How to start a dance club at school

How to Start a Club in High School: 8-Step Guide

Do you want to start a club at your high school? If your school doesn’t offer a particular club or group that you’re interested in, starting your own is a great way to meet new people and spend time doing something you enjoy. You'll also get leadership experience that can help strengthen your resume and college applications.

Read on to get step-by-step instructions on how to start a high school club.

Overview of High School Clubs

Before you start your own club, you want to make sure that you understand how high school clubs are run and why they're important.

Clubs are a great way for students to participate in activities they enjoy, learn new skills, and meet new people. High school clubs can cover a wide variety of topics, from math to skiing to protecting the environment and more.

Club meetings are usually held after school. Some clubs meet regularly and require a large time commitment while others meet once a month or less. Each club usually has a teacher or staff member who acts as supervisor. Students can also hold leadership positions in the club, such as president, vice-president, and secretary.

Many students enjoy being in clubs because they give them an opportunity to spend time with their friends and do activities they find fun and interesting. Colleges and employers also like to see students who have participated in extracurriculars such as clubs because it helps them understand a student’s interests better and shows that the student likes being involved and working with other people.

Many high schools offer a wide variety of clubs for students; however, it would be impossible for a high school to offer every single type of club.

Why Would You Start a New Club?

There are multiple reasons why you’d want to start a new club at your school. Some of the most common are listed below:

You Want to Pursue a Hobby You Enjoy

One of the best and most common reasons for starting or joining a club is because it allows you to pursue an activity you enjoy, whether that’s Ultimate Frisbee, baking, or something else. Clubs allow you to practice this hobby, learn more, and get better at it. If your school doesn’t offer a club for the activity or interest you want, then starting your own club will allow you to continue to enjoy this hobby.

You Want to Raise Awareness About a Cause You Care About

If there is a particular issue that you feel strongly about, such as promoting recycling or providing school supplies to students in Africa, you can have an impact by creating a club that focuses on that issue. By starting a club, you can increase awareness of a particular problem, collect money or supplies to donate, and possibly spend time volunteering to help improve the issue.

You Want to Meet People With Similar Interests

Joining a club can be a great way to meet other students with similar hobbies and interests. You get to enjoy your interest with other people and can learn more about it by working with them.

You Want to Gain Leadership Experience

An excellent way to get leadership experience is by starting a new club. You will learn how to create a new organization, recruit members, and get it running smoothly. Colleges love seeing examples of leadership, and being the founder of a club is a great way to show that you know how to take charge and handle responsibility.

How to Start a Club in High School

Now that you know all about high school clubs and why you'd want to start your own, let's get started! Follow the steps below to start a club that is interesting, well-run, and will last a long time.

Step 1: Brainstorm Ideas

Your first step is deciding what you want your club to focus on. You may already know, but if you don’t, think about your interests and activities you enjoy doing. Chances are you can develop a club around each of them! For example, if you enjoy skiing and wish you had more opportunities to ski, you could start a ski club at your school.

If you need more ideas for potential clubs, we have a complete list of extracurricular activities, with dozens of high school club ideas.

Once you have your idea, check to make sure your school doesn’t already have a similar club. You can do this by looking at your school’s student handbook or asking your academic adviser or someone at the school office.

Step 2: Define the Club's Purpose and Goals

Once you know what you want your club to be about, it’s time to get more specific. Figure out what the purpose of the club is, what activities you want members to take part in, and what goals you have for the club.

For example, if you're starting that ski club, will the purpose of the club be organizing ski trips? Teaching members the basics of skiing? Discussing skiing gear? A combination of all three? Will meetings just be for organizing trip logistics, or will you also include lectures from ski experts or show videos of ski trips? What do you need to accomplish for the club to be considered successful? Three ski trips a year? Ten members taught the basics of skiing?

By figuring this out now, you will be able to provide a clearer and more complete vision of your club when you present the idea to the school and potential members.

Other questions to think about:

Why do you want to start this club?
What is the purpose of the club?
What will club members do during meetings?
How often will the club meet?
Where will the club meet?
What are the goals of this club?
Do potential members need to try out for the club, or will anyone be allowed to join?

Step 3: Register Your Club With the School

Most high schools require clubs to go through a process to become school-approved. This may be as simple as filling out a form, or it may require discussing the club with teachers or school staff.

Without school approval, you likely won’t be able to have club meetings or post information at school, which can make it difficult to recruit members, so learn how to properly register your club and make it official. If you’re not sure how to do this, ask your academic adviser, a teacher, or someone at the school office. Your student handbook may also have information on registering clubs.

