How much do dance studio teachers make
Dance Teacher Salary (November 2022) - Zippia
Updated August 22, 2022
$47,909yearly
To create our salary estimates, Zippia starts with data published in publicly available sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC) Show More
$23.03 hourly
Entry level Salary
$32,000
yearly
$32,000
10 %
$47,909
Median
$71,000
90 %
How much does a Dance Teacher make?
Dance teachers make $47,909 per year on average, or $23.03 per hour, in the United States. Dance teachers on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $32,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $71,000.
Location impacts how much a dance teacher can expect to make. Dance teachers make the most in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
Highest Paying State
New York
Highest Paying City
New York, NY
Highest Paying Company
The American Musical and Dramatic Academy
What Am I Worth?
Highest Paying State
New York
Highest Paying City
New York, NY
Highest Paying Company
The American Musical and Dramatic Academy
What Am I Worth?
Highest Paying States For Dance Teachers
The darker areas on the map show where dance teachers earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
- State View
- County View
Average Salary:
Dance Teacher average salary by State
| Rank | State | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $61,894 | $29.76 | 966 |
| 2 | New York | $70,698 | $33.99 | 889 |
| 3 | Indiana | $51,703 | $24.86 | 523 |
| 4 | South Carolina | $51,311 | $24.67 | 373 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $52,205 | $25.10 | 167 |
| 6 | Vermont | $60,965 | $29.31 | 42 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $54,984 | $26.43 | 680 |
| 8 | Maryland | $52,626 | $25.30 | 688 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $48,557 | $23.34 | 282 |
| 10 | Michigan | $49,351 | $23. 73 | 626 |
| 11 | Nevada | $51,873 | $24.94 | 91 |
| 12 | Montana | $47,696 | $22.93 | 108 |
| 13 | Washington | $53,404 | $25.68 | 427 |
| 14 | Idaho | $50,690 | $24.37 | 89 |
| 15 | Maine | $52,798 | $25.38 | 41 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $52,289 | $25.14 | 22 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $49,481 | $23.79 | 328 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $47,534 | $22.85 | 587 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $53,742 | $25.84 | 83 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $49,395 | $23.75 | 169 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $48,290 | $23.22 | 17 |
| 22 | Florida | $46,179 | $22.20 | 1,270 |
| 23 | Kansas | $45,636 | $21. 94 | 233 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $45,036 | $21.65 | 374 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $45,307 | $21.78 | 36 |
| 26 | California | $48,314 | $23.23 | 1,738 |
| 27 | Delaware | $45,311 | $21.78 | 93 |
| 28 | Illinois | $43,486 | $20.91 | 1,346 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $46,095 | $22.16 | 20 |
| 30 | Ohio | $43,701 | $21.01 | 667 |
| 31 | Utah | $46,184 | $22.20 | 124 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $43,482 | $20.90 | 169 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $46,007 | $22.12 | 53 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $42,140 | $20.26 | 209 |
| 35 | Colorado | $43,158 | $20.75 | 599 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $41,893 | $20. 14 | 903 |
| 37 | Missouri | $43,371 | $20.85 | 406 |
| 38 | Arizona | $46,126 | $22.18 | 143 |
| 39 | Georgia | $43,271 | $20.80 | 716 |
| 40 | Oregon | $45,373 | $21.81 | 232 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $44,732 | $21.51 | 112 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $41,205 | $19.81 | 788 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $53,505 | $25.72 | 10 |
| 44 | Virginia | $41,534 | $19.97 | 665 |
| 45 | Alaska | $44,658 | $21.47 | 17 |
| 46 | Texas | $37,290 | $17.93 | 1,656 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $41,470 | $19.94 | 128 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $39,554 | $19.02 | 132 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $39,003 | $18. 75 | 95 |
| 50 | Iowa | $31,238 | $15.02 | 227 |
| 51 | Alabama | $37,492 | $18.02 | 150 |
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Top Dance Teacher Jobs Near You
Highest Paying Cities For Dance Teachers
| Rank | City | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $70,827 | $34.05 |
| 2 | Newark, NJ | $61,963 | $29.79 |
| 3 | Newton, MA | $54,984 | $26.43 |
| 4 | Stamford, CT | $53,700 | $25.82 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $52,807 | $25.39 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $51,904 | $24.95 |
| 7 | Goose Creek, SC | $51,269 | $24.65 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $49,532 | $23.81 |
| 9 | Berkeley, CA | $49,001 | $23.56 |
| 10 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $46,561 | $22.39 |
| 11 | Yuma, AZ | $46,323 | $22.27 |
| 12 | Newport, RI | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $44,747 | $21.51 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $43,622 | $20. 97 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $43,201 | $20.77 |
Dance Teacher Salary Details
Average Dance Teacher Salary Graph, Trends, and SummaryWhat is a Dance Teacher's Salary?
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| Average | $47,909 | $3,992 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
Average Salary By Related Titles
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Aid Instructor | $44,903 | $3,742 | $21. 59 | 50,978 |
| Field Instructor | $52,928 | $4,411 | $25.45 | 69,156 |
| Martial Arts Instructor | $34,287 | $2,857 | $16.48 | 24,925 |
| Driving Instructor | $51,752 | $4,313 | $24.88 | 28,948 |
| Guitar Instructor | $46,506 | $3,875 | $22.36 | 24,514 |
| Piano Instructor | $53,474 | $4,456 | $25.71 | 24,512 |
Here are the five companies hiring the most now:
- Boston Public Schools Jobs (5)
- Distinctive Schools Jobs (5)
- Victoria's Secret Jobs (4)
- MADE Jobs (4)
- California Center for the Arts, Escondido Jobs (4)
Which Companies Pay Dance Teachers The Most?
According to our most recent salary estimates, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and Success Academy Charter Schools are the highest paying companies for dance teachers.
