Millions of employees across the globe are suddenly transitioning to work-from-home practices amid the current pandemic. With the closing of all non-essential businesses, this seems to be the best solution across the board. 

Unfortunately for some industries, working from home is more difficult than others. For example, fitness-based businesses including gyms, studios, and workout classes that depend highly on customer attendance are struggling to continue operations.

Dance studios across the nation are shutting their doors to abide by social distancing and shelter-in-place guidelines and to keep students, parents, and instructors safe. So what do you do when your revenue is dependent on in-person dance classes and face-to-face lessons? And, is there a dance studio software that can help?

Here are three things your dance studio should be doing right now in response to the COVID-19 crisis that can also set you up for future success:

1. Offer unique online dance resources.
2. Ensure effective communication practices.
3. Train and equip the best dance teachers.

In an increasingly digital world, the demand for high-quality services has grown as well. That means it’s time to optimize your dance studio with the right tools, resources, and dance studio software that can bring you to the next level. Let’s find out how!

1. Offer unique online dance resources.

One of the best ways to make your dance studio stand out right now is by offering a slew of online resources for your dancers to use during social distancing. Not only will this help you to retain current customers during this uncertain time, but with the right marketing and outreach strategies, you can sign new dance students too!

Remember, dancers are athletes, so it’s important to stay healthy and fit even when stuck in the house all day. Without breaking shelter-in-place guidelines, here are 3 types of online dance content you can provide your students:

• Live group lessons: Live group lessons are a great way to maintain a sense of normalcy as you transition your current dance classes to a virtual setting. It’s a good idea to keep group lessons on a regular schedule for everyone’s convenience. All you need is a video streaming platform to get started!

• Live private lessons: Whether you have previously offered private lessons or not, now could be a great time to implement live-streamed private lessons. These are a great option especially now since studios tend to charge more for individual lessons, and parents are often willing to pay the fees! This is perfect for students of all ages and skill levels who are looking to continue developing their skills.

• Pre-recorded content: Pre-recorded videos allow students to access lessons whenever it’s most convenient for them. Pre-recorded content is less personal but more accessible than live videos— so it’s probably a good idea to include a combination of both. This way, students can participate in live group and/or private lessons on a set schedule, and spend some extra time navigating bonus content on their own.

For a great example of all three, see how this California martial arts school seamlessly transitioned to online classes in response to the coronavirus— and how they continue to succeed!

Keep in mind, it can be extremely useful to stay on top of event sign-ups and participant management, even during the transition to virtual events. For example, knowing how many students will be attending a live lesson can help you adapt your lesson plan.

2. Ensure effective communication practices.

With the switch to virtual dance classes and a lack of face-to-face interaction, maintaining effective communication between students, parents, and teachers is critical. While managing your students in a virtual capacity can provide unique challenges, it’s more important than ever to build and strengthen your customer relationships.

For example, you need to be able to share key information concerning COVID-19 and its impact on your studio, updated schedules for online dance classes, and any other opportunities for involvement that arise.

Here are some resources to help you quickly and easily communicate with dance families and teachers:

• Weekly online schedules: Post and update all of the scheduled classes at your dance studio, and make sure the information is easy to access online. This should include live group lessons and open slots for private lessons so that students and parents can quickly see any upcoming dance classes.

• Automated messaging tools: With “robo” tools like robo-caller and robo-texter, you simply type out a short message, and a software provider will share with a predetermined contact list— either through a text message or phone call. This is great for quick, urgent updates like cancelled classes or payment reminders. 

• Push notifications: Similarly, push notifications can be sent to dance students’ and parents’ phones with a click of a button, sharing information like upcoming class reminders or opportunities for private lessons. You can also easily adjust the settings so that a message goes to an individual, a particular class, or the entire studio.

• Registration and sign-up pages: Let students quickly and easily sign up for virtual dance classes with your customized registration forms. Since you already have most of your students’ data, the form should be simple to complete and send in. This way, you’ll know who to expect at each virtual class.

Our favourite way to combine all of these tools and more is by implementing a custom-designed mobile app for your dance studio. Students, parents, and teachers can simply download an app from the Apple and Android app stores and have everything they need in one centralized location. Check out DanceStudio-Pro’s guide to dance studio apps to learn more about designing and implementing your own custom-built mobile app.

Without strong communication practices, students and parents won’t be aware of all the virtual resources you’re offering during this time. That means they’ll miss out on the opportunity to practice, learn, and stay in shape, while you’ll miss out on the much-needed tuition.

3. Train and equip the best dance teachers.

One of the biggest things your studio will be known for is its dance instructors. They’re the ones working directly with your dance students, giving them tips and pointers and watching them learn and grow. Because of this, it’s crucial that your dance teachers are communicative, supportive, and able to adapt.

More than likely, you already have a solid staff of excellent dance teachers that will continue to work throughout the pandemic, even if they’re now working from home. However, it’s important to recognize that your employee management will have to shift now as well. 

It’s possible that your instructors have never taught dance classes virtually before, which means there might be a bit of a learning curve. It also means it’s essential that you provide your dance teachers with the right resources and tools necessary to excel during the transition.

Here are a few tips for training and equipping top-tier instructors for your dance classes:

• Be willing to invest in new tools and software. Although you might want to start pinching pennies, it’s important to have the right tools during the transition to virtual dance classes. Plus, it’s a good investment that will pay for itself in the end! For a small startup cost, you’ll be able to continue your dance studio operations and provide your customers with what they need.

• Train instructors on how to use any new tools or software. Don’t expect your dance teachers to understand your new digital resources right off the bat. Give the instructors some time to play around with the new tools, and also provide detailed demonstrations and instructions. Hopefully your instructors have a decent affinity for technology! And remember, things will get easier as you go along.

• Understand this is a difficult situation for everyone, including your staff. One of the positive aspects of working from home is the flexibility for employees. However, it’s important to remember that some of your staff have been significantly impacted by the pandemic and may need a little extra help adjusting. Try to be as understanding and sympathetic as possible!

• Let your instructors know you appreciate their hard work. With everything else going on, staff appreciation can easily fall through the cracks. To avoid this, take a proactive approach in expressing your gratitude. Make sure you take the time to thank you instructors for the hard work they’re putting into keeping your studio open despite the circumstances.

The way you treat your employees can influence the way they treat your students. That means, in order to ensure a positive experience for everyone involved, it’s important to be flexible during this strange and unprecedented time. To learn more about effective recruitment, hiring, and training strategies, check out this informative guide.

Now that you know how to differentiate yourselves from local competitors, start reaching out to prospective new students. After all, no one can enrol in your dance studio if they’ve never heard of it. So start getting the word out, and good luck!