What makes a dance teacher unforgettable?

It isn't the loudest voice in the room.
It isn't the toughest corrections.
And it definitely isn't running a class through fear.

In this episode, Bec is joined by her daughter BeBe for a fun, honest conversation about what really makes kids thrive in dance class.

Together they share practical teaching strategies they've developed inside their own studio that help students stay engaged, improve faster and genuinely love coming to class.

Whether you're a dance studio owner training staff or a dance teacher wanting to improve your classes, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can start using immediately.

In this episode we cover:

• Why kids actually want clear boundaries
• Creating non-negotiables that make classroom management easier
• Choosing age-appropriate consequences that actually work
• Building relationships with challenging students
• Why "naughty kids" often just need understanding
• Teaching with encouragement instead of constant correction
• Using your voice to capture attention
• Coaching and mentoring new teachers
• Helping students see their progress every week
• Why involving parents improves student retention
• Positive teaching language that builds confidence
• How to leave your bad day at the door and show up for your students

Great teaching isn't about being the strictest teacher in the studio.

It's about creating an environment where children feel safe, supported, challenged and excited to improve.

If you're passionate about developing stronger teachers and creating incredible student experiences, this episode is for you.

Enjoying the podcast?

If you'd like more practical training for dance studio owners and teachers, come and join us inside Dance Principles United Tribe, where we share weekly coaching, resources and staff training to help your studio grow.

https://danceprincipalsunited.com/dpu-tribe/

The Secret to Better Student Retention? Better Dance Teachers

You can have incredible marketing.

Beautiful branding.

A stunning studio.

The latest enrolment software.

But if your teachers aren't delivering an exceptional experience every week, families won't stay.

In this episode, Nathan and Bec dive into one of the most overlooked responsibilities of studio ownership: developing your teaching team.

Too many studio owners hire great people and simply hope they'll become great teachers.

The reality?

Teaching is a skill.

Leadership is a skill.

Both need coaching.

Bec shares why regularly observing classes has transformed her team, how to give feedback that actually helps teachers grow, and why staff development is one of the highest-return investments you can make in your studio.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why your teachers are your product
• The difference between great dancers and great teachers
• How often you should observe staff classes
• Simple ways to give constructive feedback
• Creating clear teaching expectations
• Why ongoing coaching builds staff loyalty
• The biggest mistakes studio owners make when managing teachers
• How better teachers improve student retention and profitability

Great teachers aren't born.

They're developed.

And that starts with leadership.

When was the last time you looked at your pricing... not because you had to, but because you genuinely questioned whether it still made sense?

Too many dance studio owners keep doing things simply because "that's how we've always done it."

Paper invoices.
Sibling discounts.
Complicated pricing tables.
Term invoicing.

They're all systems that made sense years ago—but are they still serving your business today?

In this episode, Bec and Nathan unpack some of the biggest pricing mistakes they see dance studio owners making and explain why simplifying your pricing can dramatically improve your cash flow, your parent experience and your profitability.

In this episode we cover:

• Why complicated pricing actually reduces enrolments
• The psychology behind simple pricing
• Should you still offer sibling discounts?
• Why weekly direct debit is changing the game
• How Payday Super makes cash flow even more important
• Why paper invoices need to become a thing of the past
• Common objections studio owners have—and why they rarely happen
• How simplifying your pricing creates happier parents and a healthier business

If your pricing hasn't changed in years, this conversation might be exactly what your business needs.

Because sometimes the biggest growth comes from questioning what you've always done.

Have you ever looked at someone successful and thought, "They're just naturally confident"?

Yep… this episode is here to completely bust that myth.

This week, Bec sits down with the incredibly talented Stephen Tannos for one of the most honest conversations we've had on the podcast. From anxiety and imposter syndrome to panic attacks before speaking on stage, Stephen opens up about the fear that almost stopped him from stepping into bigger opportunities - and why pushing through it changed everything.

Fear doesn't disappear when you become successful. You just learn how to move with it.

This episode is packed with powerful mindset shifts for studio owners, creatives, teens, and honestly… anyone who's ever doubted themselves.

It's raw, funny, vulnerable, and one of those episodes you'll probably want to send to your senior students too.

In This Episode We Chat About:

• Why fear shows up most when you're about to grow
• The pressure of vulnerability vs "performing"
• How social media hides the messy middle
• Bec's business wake-up call that changed everything
• Why resilience matters more than confidence
• Letting go of people-pleasing in your studio
• Learning to stop waiting for permission
• "False evidence appearing real" and how fear tricks us
• The mindset shift behind "no one's coming to save you"
• Why every creative teen needs to hear this message

Stephen is now sharing this powerful talk with dance studios and senior students around Australia, and we think every creative teenager should hear it. To enquire about bringing Stephen into your studio, contact: info@stephentannos.com

Want More Support? If you're craving support, community, coaching, and real conversations with studio owners who get it…Come join us inside Dance Principles United Tribe. Podcast listeners get 1 week free to check it out.

https://danceprincipalsunited.com/dpu-tribe/

This week on the podcast, Bec sits down with choreographer, creative powerhouse, and longtime friend Stephen Tannos for one of those chats that feels equal parts nostalgic, inspiring, and wildly honest.

From the early days of quirky choreography pieces that didn't place… to creating work that people still remember decades later… this episode is a reminder that originality matters more than trophies.