How Much Do Dance Teachers Make In Different Industries?
Here are some examples of how much a dance teacher salaries can based on different industries:
The hospitality industry pays dance teachers an average salary of $51,036
The education industry pay $50,744
The lowest paying industry for dance teachers is the health care industry. Dance teachers in this industry earn an average salary of $37,314
Highest Paying Industries For Dance Teachers
| Rank | Industry | Average Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospitality | $51,036 | $24.54 |
| 2 | Education | $50,744 | $24.40 |
| 3 | Media | $48,688 | $23.41 |
| 4 | Health Care | $37,314 | $17.94 |
High Paying Dance Teacher Jobs
Dance Teacher Salary Trends
Average Dance Teacher Salary Over Time
Compare salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Recently Added Dance Teacher Salaries
Dance Teacher Salaries FAQs
What State Pays Dance Teachers The Most?
New York pays Dance Teachers the most in the United States, with an average salary of $70,698 per year, or $33.99 per hour.
How Do I Know If I'm Being Paid Fairly As A Dance Teacher?
You know if you are being paid fairly as a Dance Teacher if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. For example, if you live in New Jersey you should be paid close to $61,894 per year.
What Type Of Dance Teacher Gets Paid The Most?
Voice Teacher gets paid the most. Voice Teacher made a median salary of $56,670. The best-paid 10 percent make $69,000, while the lowest-paid 10 percent make $45,000.
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
Search For Dance Teacher Jobs
Updated August 22, 2022
Job Description, Info, and Job Openings 2022
If you have a passion for dance, a career as a dance teacher could be a fulfilling way for you to bring your love for the art of dancing to others.
You can typically find dance teachers in dance studios teaching many different styles of dance, from ballroom to hip hop to salsa and more.
If they aren’t teaching in a studio, they may work with students in public or private schools.
There are a couple of ways to reach your goal of working as a dance teacher.
Let’s take a closer look at everything you need to know about this exciting career.
Table Of Contents
- Dance Teacher: The Basics
- Work Opportunities in the Dance Teacher Industry
- What It’s Like to be a Dance Teacher
- Dance Teacher Salary & Income
- Overview of the Dance Teacher Industry
- Requirements, Skills, and Education Required for Dance Teachers
- Dance Teacher Education & Schooling
- Become a Dance Teacher
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Wrapping Up
Before you start seriously considering becoming a dance teacher, you should know more about what it entails.
A dance teacher is someone skilled in movement arts, and often educated in biology, kinesiology, and theater, who teaches the art of dance to others.
They may teach in their studio, or they may work for someone else, such as an educational facility.
What is a Dance Teacher Called?A dance teacher might also be called a dance instructor, or they may be called a teacher of the specific type of dance they specialize in.
Ballet teacher, jazz dance teacher, tap teacher, and so on.
If someone is a dance teacher that is instructing people on how to do a dance number for a stage performance, that is often called a choreographer.
What Does a Dance Teacher Do?A dance instructor gets to constantly work on their dancing skills while teaching others the same type of dance.
They may be a general dance teacher and teach multiple styles of dance, or they may specialize in one or two types of dancing.
The job description of a dance teacher will vary depending on where they are employed, and what level of dance they are teaching.
Dance teachers will need to use motivation and creativity to teach students basic through advanced dance techniques.
Top Dance Teacher Jobs and Careers- High school dance teacher
- Ballet instructor
- Hip hop dance teacher
A dance teacher can work in schools of all types, from elementary through college level.
They can find work at independent dance studios, and can even find work in the entertainment industry as scene choreographers.
They may also be able to create independent dance troupes and tour under their performance power.
What It’s Like to be a Dance TeacherTo get you more acquainted with what it’s like to be a dance teacher, let’s take a look at what the job feels like.
It can be very hard to be a dance teacher.
Not only do you need to be proficient in your dance skill, but you also need to be a skilled teacher that can easily pass those skills on to others via teaching.
The teaching portion can be difficult for many people since teaching is a relatively difficult skill.
Is a Dance Teacher’s Job Stressful?Being a dance teacher is not considered a highly stressful job.
Most of the challenges involve finding innovative ways to teach students and making sure that students are ready for any performances that are scheduled.
Common Dance Teacher Work DayThe profession of a dance teacher is so different for each teacher, that it is difficult to detail a common day.
If the dance teacher teaches in a high school, for example, they may only have a few periods in the morning and afternoon where they have classes, but they have time for planning their coursework in the middle and end of the day.
Those that work in the entertainment industry, on the other hand, may find that they have intense schedules that require long days and few days off.
Dance Teacher Tasks & DutiesThe dance teacher is responsible for:
- Ensuring a safe place for dance students to practice
- Help teach safe ways to stretch, practice, and perform
- Helping find ways to teach difficult movement principles with ease
The work day for a dance teacher working at a high school or college will be very different from the dance teacher working at their private dance academy.
The schedule will depend highly on where the dance teacher is employed.
Dance Teacher Dress CodeIn most cases, the dance class dress code is going to be something movement-friendly, that can stretch and flex with the dancer.
The specific dress code will be discussed by the dance teacher and their students.
In most cases, the career of a dance teacher does offer a reasonable balance.
Since in most cases there is little in terms of overtime or unexpected work, the schedule is relatively predictable and the dance teacher can enjoy a personal life outside of work.
Dance Teacher Salary & IncomeMoney is what most people are wondering about, so let’s get down to it.
What do dance teachers make?
Do Dance Teachers Make Good Money?The good news is, that being a dance teacher does mean you’ll make more money than the national median pay.
How Much Do Dance Teachers Make?The US BLS reports that a dance teacher or choreographer can expect to make between $20 and $23 per hour on average.
The highest-paid 10% of dance teachers can expect to make more than $47 per hour.
