When we compiled and analyzed data from over 4,000 dance studios worldwide for our 2022 Industry Benchmarks Report, we noticed certain trends on the rise. As a dance studio owner, here are five trends you should be aware of when planning for the 2022-2023 dance season.

5 dance studio trends on the rise in 2022

1. Offer flexible billing and payment options

When it comes to collecting income from your families, here’s what we know – the easier it is for parents to make payments, the faster you will get paid.

Last year, Jackrabbit released powerful billing features that included automated tuition posting and processing, as well as more robust registration fee options. Not only did our clients embrace the automation to make lives easier on their families but they reaped the benefits by seeing money in the bank much quicker.

To help parents realize the benefits of their child being enrolled in dance classes, the trend of allowing parents the option to schedule future absences and makeup classes at another time is on the rise for dance studios. Studios found this assurance helped parents feel more confident in bringing their dancers back to enroll in new programs, classes and events – even if parents didn’t take full advantage.

2. Create new revenue streams

Dance studios more than impressed the world when 2020 threw the youth activities industry off-balance. Studio owners showed creativity like never before and were determined to find ways to keep evolving and growing. And while we find ourselves in better times now, that change in perspective is one that has continued to benefit the industry by finding new ways to bring in additional income.

When taking a look at classes, merchandise, and events, studio owners and managers:

• Offered more special events,
• Raised tuition and registration, as well as service and convenience fees, and
• Invested in value-adds for parents like live-streaming classes and branded mobile apps.

Not only do these rising trends bring in more revenue, but they also created an elevated experience for families.

Looking to partner with studio management software that makes new revenue streams a reality for your studio? Open your Jackrabbit Dance account today and get started for free!

3. Empower and enable staff

2021 was a tough year when it came to staff recruitment and retention. But, that didn’t stop studio owners from refocusing efforts on how to build a positive studio culture, enabling staff to work efficiently, and how to retain staff for the long run.

To better support the growing trend of better supporting and managing staff, Jackrabbit Dance has evolved the way staff can track their availability and time off to assist studio owners in scheduling throughout the season. Later this year, the Jackrabbit team will solve how to better track substitutes and manage appointments for studio staff and parents.

Did you know that Jackrabbit Dance has a staff training system? This tool is the perfect on-demand, self-paced training on how to use Jackrabbit in various roles.

4. Renew focus on customer service

Customer service can make or break a dance studio. Finding new ways to connect with families over the last couple of years was a great reminder that creating a positive customer experience should always be top of mind.

In the same ways that dance studios created new revenue streams, they simultaneously made connections with their customers stronger with added benefits and new technology. This generation of parents is all for the tech so why not meet them where they are? (—>Find more tips for good customer service here)

5. Enhance security and protections

The past few years have forced dance studio owners to reconsider the ways of doing business. In response, we’ve seen a growing trend to update dance studio policies and procedures. Interestingly enough, dance studio owners didn’t stop at updating COVID-related policies and procedures. 2022 Benchmark Report data shows a growing trend in updating or changing policies regarding expectations for absences, makeups, tuition, late fees and much more.

As always, the Jackrabbit team strived to make this even more streamlined and flexible for dance studios by allowing owners to create custom policies for class types, sessions, or levels. Not only are policies applicable to the enrollments of their students, but communicating new policies with parents is easier than ever before!

With dance studios back to regularly scheduled programs, these five trends are here to stay and help studios just like yours continue to grow and thrive. Download the full 2022 Industry Benchmark Report to discover more information about these trends plus gain access to key findings and additional insights you don’t want to miss out on!

Get your copy of the 2022 Industry Benchmark Report now