Episodes

  • Episode 002: From Studio Owner to Mentor: Julie Kay’s Secrets to Building a Thriving Dance Studio Team
    May 14 2025

    In this inspiring episode of Step Up Your Studio, we welcome the incredible Julie Kay, a beloved veteran of the dance education world and longtime friend of Dance Teacher Web.

    Julie shares her journey from building one of the most successful studios in California - Revolution Dance Center with over 1,300 students and 30+ employees - to transitioning out of ownership and stepping into a mentorship role. Discover how she grew her business with intention, built a strong team culture, and learned to let go with love by passing on her legacy.

    Inside This Episode:

    • The unexpected way Julie entered studio ownership
    • How she scaled to 144 weekly classes and two studio spaces
    • Tips for hiring a strong team (Hint: Hire people smarter than you!)
    • Why vision board meetings changed everything
    • The importance of preserving your studio’s culture and community
    • How to keep students and teachers creatively inspired—even during the “grind season”
    • And the beautiful parallels between studio leadership and planting seeds for growth

    Whether you're a seasoned studio owner or just starting out, Julie’s story will remind you why you started - and how to lead with heart, passion, and purpose.

    🎧 Subscribe to the podcast for more inspiration, stories, and strategies to help you step up your studio!

    #StepUpYourStudio #DanceStudioOwner #DanceTeacherLife #LeadershipInDance #StudioSuccess #DanceMentor #CreativeInspiration

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    26 mins