The lowest paid 10% make less than $10 per hour.
So even if the money is good, is it still worth it to become a dance teacher?
Let’s take a look at if it’s an overall good career choice.
Dance Teacher Field: Career ProgressionBeing a dance teacher can be a versatile career choice, and it can serve to begin or close a career.
Some people enter the dance teacher field to get experience in dance and choreography so they can advance to other dance positions.
Others will have a career in choreography and then wind down by teaching dance class.
The career path can include becoming a teacher or instructor in many other fields or specialties.
Is a Dance Teacher a Good Career?It is the consensus that becoming a dance teacher is a good career choice.
Those in the field find it fulfilling and engaging, with plenty of exposure to other fields and specialties.
Dance Teacher Job OutlookThe outlook for dance teachers is looking amazing for the next several years.
The dance field is projected to have at least a 30% growth between 2020 and 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Demand for Dance TeachersJust as the dance sector is projected to grow heavily, there is also projected to be an immense demand for dance personnel.
Following the dance growth, there are projected to be at least 3,000 new job openings each year in the space.
Dance Teacher Facts- Dancing is one of the oldest art forms and oldest sports in the world
- The first evidence of dance was found in India
- Dancers have increased muscle strength and endurance
- The average professional dancer will retire in their mid-30s
- Dance has been shown to reduce stress and tension
A pole dance instructor teaches various techniques for pole dancing.
They utilize a large amount of leg strength and often incorporate hands-free movements into their routines.
You will teach dance as a freelance teacher in many different environments.
You may be working in a studio one day, then a private retreat the next week.
You are often free to make your schedule.
Dance Movement PsychotherapistYou will use the nuance of dance therapy to apply a psychotherapeutic methodology to your patients to acheive desired progress.
Dance therapy can be used in many different situations, to treat countless disorders.
Requirements, Skills, and Education Required for Dance TeachersWho Should Consider a Dance Teacher Career Path?Someone with a serious love of dance, and the ability to get a degree in education with a dance certification.
Who Should NOT Consider a Dance Teacher Career Path?People not suited to becoming a dance teacher are those who dislike teaching, and those who dislike the physical activity.
It can be challenging to become a dance teacher.
You will often need a bachelor’s degree, as well as a certificate to teach dance.
What Do I Need to Become a Dance Teacher?You will need a degree in education, and in most locations, you will need a specific certification in dance.
Requirements for Becoming a Dance TeacherMost public schools will require a new dance teacher to have a bachelor’s degree in dance or education, with a teaching certificate for dance.
What Skills Does a Dance Teacher Need?The skills a dance teacher needs include:
- Great communication
- Excellent organization skills
- Leadership
- Motivation
- Business skills for the self-employed
- Administrative skills
Most locations will require anyone teaching to have a teaching certificate from the state.
In some situations, enough professional experience can substitute for education.
Can You Become a Dance Teacher Without a Degree?If you teach at a school or similar facility you will need a degree and teaching certificate.
If you are opening your studio, you don’t necessarily need a degree if you have enough experience and ability.
What Experience Does a Dance Teacher Need?The most precious commodity for a dance teacher is professional experience.
This can be dancing or teaching dance in nearly any capacity.
Dance Teacher Education & SchoolingDance Teacher Education & SchoolingThe amount of education and schooling you need to become a dance teacher depends heavily on what setting you’ll be teaching in.
If you are going to be teaching in a private or public school, most schools require a teaching certification as well as a bachelor’s degree in dance.
If you plan on teaching a class at a local studio or starting your own business you need a high school diploma or GED, as well as adequate background and skill in dancing.
What is Taught in a Dance Teacher Course?When you go through a dance instructor certificate program, you learn the general principles of both expressive movement and the specific forms of dancing needed for various forms of dance.
These courses also cover choreography and lesson plan development.
How Long Does a Dance Teacher Course Take?The average dance teacher certification course will take three to five years, and can be used to help validate career-related competency.
Become a Dance TeacherSteps to Become a Dance TeacherIf you have a love for dancing, you can easily turn one of your passions into a career by becoming a dance teacher.
But what does it take to break into this interesting career path?
Honestly, it may be easier than you’d expect to get your foot in the door.
While many careers focus more on education, the most important thing you can have if you want to become a dance teacher is experience with dancing.
Before you can start teaching, you must have the training needed to excel at your preferred type of dance.
In most cases, you won’t need more than dance training and a GED or high school diploma.
If you plan on teaching kids in either public or private schools, you will also need the teaching certificates required by the schools you’re looking to apply to.
Once you have the background and education, you can start looking for a position in an already established dance studio, or you can start by teaching a class of your own.
Current Career Job OpeningsIf you’re interested in becoming a dance teacher, take a look at some of these openings near you.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the difference between a dance teacher and a choreographer?While dance teachers and choreographers both teach their students’ different dance moves, there are a couple of distinct differences between the two types of instructors.
A dance teacher’s main focus is to teach their students the fundamentals of dance, from form and techniques to specific moves and routines.
A choreographer focuses on creating a dance routine and teaching it to their dancers.
Do all dancers have to wear leotards while dancing?Leotards are a common garment for dancers, especially those that dance ballet.
However, leotards are not a required clothing item for most dancers.
They are a great choice for dancing as they allow plenty of freedom of movement, as well as give the dancers a refined look.
Some dance studios may require them, but they are not a necessity for every dancer.
Wrapping UpIf you have a background in dance and are interested in a career as a dance teacher, there are a lot of wonderful opportunities available to you.
You may want to teach adults in a studio or work with kids in a school.
Alternatively, many people that have a passion for dance prefer to come up with routines and share them with others, in which case a career as a choreographer would be a great option.
