In most dance studios, the holidays and The Nutcracker go together. It’s OK – The Nutcracker is excellent, and it’s a fun traditional winter recital! Everybody enjoys lighthearted fun outside of the winter recital though, dance students and staff included. Make sure the studio continues to feel like a supportive community through the holidays, despite the hustle and bustle. Here are some suggestions to help.
Get involved in the community.
Coordinate a studio-sponsored food, toy, or coat drive to benefit the local community. Schedule a time for the dance team to visit a nursing home or serve a meal. Set up a gift-wrapping table outside of a busy shopping area. Show the community that this dance studio really cares.
Create fun holiday cards from the staff.
If sending a holiday greeting card is already in the plan, make it a more personalized card with a fun holiday themed photo of the staff. Creating a card can be as simple as using a free online program like Canva for designing it. It may be more time consuming, but it’s also more special and thoughtful.
Time for a par-tay!
The time following a winter recital and before holiday break is a perfect time to slow down, get silly, and have some fun. Host a card or cookie exchange in class. Have a pajama dance party with lively holiday music. Let the students create a routine to showcase to parents.
Host a movie night, lock-in, or parent’s night out.
For a small fee, parents can drop the kids off for a couple of hours, knowing their kids will have a blast, and finish some shopping or just take a breather. After all, parents have a enormous part in the success of a winter recital.
Some of these ideas may take some time, money, and coordination but the effort is worth it to make sure the studio continues to feel like a family. Warmth and engagement matter and families do notice it, which can lead to more enthusiastic students and parents who are happy to refer others.
