a structured environment. The structure of dance is something that helps encourage children to work hard through positive reinforcement and goals. Below is a list of rules that need to be followed when attending a dance studio beginning to professional.

1.To be on time is to be late! If the dance class starts at 5:00 and you show up at 5:00, you are now considered late. Dancers should always arrive to class no later than 15 minutes prior to start time. This is very important so the dancer can start to warm up the body and prepare the mind for class.
2.Always wear appropriate attire. Dancers should always wear tights and a leotard regardless of the style of class. You may bring cover-ups to warm up in however, it is important to wear tights and leotard so that the teacher can see the body alignment to help the dancer use their placement to the best of their ability. Hair should be out of the face in a pony tail or bun.
3.Always enter class quietly and find a spot on the floor or at the barre and begin preparing for class. DON'T enter talking a giggling with your friends! :)
4.Always show respect for the teacher by saying thank you to corrections. Even if you think the dance teacher is “picking” on you, it is most likely because they see potential in you and want to help you get better!
5.Show respect for others and be aware of your dance space.
6.If you don't know what you are doing, get out of the front of the room, you always want to show that you are working hard, however if you are unsure move to the side so you can see who does know it and try to learn from them.
7.Never judge anyone you are dancing with. The dance studio is a non-judgmental grounds! ;)
8.Last but not least, after class you should always clap for the teacher and say thank you!!!

http://www.dancebrought2u.com

10 tips to a successful audition!

1.Be on time. Punctuality is important, time is money.
2.Have Resume and Headshot cut to 8 x 10 and attached to make one sheet you hand them, many casting directors will not except anything else.
3.Have 16 bars of a song, with sheet music, picked out that compliments what you are auditioning for. **Don't sing Lady Gaga's Bad Romance for A Chorus Line Audition!
4.Always have all of your dance shoes with you! You never know if you will need to do pointe, tap or wear character heels.
5.Have appropriate attire with you. Always were tights and leotard so you can layer over it. For example, a skirt to do ballroom in, some stylish clothes to do hip hop in. Some auditions will have you in your tights and leotard only!
6.Have a fresh face of makeup and your hair pulled back off of your face! Casting directors want to see what you look like!
7.Always make sure you stand somewhere where you will be able to pick up the audition combination.
8.Be kind and considerate to those around you. A cattle call audition can be 100's of people.
9.SMILE! Even when you are not dancing!
10.Last but not least, if you mess up, SELL it! Sometimes it isn't about nailing the combination perfectly. It is about the performance!


http://www.dancebrought2u.com