No matter where you want your career to take you, the dance teacher career path has lots of fulfilling choices for those with an interest in teaching others how to dance.
where to study, salary, pros and cons
Author: Professional Guide
Updated by
Another name for dance teacher is a dance school teacher or dance studio teacher. It is clear that this is the name of specialists working in a specialized company. But a teacher or dance teacher can be called not only a dance studio teacher, but also a specialist of an educational institution where dances are studied along with other subjects. By the way, the ProfGid career guidance center has recently developed an accurate career guidance test that will tell you which professions suit you, give an opinion about your personality type and intelligence. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in physical education and singing, music (see.
choosing a profession based on interest in school subjects). 9Ol000 :
Peculiarities of the profession
Some teachers prefer to work with children, others prefer to work with adults, others can work with both. In any case, the task of a dance teacher is to teach their students to move, expressing themselves in dance. However, the higher the level of teaching, the wider the scope of the teacher's activity. It is also commonly believed that the higher the titles he won, the higher his value as a teacher. Also, he often acts as a choreographer: he puts dance numbers for his students when he prepares them to perform on stage.
The dance instructor may have a preference for a particular dance direction: Latin American, jazz, Irish, etc. For example, on his resume, he might write "Latin teacher" or "Jazz-modern dance teacher."
But that doesn't mean he can't do anything else. On the contrary, the profession of a dance teacher means constant learning and learning.
As a spectator, he regularly goes to musicals, dance shows, competitions to watch the performances of his colleagues; attends dance workshops to learn something new for his teaching. Different dance and musical styles, teaching methods, eminent dancers and bright debutants - everything is interesting for a dance teacher.
The teacher-dancer tries himself in different genres, sometimes changes his preferences, expands his role. In a word, it is in creative search. Beauty, joy of movement and creativity are the formula that can describe this profession.
Of course, no person can perform on stage until old age. But while studying with students, the teacher maintains excellent physical shape for many years.
This is enough to be able not only to explain, but also to show the dance to his students. Even if performances and competitions are in the past, the dancer remains a dancer who knows and feels the dance from the inside.
Workplace
Dance teacher salary for November 2022
Salary information provided by hh.
ru portal.
Russia 18000-70000₽
Moscow 35000-102000₽
A dance teacher can work in a dance school, studio, dance club, fitness center, comprehensive school, university, etc. Many teachers work simultaneously in different places, having time to perform and participate in dance championships. Also, a dance teacher can open his own dance school.
Read also:
Important Qualities
The profession of a dance teacher involves a love of dance, artistry, an ear for music, good physical health, goodwill, patience, leadership qualities, self-confidence and optimism. He should be a sociable person, able to pick up the key to a variety of students.
Knowledge and skills
A dance teacher must be able to dance - this is understandable. But he should also know well the dance directions in which he works, including their history. Be proficient in teaching methods, be able to plan your classes. In order for dancing not to harm the health of students, the teacher needs knowledge in the field of anatomy and physiology.
He must be able to competently manage physical activity.
Where to study to become a dance teacher
Most often, dance teachers become dancers who have been trained in dance since childhood. But there are other examples when already adults, having taken a great interest in dancing, reach notable heights and become teachers. Already having dance training, you can learn new directions of dance. As experts say, you can master some kind of dance style in less than six months, having worked out at a dance school.
See also:
Examples of companies with vacancies for dance teachers
, work with teachers, promotion, complexity and errors
Irina Boychukova
Dancing Studio
00 2 years old. in a small metallurgical town, where there was nothing of the kind at that time.
During its existence, the studio went through several relocations, twice seriously went into the red, but in the end it remained a successful business, and then I sold it.
I’ll tell you how everything was, what worked for me and what didn’t work out.
Why I decided to open a dance studio
The story began in a standard way: from childhood I dreamed of dancing and for a long time persuaded my parents to take me to a choreographic studio.
There were no holidays, vacations or birthdays in the studio. It was possible to miss a training session only in two cases, as the coaches joked: he fell ill or died. The rest of the reasons were not considered valid, and it was possible to fly out forever.
Later, I appreciated the strict discipline and exactingness of the teachers. Thanks to them, I can easily control myself, concentrate on any, even unpleasant, business, and bring everything to the end.
This helped a little in business: I could work 10-12 hours a day without days off and holidays.
After graduating from school, I thought that dancing is a hopeless field, so I need to get a different education and build a career.
I studied to be an economist and during my studies I managed to work in a trading company, a women's correctional colony and a large network company.
But I was bored doing monotonous activities and being subordinate to someone, I wanted to embody my ideas. In 2009In the year I decided to take a part-time job as a dance coach, and since then a completely different life has begun. I started working in the then popular areas: strip plastic, stretching, go-go, I also taught regular dances to children and was a group program coach in fitness rooms.
I enjoyed teaching people and putting numbers, inspiring others to accomplish things, raising students, and working with them to achieve results. It's like a coach's job: he gives his whole soul and nurtures champions.
Almost as soon as I started working as a trainer, I wanted to open my own studio. I didn't like the set boundaries and the backward approach to business. In the dance schools where I worked, there were outdated areas that were out of fashion for a long time, such as aerobics.
Classes were held without requirements for students and without results: we did not put numbers and did not participate in contests or competitions. There were no opportunities for growth for teachers or students.
/twerk/
How to start twerking, how much does it cost and why shake your booty at all
The business itself was not service oriented. Schools did not develop, did not innovate - they simply worked for decades according to the old scheme. Several times I came with fresh ideas, for example, to shoot a video clip, but all this was perceived by the management with hostility.
In 2012, I graduated from the institute and received a diploma in economics. I had a choice: to leave for another city, because there were no prospects in mine, or to go work in the dance field abroad, or stay here, but do my own project.
I dreamed of creating a project from scratch on my own: thinking about how to plan and conduct classes, presenting the design of the studio, tracking down the mistakes of others.
