In Episode 88, we’re diving into 5 Fun Things from our annual Staff Kick-Off—a tradition that helps us reconnect, realign on our mission, and set the tone for a great season. With our big move coming up, we kept this year’s meeting intentionally lighter, knowing a more intensive training is on deck soon.

1) Staff Lunch Away from the Studio
A cozy, cute space that keeps setup and cleanup simple—perfect for keeping the vibe relaxed and focused on connection.

2) Big Build Bash Theme Carryover
We love a theme for clarity and cohesion. With our new studio underway, the construction vibe we used at Open House made decor, slides, and materials easy and on-brand.

3) Fun, Organized Info Delivery + New Staff Resources
We used Canva slides and Rhythm visuals to make “important things” engaging. Faculty leads covered key areas: HR processes (payroll, time-off, sub logs), taking roll/Dancer of the month, assistant best practices, and more.
We paired this with Rhythmpedia—our new branded Enrollio landing page linking everything (policies, forms, calendars, schedules)—and a staff "BAND" in the BAND app for ongoing team communication.

4) Personalized Notebook with Staff Guidelines
Digital is great, but a printed, stickered, Rhythm-branded notebook helps everyone follow along. We added our Top 10 must-knows from our Staff Guidelines for quick reference and asked every team member to send their top 5 takeaways from the handbook.

5) Rhythm-Branded Bag with Fun Items
A last-minute win that felt personal: a cute tote with a Rhythm patch (heat-pressed!), plus fun goodies like a mini brush, hair ties, electronic wipes—and a colorful pouch with cash to purchase role-ready items (dance shoes, a class bag, hair supplies, leggings/dancewear). It’s practical, appreciated, and fun to see what everyone picks!

This was Part 1 of our season kick-off. -- a lighter version but still very necessary to bring everyone together and put us all on the same page at the start of a new season. A larger training will follow as we prep for our big move later this year.

Thanks for listening—we’ll be back soon with a brand-new episode!

Let's Get Social!

• Join our FREE Confetti Circle
• Request to join our private Facebook Group
• Follow us on Insta, Facebook and Pinterest

Episode 87 – Dance Teacher Summit Recap

In this episode of Make Dance Fun, Becca and Dani share a recap from Dance Teacher Summit in New York City.

Dance Teacher Summit Highlights:

• New York Energy: Being back in NYC was a highlight in itself—the food, style, and nonstop inspiration brought fresh energy to the experience.
• Connecting with Friends: They reconnected with industry friends, fellow teachers, and alumni. Meeting Melissa McGee and her Ohio State Dance Team in person was a highlight, and their staffs bonded over brunch and shared ideas.
• Garment District Becca and Dani, along with some staff, squeezed in a quick trip to the garment district.
• Creative Staff Outing: A fun trip to an Klein Designs embroidery studio in Brooklyn, run by a Rhythm alum, gave their staff a chance to personalize items and have a fun night out.
• ACE Awards: Rhythm alum Bella Mills presented choreography and they loved attending this event.

Becca and Dani presented two sessions:

1. “Summer Down to a Science” – using the scientific method as a creative framework for structuring fun and successful summer programs.
2. Branding & Social Media – tips, strategies, and reminders for keeping your studio’s presence strong and fresh.

Staff Takeaways

With a large group of their team in attendance, Rhythm was able to “divide and conquer” across multiple classes. The staff shared notes and insights in real time and are already implementing improvements, such as updating trial class processes and refreshing assistant teacher strategies. Their teachers especially loved the hip hop sessions and getting inspo for new class combos!

Becca & Dani’s Personal Favorite Classes

• Dani: A seminar with Lauren Ritchie on guiding kids through their emotional journey in dance.
• Becca: Classes with Shanna Kirkpatrick, especially Discipline Over Distraction, which offered practical time management tools.

Looking Ahead

The Summit energized them to bring new ideas back to Rhythm and continue implementing them with their staff. Next up - travel to Nashville for the Dance Educators Collective, where they’ll present again and serve as council members.

Let's Get Social!

• Join our FREE Confetti Circle
• Request to join our private Facebook Group
• Follow us on Insta, Facebook and Pinterest

In Episode 86, we welcome back Melissa McGee from Lineage Dance in Columbus, Ohio. Melissa has had incredible growth since opening her studio just a few years ago, and she’s here to continue our 5 Fun Things series and share what she’s doing at her studio right now that you might want to try, too!

1. Back-to-Dance Merchandise Boxes
Melissa noticed there weren’t many local dancewear shopping options, so she created an easy, branded “dancewear in a box” package. Parents can order or attend try-on nights, and each box includes everything dancers need—shoes, tights, leotards, and more—ready for pickup at the studio’s open house. It’s a huge time-saver for parents and ensures dancers are performance-ready from day one.

2. Choreo Camp with Clues
For their competition hip hop production, Melissa added extra excitement by mailing physical clues to dancers before camp. Each clue hinted at the theme, building anticipation and making the choreo week feel like a big reveal and team-bonding event.

3. Friday Night Lights Parents’ Night Out
Capitalizing on football season, the studio offers themed “Friday Night Lights” events so parents can enjoy the game while younger dancers have fun at the studio. These are offered a few times each fall, sell out quickly, and are a great way to provide a community service while bringing in extra revenue.

4. Studio Orientation Videos with Kids as Hosts
Melissa’s team created short, engaging social media videos featuring an adorable young dancer guiding viewers through the new studio space. This fun, shareable format communicates important information in a way parents and kids love—while also showing off the studio’s personality.

5. Academic Partnership Incentive (In the Works!)
Inspired by programs like Pizza Hut’s “Book It,” Melissa is working with a local business, Storyline, to create a reward system for academic achievements. The idea is to encourage dancers to excel both in the studio and at school, with incentives like dancewear or special perks for reaching reading or grade goals.

We love how Melissa combines smart business ideas, strong branding, and creative twists to make her studio experience stand out. Whether it’s streamlining the parent experience, building anticipation for big events, or finding new ways to connect with the community, these 5 Fun Things are full of inspiration you can adapt for your own studio!

Let's Get Social!

• Join our FREE Confetti Circle
• Request to join our private Facebook Group
• Follow us on Insta, Facebook and Pinterest