Before you register your club, make sure you have completed the previous steps so that you can answer questions about the club, why you want to create it, and what club members will be doing. After getting your club approved by the school, a teacher or staff member may be assigned as the club supervisor. If not, ask a teacher you know well or who you think will have an interest in the club to act as supervisor.

Your school may also require you to write bylaws for the club, which will explain what the purpose of the club is, how people can join the club, if and how club elections will be held, and more. If your school does require you to write bylaws, they will often give you a template to fill in to make the process easier.

Want to build the best possible college application?

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Step 4: Spread the Word

Once you know what you want your club to focus on and have gotten it approved by the school, it’s time to recruit some members. If you haven’t already, figure out a time and place to hold your first meeting. You may need to get permission from your school to host the meeting in an empty classroom or another place.

Mention your club to your friends and people you think will be interested. If your school allows it, create and post flyers a week or two before the first meeting that briefly state the club’s name, purpose, and time and date of the first meeting. Try to make these flyers eye-catching and interesting to look at. For a ski club, including a color photo of a person skiing down a mountain and a heading like "Love to ski? Want to learn how? Join Jefferson High School's new ski club!" can catch students' interest and convince more people to attend the first meeting.

Fill empty seats by spreading the word and promoting your new club.

Step 5: Hold Your First Club Meeting

Don’t try to do too much at your first meeting; your goal should just be to introduce the club and answer any questions people may have. Introduce yourself, state what the club’s purpose and goals are, what members will do, and any potential ideas you have for future activities and events. Also, providing snacks is a great way to get people to love you and your new club.

To continue with the ski club example, for its first meeting you would explain the purpose of the ski club, whether that's organizing ski trips, teaching people how to ski, or another focus. Review (before the meeting!) the answers you gave to the questions in step 2 and discuss those if you're not sure what to talk about. You can then give a brief overview of what activities you'd like members to be able to participate in, such as ski lessons, weekend trips, etc., and then end by showing pictures of ski spots the club may visit to get people excited about future meetings.

After you've spoken, people who are attending the meeting a chance to introduce themselves and give their opinion on what they think the club should focus on. Have a list where potential members can write their e-mail addresses to stay informed on future club news.

At the end of the meeting, let members know where and when the next meeting will be held.

Step 6: Assign Duties and Plan Events

At one of the first few meetings, you should assign leadership roles to help keep the club running smoothly.

Common officer roles include:

President: Leads and supervises the club with help from other officers.
Vice President: Fills in when the president is not available.
Secretary: Takes notes during meetings, maintains club records, keeps members updated on club news and events.
Treasurer: Manages the club’s budget and expenses

Hold elections or nominate people to fill these positions. Once you have your club organized and a leadership structure established, start planning activities for club members. These activities can take place during club meetings or at special events outside of meetings. Potential ideas to consider include bringing in guest speakers, planning club outings, organizing fundraisers, and hosting discussions or lectures.

You probably want the first activity to be somewhat small to prevent you or other club members from getting overwhelmed with planning and to increase the probability of it being successful. For a ski club, the first activity could be a day-trip to a nearby ski slope, and, eventually, you could work up to a weekend trip to a resort a few hours away. In between ski trips, you could plan to have guest speakers come and discuss skiing, test out ski gear, and hold fundraisers to help cover expenses.

Step 7: Establish a Budget

Most clubs require some money to stay running, even if it is only a small amount to cover printing costs and snacks. Some clubs may need a much larger budget if they use a lot of materials or go on trips.

Your treasurer should develop a budget that gives a rough estimate of the expenses your club will expect to have. Things you may want to have in the budget include printing fees, food and drinks, travel expenses, gifts for guest speakers, and any materials you may need.

Schools often provide stipends to official clubs, and this may be enough to cover your expenses. If not, consider fundraisers or club dues to raise enough money to keep the club active. For a club that has a lot of expenses, such as a ski club that offers ski trips, you will probably use a combination of school stipends, fundraisers, and member dues to help cover costs.

Want to go on a ski trip? Better start saving your pennies.

Step 8: Keep Your Club Going!

Now that you have your club up and running, it’s important to make sure it lasts. Keeping your club around for the long term will ensure that more students get to enjoy it, and it will also look more impressive to colleges because it shows that you can commit to something and have the skills to keep a club running long-term.