All these thoughts were constantly spinning in my head, day after day I lived only with this idea, remembering what not to do or what could be improved.
After graduating from the institute, I myself learned about a new direction - half-dance, this is dancing with tricks on a pole. It seemed to me interesting and promising, there was nothing like it in our city. I decided that the idea would shoot and attract people due to its novelty. Three years after I started working as a trainer, I launched my own studio.
What is half-dance
Half-dance is close to strip plastic, but unlike it, the purpose of the dance is not to seduce, but to show acrobatic skills. The movements in strip dance are soft and smooth. And half-dance is the same gymnastics, only not on a beam or rings, but on a pylon. On it, dancers perform circus and power elements.
In my city, metallurgists were not even heard of such a direction, but in Russia and around the world in the 2010s, half-dance just became a trend.
At that time, I already had a large client base from dance schools and fitness centers where I had worked before, many students asked when I would open my own gym.
| Pole dance combines elements of choreography, gymnastics, acrobatics | There is also a separate sports direction in the world - pylon sport, which belongs to air power athletics |
Before I opened my studio, I took pole dance training in Yekaterinburg twice - it was the school closest to me where this direction was taught. And there lived a friend with whom I could stay.
The first time I went was in January 2012, and then back in May, before the opening of my gym. I studied for a week every day for many hours, attended master classes. For the first time, the director of the studio gave me a discount on acquaintance, and the training itself cost only about 10,000 R.
The second time I spent about 17,000 R: the cost of the training itself increased, and there were more additional expenses for food and travel. Both times I received certificates.
27,000 R
I spent on additional training in pole dance
There were no competitors in my city at that time. We had only seven dance studios: three taught street dances like hip-hop, breakdancing and locking, the rest were aimed at children, taught modern and classical choreography and ballroom dancing. In fitness clubs, they mainly taught go-go and oriental dances. I decided to take a risk and become the pioneer of a new direction in the city.
First Studio: 3m Ceilings and a Stolen Idea
In May 2012, I started looking for a space to launch the project just in time for the start of the school year. I discussed all the details like equipment, technical issues and the learning process with the directors of the studio in Yekaterinburg when I studied half-dance there.
The room had its own requirements:
- Ceiling height - at least 3 meters, so that poles - pylons can be installed.
- The ceiling slab must not be hollow, but must be at least 30 centimeters thick. The pylons must withstand a weight of up to 150 kg. If the ceiling is thin, the mount simply won't hold up.
- Rent — up to 15,000 R per month. In my experience, it would be difficult to cover the amount higher with the number of subscriptions, and if something happens, I could find that kind of money to cover a failed month.
/dogovor-arendy/
What should a business consider when signing a lease
Not all landlords agreed to damage the ceiling, the thickness of the ceiling was not always suitable for my needs.
The deal failed with the first hall. Due to the peculiarities of the ceiling, an additional structure had to be made there. The landlords agreed to do it themselves, and I would have paid for the work, but at first they doubled the price, then increased it even more, and then refused to cooperate at all.
A few months later, I found out that they wanted to steal my idea and open a similar studio.
Fortunately, their attempt failed: they could not find the appropriate teachers, because only I had such a certificate and knowledge in the city. But the problem with the hall remained: I was already promoting a group on Vkontakte and recording for the academic year. The students were actively recruiting, but I had nowhere to receive them.
I couldn't just make excuses by telling a story about unscrupulous landlords and kept looking everywhere I could: on websites, in local newspapers, driving around the city, looking for signs about rent.
As a result, the opening had to be delayed for two months: due to the specifics and restrictions on the rental price, the premises had to be looked for for almost six months. A former colleague helped: he learned from mutual friends that I was opening a studio, and his friend was just renting out a small hall.
We have agreed that part of the repair costs will go towards rent. I did a facelift in a few days and bought equipment.
I did the repairs on my own — for example, I painted the walls myself. If it was necessary to attach pylons and arrange heavy furniture, then she called for help from familiar men. They spread linoleum on the floor and nailed it in places.
Pylons are installed quite quickly if there are no problems with the ceiling and floors: you need to drill a hole, attach the pylon, level it, and that's it. Detailed installation instructions are always attached to the pylons. We set up the first pylon in 2-3 hours, the rest were faster.
An important part of the cost for a dance studio is mirrors. They were made in a local company in my city to order. I ordered one-piece large mirrors to the floor. Due to the large size, there were difficulties with transportation: a special vehicle with equipment for transportation was needed - plastic windows are usually carried in such vehicles.
They could not be moved or installed by one person, and they could hardly fit into the aisle. Plus, there were difficulties with fixing: if the wall was not perfectly even, then any slightest deviation could be seen in the mirror - at the joints, in reflections.
But the mirrors themselves were excellent, and I then transported them to new studios, breaking the part along the way and ordering new ones. As a result, my friends came up with the idea of custom-made huge plastic frames, like for plastic windows, where we inserted mirrors. So they were easier to transport and install.
For a pylon, a hole is drilled in the ceiling slab and fixed with screws. If the ceiling is not strong enough, the pole may come off during the trick and cause serious injury. Source: Pole4you This is what the studio looked like after the repair - huge mirrors were made to order at the local production At the same time I registered an LLC, I was the sole founder. I chose LLC because I planned to open branches in other cities - it seemed to me that it would be easier to do this than with an individual entrepreneur.
By the way, it would be better if I opened an IP. The LLC was not useful to me later, I had to close it, and this is more difficult than an individual entrepreneur. In the second hall, I had to negotiate with the landlord so that he would give me a legal address. He reluctantly agreed, and I had to pay for it. The LLC also needs to submit a large number of reports, but I did not have the necessary accounting knowledge. Until I hired an outsourced accountant, there were delays in submitting reports and fines.
