The Reality of Running a Dance Studio: Community, Culture, and Scheduling Chaos
TL;DR
In this episode of Chief Studio Officer, Shana Bonetti from Epic Dance Company shares the realities of dance studio ownership. She debunks the myth of the "ideal schedule," emphasizing the 24/7 nature of the job. Shana highlights the importance of creating a safe, inclusive environment where dancers can build confidence and focus on quality over quantity. She also discusses her communication strategies using The Band app and the meticulous, visual process of creating a studio schedule with the help of her sister. Her ultimate advice? Ask for help, remember why you started, and focus on community over competition.
When you picture owning a dance studio, you might imagine spending your days choreographing beautiful routines, mentoring young dancers, and enjoying the flexibility of being your own boss. But as any seasoned studio director will tell you, the reality is often much more demanding.
In a recent episode of Chief Studio Officer, we sat down with Shana Benetti, the owner and director of Epic Dance Company in Flemington, New Jersey. Shana opened up about the true challenges and profound rewards of dance studio management, offering actionable insights for anyone looking to grow their dance studio.
The Biggest Misconception About Studio Ownership
Many aspiring studio owners believe that working for yourself means creating an ideal, flexible schedule. While you do have autonomy, Shana points out a crucial reality check:
"I think that the biggest misconception is that it's easier than it's going to be, and that you are, as the owner, going to be able to have some free time when really you're working 24/7 nonstop as a studio owner."
From sunup to sundown, studio directors are juggling schedules, answering emails, and making decisions that impact both individual students and the studio as a whole. It’s a labor of love, but it’s undeniably a labor-intensive one.
Cultivating Confidence and a Safe Space
Epic Dance Company’s mission is to create confident, quality, versatile young dancers. But how does a studio actually translate that mission into daily practice? For Shana, it all starts with safety.
"In order for a child to be able to feel confident, they need to feel safe," she explains. Whether it's a two-year-old in a recreational class or an 18-year-old competitive dancer, the goal is to make the studio feel like a second home. When dancers feel supported by their teachers and peers, they are more willing to take risks, fail, and try again.
This focus on emotional well-being naturally leads to higher quality dancing. Epic Dance Company prioritizes "quality over quantity," focusing on fewer routines executed at a higher caliber rather than overwhelming students with sheer volume.
Streamlining Dance Studio Communication
Effective communication is the backbone of any successful dance studio marketing and management strategy. To keep everyone informed without causing overwhelm, Shana relies on a multi-channel approach:
1.Email: Used for formal, detailed information.
2.Social Media: A vital tool for building community and showcasing the studio's culture to current and prospective families.
By making herself as available as possible and utilizing these tools, Shana ensures her "village" operates smoothly.
Maintaining Culture During Studio Growth
As a studio grows and achieves competitive success, maintaining a positive, family-like culture can be challenging. Shana combats the potential for toxic competitiveness with a few core philosophies:
•"If you're the best person in the room, you're in the wrong room." This encourages dancers to view their peers as inspiration rather than competition.
•"Be where your feet are." In a fast-paced world, Shana reminds her students to stay present and leave outside stressors at the door.
She also emphasizes that culture trickles down from the top. By modeling a deep love for the art form and a commitment to mentorship, her staff and older dancers naturally adopt the same inclusive, supportive behavior.
The Nitty-Gritty of Dance Studio Scheduling
Perhaps the most daunting task for any studio owner is creating the weekly schedule. Shana is committed to supporting the "whole child," meaning she works hard to accommodate dancers who are also involved in high school dance teams, drama clubs, or varsity sports.
Her scheduling process is a fascinating blend of visual creativity and methodical logic. She teams up with her sister (who has a numbers-oriented brain) and uses a massive visual board with color-coded Post-it notes.
"We basically just start moving, take a break, take a step back from it... It takes a lot of time and even sometimes we think we're done and then we're like, oh, wait, actually, I don't think that that's going to work."
It’s a painstaking process, but it ensures that the schedule works for the staff, the studio space, and most importantly, the dancers.
Final Advice for Studio Directors
Shana’s parting advice for her fellow studio owners is simple but profound: Ask for help.
"We as studio owners feel sometimes like superheroes because we are really managing so much, but remembering that we are not actually, in fact, superheroes and we can ask for help... is what is going to help us continue that superhero status."
Whether it's bringing in a family member to help with scheduling or delegating tasks to trusted staff, sharing the load is essential for long-term success and avoiding burnout.
Running a dance studio is not for the faint of heart, but as Shana’s journey with Epic Dance Company proves, it is an incredibly beautiful and rewarding endeavor. Remember why you started, lean on your community, and always be where your feet are.
a note from the interviewer, Prisha:
This conversation came at exactly the right time for me! Dance spaces can sometimes become competitive or overwhelming, so hearing Shana's perspective on community, encouragement, and the positive impact we can have on one another was a powerful reminder of why so many of us fell in love with dance in the first place.
Throughout our conversation, it was clear that strong studio culture doesn't just happen—it is intentionally nurtured every day. That belief is at the heart of danZING by DanceVibes. I created it to help studio directors foster better communication, greater accountability, and stronger connections so dancers can focus on growing, learning, and supporting one another.
If you're working to build a studio culture where every dancer feels seen and supported, I'd love for you to visit the danZING landing page and learn more about what we're building.