In order to keep your club going, make sure you continue to follow the above steps and recruit new members, assign leadership roles, stick to a budget, and plan activities and events to keep your club exciting. It can also help to have a special event at the end of each year, whether that's a party, weekend trip, or important guest speaker. Doing this will give members something to look forward to and help keep people interested in the club.

Final Tips to Keep in Mind

Starting a club is a lot of work, so make sure you have enough time to devote to it before you begin the process.

Don’t try to do everything all at once. It’s okay to start small and have your first few meetings focus mostly on getting to know each other and brainstorming ideas. Trying to plan too many things right away can be exhausting and overwhelming.

Encourage group members to voice their opinions, and make sure you listen to their ideas. Taking multiple viewpoints into consideration will help your members enjoy the club more and can give you great ideas for future activities.

If there are similar clubs or organizations at your school or in your community, you may want to consider working with them. This can help spread the word about your club, help members meet new people, and give you more options for interesting activities.

What's Next?

Want to find out more about extracurriculars and why they're so important? Check out our guide to extracurriculars and learn how they can help you get into your dream college!

Want more ideas to help you start your club? We have a list of hundreds of extracurriculars, and you're sure to find something there that interests you!

Want to use your club to help others? Check out our guide to learn more about community service and ways to give back.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article!

Christine Sarikas

About the Author

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

Students Take Steps to Create Dance Club – The Streak

Hills Happenings

Madisen Snyder , Layout Editor
June 10, 2019

A group of Warren Hills dancers recently grouped together to form a new club centered around their passion.

Starting off the new year in late January, the Warren Hills Dance Club officially began, with practice in the gym during lunch on Days One and Two. The club was created by four of its leaders— seniors Hellen Andwati and Felicity Flermius, and juniors Deja Mitchell and Leandra Fields.

Before they could even get the club together, the leaders had to go through weeks of interviews and planning with Athletic Director Michael Jones.

“A group of students came to me in regards to creating a dance club,” he said. “The process for starting clubs here at Warren Hills is going through a one-year probationary stage to see how many participants are involved in their club. If there is a large amount, the next step that we go into is to look for a teacher that would be the head of the club.”

Following the traditional process of starting up clubs at Warren Hills, Jones said that there’s approval from the Athletic Office to run Dance Club once or twice a week until next year.

“After that, we will then decide if the club will turn into a team or anything bigger with all the participants in the group for next year,” he said.

Jones said the process of starting up the club took about a month, as there were various questions involved.

“We also had to make sure that we had a teacher that could supervise this club, and Mr. Hickerson was chosen,” he said.

All the leaders said they have been interested in dancing since an early age, whether they pursued it professionally or not.

“I’m a self-taught dancer since my childhood,” said Andwati. “As long as I could remember, my sister inspired me with some dance moves and I started watching Youtube dance tutorials.”

With such a passion for dancing, they all jumped at the chance to create a new dance club at Hills.

“I’ve always wanted a dance club at Warren Hills, and I’ve always loved to dance,” said Flermius. “So, we just thought, why not?”

To get everyone pumped up and ready to dance, a typical practice starts with everyone freestyle dancing to music.

“Our practices are energetic and very hype, and usually there is a lot of commentary,” said Fields. “We are always moving, working, and having fun.”

After working on their routine for several weeks, the club had the opportunity to dance in front of an audience at Mr. Warren Hills in late March.

“It went really well, and the crowd was excited to see us, so it was better,” said Mitchell. “I wasn’t expecting so much cheering for us.”

Following the event, the club was requested to perform at a scholarship dinner for NAACP at Hawke Point.

“The performance was absolutely amazing. Everyone was completely in sync and the vibe was fun,” said Flermius. “I feel like it was more special because we were requested to perform. A few of us stayed for the rest of the dinner, and it was really fun.”

Mitchell said that the club will be hard and members will need to practice out of school and dedicate time to learn the dance, but overall it’s a fun time and worth it in the end.

“You don’t have to know how to dance. You just have to be willing to learn,” said Flermius. “A lot of people who didn’t think they could dance are in the Dance Club, and they are killing it. So just step out of your comfort zone and you never know, you could be in the Dance Club next year.”

How to open a dance school from scratch - an idea for business 2022

A dance school as a profitable business idea

Dancing is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. There is no limit to self-improvement in them, children and adults enjoy doing them almost all their lives. By opening a dance school, you will get a permanent audience and a stable income.