/ooo-na-divane/
How to register an LLC from home
I opened the studio at the beginning of November. I was ashamed in front of the students, but they waited and almost all of them came.
To open a studio, I took out a loan, so after the opening, most of the proceeds went to payments to the bank - 20,000 R per month. For the entire time the business has been running, I have taken several loans, on average, 30,000-50,000 R for a period of 3 to 5 years.
The total amount of all loans was 200,000 R.
Expenses for opening a studio in 2012 — 200,000 R
| Equipment: mirrors, pylons, fixtures | 95 000 R |
| Cosmetic repairs: wall painting, flooring | 53 000 R |
| Training and advanced training before the opening of the studio | 27 000 R |
| Bathroom renovation | 14 000 R |
| Music center, locker room furniture, hangers at the entrance and other small items | 11 000 R |
Equipment: mirrors, pylons, mounts
95 000 R
Cosmetic repair: wall painting, floor covering
53 000 R
Training and advanced training before opening the studio
9000 000 RSanuzla repair
14,000 R
Music center, locker room furniture, hangers at the entrance and other trifles
11,000 R
How much did I earn
The first studio was small — there were only three pylons, and I could not teach more than an hour six or seven people.
This allowed the studio to earn an income of about 65,000 R per month.
There were two main sources of income: group and personal lessons.
Group lessons were by subscription only. The most popular, for eight classes a month in the evening, cost 1800 R. Evening is considered the most profitable time, because more people come. There was a small discount for the daytime.
Personal lessons were by subscription and one-time. A subscription for eight classes cost 3000 R, a one-time visit - 500 R. At first, the income from personal classes was small: with group classes, I did not have time to take more students. When more teachers appeared, I could only go to personal classes, and the revenue from them reached 30,000 R per month.
A regular waste was the purchase of alcohol: it is rubbed on the surface of the pole to remove dirt and sweat and improve adhesion to the skin. Alcohol had to be bought in canisters from doctors I knew - we needed a concentration of at least 70%, and this is not for sale in the public domain.
It took 2000 R per month.
The largest turnover was from the spring of 2013 to the spring of 2014: 140,000-170,000 rubles. And the largest net profit was about 60,000 rubles.
Revenue for December 2012
| Subscription for 8 lessons | 27 000 R |
| Subscription for 12 lessons | 12 500 R |
| Subscription for 16 lessons | 12 000 R |
| Day group | 8000 P |
| Personal lessons | 5000 R |
| Total | 64 500 Р |
Subscription for 8 lessons
27 000 R
Subscription for 12 classes
12 500 R
Subscription for 16 lessons
12 000 R
Day group
8000 8000 °
Personal classes
9000 5000 5000 °64 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 P
Studio expansion: moved four times in five years
The studio only existed in the first building for six months: the landlord changed plans and we had to move out.
I already wanted to move out myself, because the room was small and I could not teach more than seven people in an hour. To support myself, support the studio and repay the loan, I needed to sell 20-30 subscriptions a month. If I bought less, I no longer had enough money for all expenses. It was necessary to expand and increase income, and for this, another room was needed. In just five years, we moved four times - each time to a new area of the city.
In March 2013, I took away the mats and the music center and moved to another room - almost three times bigger than the old one. I had to take out a loan again, because the old pylons did not fit in height. For 150,000 R I bought five new pylons and changed the flooring. The move cost 300,000 R, including rent for two months.
300,000 R
I spent on moving
There were no problems with the purchase of poles: even then in Russia there were several specialized companies that produced professional poles for dance studios.
The best and most famous is located in St. Petersburg - Pole4You. You place an order on the website, choose a convenient delivery method - I had "Business Lines" - and they send it. Two weeks later I received the pylons.
| Lesson in the second hall after renovation. The floor had to be re-laid - it should be soft high-quality linoleum so that the students do not hit their knees and do not get hurt when they fall | This is the third hall we have moved to. There I seriously invested in repairs, laid carpet on the floor, repaired the locker room and shower for students and teachers |
In the third hall, they made a bright panel on the wall. I was the first in the city to start teaching half-dance, so this particular dance is depicted on the panel The rent of the premises was three times higher than the previous one, the communal apartment was included in the price. In addition, you had to pay for security. All together it cost me 50,000 rubles.
There were no cheap premises, so the choice was either to continue or give up the dream. I decided to take a risk, and the risk was justified: the business grew rapidly. After the move, we already taught 10-12 students per hour and earned an average of 150,000 R per month.
How I built my work with teachers
I recruited teachers from former students: I chose those who had the potential for one direction or another, loved classes and knew how to communicate with the team. There were three main teachers, I took one or two more for additional directions like go-go.
She tried to make the work of teachers a pleasure: she gave salaries higher than the market, bonuses, paid for their education and advanced training, gave part-time jobs.
The average salary in the city for teachers at that time was 2500-4000 R per month for 2-3 lessons per week. I paid 7000-8500 R, if I gave out a bonus, then it came out about 10,000-11,000 R. I gave out bonuses to those who attracted new students to their classes and, most importantly, kept new students. Or those who came up with something interesting like New Year's contests.
Teachers went to Yekaterinburg to improve their qualifications. It cost me 500-3000 R per person. I myself taught until the fall of 2013, and then I decided to leave only to manage the studio, since classes took time and effort.
Promotion: mostly word of mouth worked
The very first I had a group in Vkontakte — I started recruiting the first students even before the opening of the studio from former students. When I started to develop the group, I asked my friends to join it and make reposts, every day I posted posts, photos and videos to attract people. About a year later, the group had 1000 subscribers, and since 2013 it began to develop actively.
The popularity of the project was also influenced by the uniqueness of the project: half-dance in the city was a new exotic direction, people from the media sphere became interested in this.
