3 Steps To Inspiring Your Dancers This Year

Why is dance important to you? If you are a dance studio owner or instructor, we’re guessing it’s not simply because it’s become your means of income; it’s worth far more than that to you. And you want it to be more than simply one more activity on the list for the young dancers under your tutelage. Here are some ways to weave a little inspiration into your dance studio routines — and encourage creative expression that lets the world know that your studio is something truly special.

Decide on a Theme or Focus

There are so many inspirational quotes out there that once you decide to use them in your studio, they can be overwhelming. Remind yourself that there is no right or wrong way to inspire — in fact, you probably do it unwittingly far more often than you realize! If you want some kind of direction, start with a theme for the year or a different one for each month. It can be as simple as “Dance for Joy” or “Dancing is a Gift” or broader, focusing on a character quality such as perseverance or a discipline that can be encouraged through dance. Even a more general inspiring theme like “Reach for the Stars” can offer some focus and added sparkle to your studio. Then look for quotes surrounding that theme.

Present the Quote to Your Dancers

You can do this in so many ways, both within the 4 walls of your dance studio and beyond. You may even want to incorporate your theme into a routine or recital. Since dancing is a visual art, it makes sense to get other forms of visual art involved in offering inspiration. If you choose a single quote to use for the entire year, maybe you’d want to hire a graphic designer to create a high-resolution digital image for any of this year’s materials. You can use it to add a little more pizazz to your studio entrance or bulletin board as well as your website. You could also print posters or post cards for teachers to send or distribute to their classes or coaches to their dance teams.

If you get shirts, mugs, or other dance studio products made for gifts or fundraisers, you can feature your quote and any artwork on those items, too.

Get Your Dance Community Involved

Everybody loves to feel a sense of ownership for “their dance studio” — and what better way to help foster that sense of community than a contest?! Contests on social media offer the dual function of creating connection among community members and giving the studio a little publicity. You likely have a few artists in your dance community already, and they’d love the chance to create some artwork surrounding your chosen theme and quote. You can both display their original artwork in your studio and post photos on your website and social media pages, offering a prize for the “most shared” or “most liked” submission.