The cost of implementing a business idea and the profitability of dance schools

It is profitable to open a dance school in a large city, such as Yekaterinburg. There, it is able to bring from 50,000 ₽ of profit per month and pay off in 10 months. To increase income, you can hold thematic seminars, take orders for staging individual dances. nine0005

Costs for opening a dance school in Yekaterinburg:

Expenses	Amount, ₽
Opening IP	10,000
Repair and preparation of halls	250,000
Purchase and installation of equipment and furniture	90 000
Advertising campaign	150,000
Total	500,000

Monthly expenses:

Expenditure item	Amount, ₽
Rent of halls for classes from 125 sq. m.	70 000
Staff salary, minimum	100,000
Taxes, utility bills	20 000
Advertising, organizational and other expenses	10,000
Total	200,000

Consider buying a franchise

Franchise "Vita Spa & Beauty" - SPA salon

1 570 000 ₽

Rating

Profit On request

Payback 7 months.

All franchise offers in this area (1)

What you need to open a business and run a school

You can register a dance school as an individual entrepreneur on the USN or UTII, indicating OKVED 92.34.2. Licenses and cash registers are not needed for work, but you will need:

Obtain an IP certificate
Obtain permission to open a school and place a sign in the city administration
Agree on the possibility of operating the premises in Rospozharnadzor, SES
Enter into agreements with the landlord and employees

Coaches working with children need medical records with notes on medical examinations passed on time. nine0005

Requirements for the premises

It is better to open a dance school in the central area, close to major transport interchanges or in residential, densely populated areas where many adults live with children of different ages. Strict requirements are imposed on the premises:

The presence of halls with an area of at least 80 square meters. m
Arrangement of ventilation and air conditioning systems, bathrooms, shower cabins
Establishment of separate dressing rooms - men's and women's, at least 10 and 15 sq. m respectively
Allocation of a hall and a recreation area with a size of at least 20 sq.m

You can rent an already prepared room in specialized fitness and business centers, but the rental price will be higher than for an unequipped hall.

Preparing the halls and rooms for work

The practice halls need to be renovated:

Lay a safe floor covering (dance parquet, board)
Make cosmetic repairs, hang mirrors throughout the wall
Equip halls with ballet bars, pylons and other devices for selected types of dances
Place musical equipment, hang speakers
Equip locker rooms with hooks or lockers, benches, place upholstered furniture in the recreation area, and an administrator’s desk at the reception

Staff

Good trainers are the defining factor for a dance school. They ensure the influx and loyalty of students, help in advertising with the help of word of mouth. It is good if the owner himself works as a coach and conducts classes. For a dance school you need at least:

Three hourly trainers — from 60,000 ₽ and more
Administrator — 25 000 ₽
Cleaner — 10 000 ₽
Outsourcing accountant serving individual entrepreneurs — 5,000 ₽

Advertisement for a dance school

Primary advertising campaign should include notification in social networks and city entertainment portals, ordering printed announcements about the opening of the school. In the future, you need:

Make a sign on the building, put a remote shield in front of it
Regularly hand out leaflets with the address and offers of the school, flyers for discounts near schools, office and shopping centers
Conduct dance evenings, participate on behalf of the school in city entertainment events

Advertising examples:

Sample dance school poster Sample dance school flyer Sample dance school flyer

Comparing the cost of starting a dance school from scratch to acquiring an existing studio:

nine0018

School opening costs — 500,000 ₽	Purchase of a popular dance school in the center of Yekaterinburg — 420,000 ₽
Estimated profit — 50,000 ₽	Confirmed profit — 70 000 ₽
Average monthly expenses — 200,000 ₽	Average monthly expenses — 100,000 ₽
Payback - 10 months	Payback - 6 months
Requires investments in the preparation of the premises, obtaining many permits, looking for trainers and clients	The school has been operating for 7 years, a customer base of adults and children has been formed, halls of 130 square meters are fully equipped. m.

Taking into account the complexities and costs of preparing the premises, expensive rent and the need to develop a client base, it is more profitable to start a business with a ready-made business. It pays off faster and brings more profit.

where to start and how to name a dance school

Opening a dance school

Dancing is an inexpressible pleasure, a toned figure, excellent mood and positive energy that fills a person. Today, both children and adults are enrolled in school and are engaged in modern and classical dances with experienced teachers.