/marketing-ads/
Basics of marketing for business: advertising
My main clients were girls 25-35 years old with an average income and a little higher.
Here's what I used to promote.
Regularly updated accounts on Vkontakte and Instagram. I photographed a large, beautiful, spacious hall with high pylons, people reacted and signed up for classes. We wrote about the studio every day, posted posts, asked all our acquaintances and friends to tell about us.
Involved in the promotion of the community of teachers. In the new premises, I already taught with three coaches, whom I found among former students. They posted recruitment announcements for groups on their social networks, made photo sets and videos for Instagram.
Friends of acquaintances came - it turned out such a word of mouth.
Made a website for the studio. It cost about 13,000 R. I made a beautiful clip on the main page, added photos, information about teachers and a class schedule. After the site appeared, calls began to arrive twice as many.
13,000 R
I spent on the site
I invited photographers and cameramen to work on a barter basis. The direction was new in the city, so they were interested in working with us free of charge. Sometimes they did provocative reports like "Half-dance: striptease or art?", but in any case, publications brought us fame. There were about 15 permanent photographers.
Photos from the performances of studio teachers at concerts and events. These are dances on canvases. Photo: Dmitry Kaiser| An example of a photo shoot that we came up with with a photographer. Photo: Dmitry Kaiser | For them, it was new and unique content that no one else had done in the city. Photo: Dmitry Kaiser |
Placed ads about the studio. I have published on local sites, 2GIS, Flampe and Avito. She advertised several times through Yandex Direct. Local sites and 2GIS did not give any results, but promotion through Yandex Direct and Google Ads worked.
I was engaged in promotion, at the very beginning I asked a friend to figure it out and help set up advertising. Usually, new campaigns were launched before the season - at the end of summer to attract students for the new school year, and at the end of winter to attract people for the spring. The advertisement lasted 1-2 weeks, the average budget per campaign was 7000-15000 rubles. We did not have to negotiate with them: they themselves found out that a new dance style was being taught in the city, and they wanted to talk about it.
Development of the studio: new directions in the city
Everything was spinning at breakneck speed. Soon I brought new dance styles to the city: aerial gymnastics on canvases and acrobatics on the ring. This trend had already begun in Yekaterinburg, and I knew that it would soon come to our city. It was necessary to have time to be the first.
At first, all this was not in demand, because it was hard and difficult for the students. It is very painful to practice on the ring and canvases: after the lesson there are huge bruises from hoops and burns from the fabric.
Imagine: you are hanging in the air and you are being held by a rag digging into your body.
But then the direction unfolded: beautiful photosets and clips with dances on canvases appeared in all social networks, competitions began to be held in cities, dance studios made enticing advertisements.
I was the first to develop this direction in the city, so the students immediately came to me. Once I organized a competition to draw attention to dancing on canvases: for the best photo on canvases, I gave a subscription to eight classes in the studio.
From the outside, these dances seem dangerous, but there have never been any accidents in my classes. Classes are necessarily held with special mats that soften the blows if someone suddenly falls. Teachers are trained and know how to avoid injuries. Before the start of classes, my clients got acquainted with the instructions for safety rules and signed it. Nevertheless, adults understood their responsibility, no one took risks once again.
For classes on canvases and rings, you need to buy additional anchors - these are such fixtures in the ceiling - and soft mats on the floor for safety In general, there are few incidents in this area.
I heard only about one case: in Yekaterinburg, a girl flew off a pylon and broke her arm. But it was a pylon of a different design - a portable one that stands on the podium. It is less stable than a pylon bolted to the floor and ceiling in a studio.
I first looked for teachers at the local circus school, we have a pretty strong one. But we worked with them for a couple of months and did not agree, so I sent several students to study in Yekaterinburg at my own expense - so that they could conduct classes.
44,000 R
I spent on the introduction of a new direction
The introduction of new directions cost 44,000 R: 38,000 R was spent on canvases, anchors and rings, another 6,000 R were spent on training teachers.
Children's dance school and missed grant
My students and parents of former students regularly asked to open dance classes for children: variety dances, stretching, modern choreography.
This would help expand the business and reach a different part of the audience.
I knew for sure that the project would be successful: I had already worked as a choreographer with children aged 6-7, I had a reputation and potential clients.
There was no free money to create a children's school, so I decided to look for a grant and found a suitable one - the competition of the Entrepreneurship Fund. To participate in it, one had to take courses and defend a business plan.
I did not learn anything new during the courses, since I already had an economic education. The next step was to write a business plan and submit an application. I asked for money not just for a children's school, but for business development.
I collected a package of documents: statutory documents, certificates of no debts to government agencies, a certificate of completion of courses, several questionnaires from the foundation itself, a business plan and checks confirming the costs of the project - 15% of the requested amount.
300,000 R
I got to the children's dance school
As a result, I won the competition and received 300,000 R.
Everything went well, but again there were difficulties with the premises. I needed a hall with an area of 50 m², and these cost 50,000-100,000 R, and not in the center, but on the outskirts of the city. I couldn’t take on such obligations and pay more than 100,000 R for the premises of an adult and children’s studio: I had loans, and if something went wrong, no one would help me.
I tried to search for premises through state auctions and the city administration, I turned to the mayor for help. She offered to do free classes for children from orphanages or large families. But no one came towards me. We have a small city, culture and education are not particularly developed here.
There are factory workers in my city who prefer to drink and watch TV after work.
It was not accepted to get involved in something or have a hobby, so it is difficult to develop in a creative environment.
As a result, the school could not be opened.
I spent a grant on an existing studio, and the foundation accepted it, because I originally asked for money to expand and develop the business. So the grant was well spent.
Despite the history with the grant, 2014 was a successful year: for the first time we held the first major dance event in the city — a pole dance competition. At the same time, it became possible to open branches in other cities: I found two halls and a representative, and I could launch three schools at once. But she was afraid of responsibility and put it off for the future.