Stephen shares the story of how he accidentally fell into teaching, the importance of giving young creatives freedom to experiment, and why chasing trends and "viral moments" can actually pull dancers further away from finding their own voice.

It's a conversation every studio owner, teacher, parent, and young dancer needs to hear — especially in a world where social media can make everyone feel like they need to fit into the same mould.

There's also a lot of laughing, old competition stories, giant stage skirts, bicycle choreography, and some very honest reflections on what actually creates lasting success in the dance industry.

In this episode:

• How Stephen accidentally started teaching
• Why Bec gave him complete creative freedom from day one
• The choreography pieces that never won… but became unforgettable
• What dancers can learn from creatives like Paris Cavanagh and Bob Fosse
• Why originality is harder than ever in the TikTok era
• The truth about "going viral"
• How studio owners can better nurture creative students
• Why technique classes still matter (even when kids don't think they do)

This episode is such a powerful reminder that the dancers who leave the biggest impact are usually the ones brave enough to be fully themselves.

And that lesson applies way beyond dance too.

Special Podcast Listener Offer

We'd love to invite you into Dance Principles United Tribe!

https://danceprincipalsunited.com/dpu-tribe/

Podcast listeners can grab 1 week free using the link in the show notes.

Come hang out with studio owners who truly get it. 💛

This week's episode is a little chaotic, very relatable, and full of those "WAIT… you can do THAT with ChatGPT?!" moments.

Amanda and Bec are chatting all about the random, practical, hilarious and surprisingly helpful ways they're using ChatGPT in both studio life and everyday mum life - from planning birthday weekends and decorating rooms, to role-playing difficult parent conversations and figuring out what on earth to make for dinner from the contents of the fridge.

There are laughs, tangents, accidental AI confessions, and a whole heap of ideas that might just save you time, mental energy, and maybe even your sanity as a busy studio owner.

And if you've ever felt overwhelmed by AI or unsure where to even start… this episode is your permission slip to just play with it.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Using ChatGPT to decorate rooms and visualise furniture
• Planning holidays, birthdays and family weekends with AI
• Parenting support, brainstorming and emotional reassurance
• Using voice mode safely while driving for brain-dumping ideas
• Role-playing difficult parent conversations and sales chats
• Writing concert scripts, pantomimes and studio storylines
• Costume sourcing and visualising costume changes
• Social media audits and brainstorming better marketing ideas
• Why ChatGPT is amazing for brainstorming… but not always for decision-making
• The AI tools Amanda is currently obsessed with beyond ChatGPT

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Dance Principals United Tribe
Podcast listeners can grab 1 week free inside Tribe via the link in the show notes.

https://danceprincipalsunited.com/dpu-tribe/

This week on the Dance Principals United Podcast, Amanda and Bec are back with Part 2 of their chat about the real reasons some studios struggle to grow.

This one might sting a little.

From social media mistakes to leadership gaps, they're diving into the things studio owners often don't realise are quietly stopping growth behind the scenes.

Bec shares the hilarious (and slightly horrifying) story of taking Tim to his very first dance event… and suddenly seeing the dance world through a normal parent's eyes. Let's just say fishnets and PVC on kids looked very different from the audience.

The girls also unpack why so many studio owners are accidentally marketing to other teachers instead of actual parents, why your Instagram shouldn't look like a newsletter, and why proper staff training might be the thing that changes everything.

This episode is honest, practical, funny, and packed with little mindset shifts that could completely change how you approach growth.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Why parents don't see dance the same way studio owners do
• The social media mistake that's turning new families away
• How to make your Instagram feel welcoming instead of exclusive
• Why every post needs a clear call to action
• The truth about paid ads (and why you probably can learn them yourself)
• Why staff training is about more than "putting props away"
• How stronger leadership improves student retention
• The power of changing just ONE thing instead of overhauling everything

The girls also share a special offer for podcast listeners - you can get one week free inside Dance Principals United Tribe.

https://danceprincipalsunited.com/dpu-tribe/

If you've been wanting more support, more training, and people who truly get studio life… this is your sign.

Ever feel like you're doing everything in your studio… but growth still feels frustratingly slow?

In this episode, Amanda and Bec unpack some of the biggest reasons dance studios get stuck - a few of them might hit a little close to home (in the best way possible 😅).

From treating your studio like a passion project instead of a business, to spending way too much time answering emails instead of marketing, this chat is packed with practical mindset shifts and real talk for studio owners who are ready to grow without burning themselves into the ground.

There's also a detour into unicorn birthday parties, giant comp props, and the possibility of needing two trucks for competition season… because obviously.

If you've been feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or like you're working nonstop without seeing the results you want - this episode is for you.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Why passion alone won't grow a sustainable studio
• The hidden guilt many studio owners have around making money
• How burnout happens when you constantly "give" without protecting yourself
• Why spending 95% of your time servicing current families is hurting your growth
• The importance of time blocking and protecting your focus
• What studio owners should actually be tracking every week
• The 3 key numbers every studio owner should know
• Why knowing your numbers gives you confidence and clarity
• How to stop being "busy" and start moving the needle in your business

Special Offer for Podcast Listeners

We've got a little something special for our podcast listeners 💛

Join the Dance Principals United Tribe and get 1 week free to come hang out with us, learn, grow, and feel supported alongside other studio owners who get it.

https://danceprincipalsunited.com/dpu-tribe/