Salsa, Latina, hip-hop, and classical music are considered the most popular among the many directions. Therefore, today many experienced teachers are thinking about how to open a dance school. It is not difficult to build your own business, but is it possible to speak with confidence about its prospects? nine0005

Contents

How to open your own dance school quickly: what it takes
How to open a profitable dance school: finding teachers
What do you call the boat. ..
Advertising company: how to open your own dance school
Dancing for children
Business is business

How to quickly open your own dance school: what it takes

Opening a dance school is essentially no different from organizing any other business. It also requires calculations and investments. You need a good team and a development plan. First you need to answer the question: how much will your services be in demand in the place where you plan to start your business. If there are already dance schools or dance groups in your city, it is worth considering how exactly your school will differ from the rest. You must formulate a competitive offer in order to attract customers. nine0005

If you are looking for a detailed plan on how to open a dance school, we recommend that you take the advice of experts:

The first step is to determine the style of dancing. To do this, we take into account not only personal interests, but also the needs of potential customers. You should start monitoring the service market before you open your own dance school. After that, you will be able to determine the circle of your students. Classical dances, salsa are suitable for people of all ages, so there will always be many customers. Such youth trends as hip-hop, breakdance, go-go will attract children and teenagers. nine0110
Selecting a suitable hall. Not every businessman who is interested in how to open a dance school is ready to shell out a whole capital for the purchase of his own separate premises. Therefore, at first you will need to rent a dance hall inexpensively until you earn a serious reputation and gain regular customers. Today, the rental market has a huge selection of spacious, bright rooms with all the amenities for a comfortable workout. High-quality flooring, air conditioning, full-wall mirrors - look for a suitable option in advance before opening a dance school. A convenient place in a residential area should be located near transport stops. nine0110

If you are renting space in a residential building, it would be a good idea to get the approval of the tenants. Neighborhood with loud music, constant vibration, not everyone will like it. And, even if such approval is obtained, you still have to ensure good soundproofing of the room. This may require additional funds.

Advertising company: how to open your own dance school ↑

To get started, create your own website where potential clients can get all the information they need about the school, schedule, coaching staff, and tuition fees. This is how photos and videos with illustrative examples should be - this will help to attract and interest students. Advertising through social networks works effectively. Take advantage of the media, organize a leaflet distribution on the street, and your dance business will be an incredible success.

How to Start a Profitable Dance School: Finding Teachers ↑

If you want your dance business to flourish, you should look for experienced trainers who have won prizes at prestigious festivals and competitions, and also have a good reputation. Before you open your own dance school, you need to study the information on thematic sites. The rating of professional dancers and coaches will help you make the right choice. After all, the success of your project will depend on the charisma and skill of the teachers. nine0005

By the way, many professional choreographers teach at universities in theater and dance. Offer them the opportunity to work with you on a shared schedule. After all, most of those “stars” of the dance floor that you intend to contact, focusing on reviews and forums, are their former students and they got into the dance show business also thanks to them.

What do you call the boat... ↑

The name plays an important role in creating the image of a dance school. If you don't know what to call a dance school yet, it's okay. There is no need for haste in this matter. Many leaders choose thematic names, one way or another connected with dances, and there are many who want to give their own name to their own dance school. nine0005

You can follow their lead, or choose your original name. The main rule is that the name of your offspring should be euphonious, bright, memorable and “dancing”.

Dancing for children ↑

Recently, more and more parents pay attention to the physical and aesthetic development of their children. Art and music schools do not know the lack of students. As for dance schools, they still do not have the status of institutions of additional education. After graduating from an art or music school according to a program that has a clear course and deadlines, you can continue your studies at another level. In dancing, however, such results have not yet been achieved. The exception is ballet schools, whose teams subsequently work in theaters. nine0005

Working with children has its own peculiarities and limitations. This applies to the arrangement of the premises, and the distribution of classes, and the actual educational program. Therefore, if you are wondering how to open a dance school for children, first read all the requirements.

Supervisory organizations always have an increased interest in children's institutions, and therefore you will have to resolve all issues, even those that at first glance seem insignificant. For example, the arrangement of a fire exit or the condition of common rooms. nine0005

Business is business ↑

No matter how creative you are, when it comes to the prosperity of your own school, which should at least pay back the money invested in it, this is entirely your concern. If you feel that you are not coping with the tasks of the manager, hire a specialist to solve economic issues. So you can practice the art of dancing without being distracted by trifles like maintenance or purchasing consumables. nine0005

By the way, if you plan to expand the school with additional branches, you will also have to worry about recruiting staff for each of them. And the position of the manager should not be the last in the list of the most necessary.