/pozhaluite-grant/
How I got a grant for 100,000 R
I was afraid to carry such a large financial burden on my own, especially the simultaneous payments for four rents. I also wouldn’t have had enough time to manage all the studios myself, and there was no one to delegate.
If I created a network of dance studios, it would raise the status of the project, bring in additional income and allow the sale of the franchise to start.
In the future, I did not have such opportunities.
Went into the red and started again from scratch
In the winter of 2014, things went badly. At first I thought that it was just the off-season, winter and summer in this area are disastrous months. I had a small airbag with which I closed the holes. But in the spring it ended, but the situation did not get better, and the business went into the red.
Just then, the financial crisis happened, and it hit my city significantly: salaries dropped a lot, people began to save money - and first of all on hobbies. The city has a poor population, business is not doing very well, and financial shocks have a strong impact.
It seems to me that my business went into the red mainly due to two reasons:
- Some of the teachers turned out to be unscrupulous - they conducted additional classes in the studio past the cash desk. Or they were trained at my expense, and then left and poached students.
I noticed this just in the fall of 2013 and in the winter of 2014, because of this I was losing 20,000-35,000 rubles a month. - Clients asked to extend their subscriptions in advance, but never brought money. In the winter of 2014, there were a lot of such cases - about 9— 12 people per month.
As a result, the studio's income fell from 110,000 to 60,000 rubles. I was forced to fire unscrupulous teachers and could no longer pay rent.
I had to move from a good place to nowhere, and the studio stopped working for almost a year - until February 2015.
Despite the closure, I believed in my project and had no idea what else to do. At that moment, the studio seemed to be the work of my whole life. In January 2015, I saw an advertisement for the delivery of a building with four-meter ceilings and two large halls.
By that time, competitors had already begun to appear in the city, who also taught half-dance. Half of my students and all the staff went to them - this time no one expressed loyalty and did not wait for me to solve problems.
But the description of the new premises hooked me, and I decided to open again. She recruited teachers from her former students, and also looked for clients through social networks.
The repair of the hall took several months, so the studio opened only at the end of March. With difficulty, but I brought the business to its previous level, launched joint courses with teachers from other cities. I spent 285,000 R on the opening - these are the costs of repairs and rent for three months. I borrowed part of the amount from a friend, I earned part myself - at night I wrote diplomas in economics for students.
285,000 Р
I spent on opening a new studio
How I decided to sell the studio two months. I managed to pay off debts for repairs and reach a stable profit.
In 2016, a lot has changed in my life. I met my future husband, we began to live together, and then we decided to move to another city. The business was irrelevant for me, and I put the studio up for sale.
It was planned that it would be bought by one of the old students who have been in the studio since its foundation. And so it happened. We negotiated with one of the students for almost a month. By that time, I had already closed my LLC and was about to move. Therefore, I sold the studio to her as an individual with the transfer of all rights, property and equipment for a symbolic 100,000 R - this is how much the equipment of the hall cost, taking into account wear and tear.
After the sale, I introduced the new owner of the studio to the staff and students, completed all personal affairs and never returned to this topic.
Expenses for December 2016
| Salary | 25 000 R |
| Rent of premises | 14 000 R |
| Drinking water and disposable cups | 2000 R |
| Alcohol | 2000 R |
| Utility payments | 1500 R |
| Total | 42 500 Р |
Salary
25 000 R
Rent of premises
14 000 R
Drinking water and disposable cups
2000 °
Copp
20000 R 9000 Р
What mistakes affected the development of the business
Despite the successful start of 2014, I made mistakes that slowed down the development of the business.
Did not conclude contracts with teachers, because I relied on their integrity and honesty. As a result, they went through training that I paid for, then went to competitors and took students away. To prevent this from happening, I needed to legally fix the training and confidentiality conditions. For example, to prescribe in the contract that the teacher is obliged to work in the studio for a certain period after completing the training or pay its cost, otherwise - a fine.
Gave the keys to the studio to all teachers. I did not follow what the teachers were doing in the studio outside of class, and someone began to conduct classes past the cash register. Usually, an administrator works in studios, and only he has the keys: he opens and closes the studio, marks clients, and monitors subscriptions.
Made the salary too high in the city. I could save about 15,000 R per month on teachers' salaries and spend this amount more appropriately - on advertising or attracting additional teachers during the daytime and weekends.
Didn't introduce strict visiting rules and didn't set up an accounting system. I went forward when the students asked to renew the subscription on credit or pay in installments. Because of this, I lost some of the money: clients went to classes, but never brought money for them, and I could forget who did not pay. If we had a CRM or other customer accounting system, these problems could have been avoided.
Irrationally used the premises. Instead of opening a second hall and teaching other dance styles, I made a dressing room and an office for employees in its place. In addition, it was possible to sublease the premises in the morning and afternoon, when there were no classes. I was offered this, but I refused. The studio could have a large sum from the evening for the sale of subscriptions, so you would have to keep track of those who rent the hall for sublease - either hire an administrator or do everything yourself. There was no worker for a nominal fee, and I didn’t have enough time.
Did not use all advertising tools . It was possible to attract well-known personalities in the city for cooperation, place booklets and business cards in popular places, launch targeted advertising and more actively maintain a page on Instagram. When I reopened the studio, I no longer invited the press and did not arrange master classes, and as a result, they began to forget about the school, especially since three competitors appeared.
Made hasty decisions. The third move was unsuccessful: the studio was in an area difficult to reach by public transport, too much money was spent on repairs, and it was difficult to get along with the landlords. For example, they promised to install batteries for three months and started working only when I threatened to leave. All agreements with landlords had to be fixed in writing in the contract, and not limited to verbal promises.
Invested in an ad that didn't work.
