Welcome to episode 82 of the Make Dance Fun Podcast! Today, we’re kicking off a brand-new series called Five Fun Things—a collection of episodes where we’ll share creative ways to bring more FUN into different parts of your dance season. Because, after all, our mission is to help you Make Dance Fun!

In this episode, we’re focusing on five fun things you can do during company intensives, summer camps, choreography weeks, or anytime your company dancers are spending extra time together. These ideas are geared specifically toward team bonding, motivation, and building studio culture—and they’ve all been tested and loved at our own studio.

Here are the 5 Fun Things we’re diving into:

1. Outside-the-Studio Adventures
From pool parties and popsicles to mini golf and roller skating, getting dancers out of the studio helps them connect in a totally different way. These casual hangouts create space for conversations and camaraderie. Add in a fun challenge like a scavenger hunt or team craft to encourage interaction with someone new.

2. Motivational Prizes
A little surprise can go a long way. Stock up on fun finds from the Target dollar aisle or similar spots, and hand them out as rewards for hard work, leadership, or positive attitudes. We’ve done custom prizes like the Happy Rhythm Hippo or Sharp Rhythm Shark, often paired with a snack and a fun graphic. These are great for staff to hand out—or even let dancers nominate each other!

3. Headshots & Posters
We love taking individual headshots of our company dancers and creating colorful, branded posters for display at events. It adds a level of professionalism and pride. Group shots are great too if time allows. We include this in our company fees and use the photos throughout the season.

4. Get-to-Know-You Games
A great icebreaker activity to build connections. You can DIY fun superlatives or prompts like “Most likely to win a tap battle” or “Always has snacks.” These spark laughter and help dancers get off their phones and into real conversations. We’re actually working on releasing this activity as a digital download soon!

5. Team Goal Setting & Vision Boards
Whether you're guiding individual dancers or small groups, vision boards are a meaningful way to set goals together. Give them a worksheet, or let them cut and paste from magazines, printouts, or Pinterest. We’ve done this at the studio and even off-site at art studios. The goal is for them to collaborate on something visual that can hang in the studio and remind them of their shared purpose. Group photos add a nice personal touch.

Our Favorite Team Bonding Memory?
A Barbie-themed night at Avalon—complete with dinner, a scavenger hunt, games, crafts, friendship bracelets, and a photo shoot. It was pink, fun, and unforgettable!

We hope today’s episode inspires you to incorporate a few of these ideas into your own intensives, rehearsals, or company gatherings. Not only do they build stronger teams—they also make for great content. Capture the moments and share them through a reel, TikTok, vlog, or photo carousel. These are the things that highlight your studio’s personality and set you apart.

Thanks so much for listening. We’ll be back next week with another fun and creative episode of the Make Dance Fun Podcast!

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Welcome back to Make Dance Fun! In episode 81, we’re diving into something BIG: our brand-new dance studio space!

Now that nationals are behind us, we’re shifting focus to prepping for the upcoming season—and at the top of our list is building out our brand-new studio!

This week, we’re sharing more about the journey that’s been 32 years in the making. We’re reflecting on where we started (hello, one-studio-one-bathroom days!) and how we’ve intentionally grown—saving, scaling, and setting goals every step of the way.

Here’s a peek at what we cover in this episode:

The New Studio Journey

• Initial plans began in 2020—just as we were navigating COVID
• Explored staying in our current space vs. finding something new
• 2023–24: started working with a broker and project manager to explore every option: renovating, buying, building, even shopping centers!
• May 2024: shifted to looking at lease options
• June 2024: toured what would become the space
• Hired an architect (after interviewing several!) and finalized the design vision
• Signed the lease in February 2025 and started the permitting and demo process
• Spoiler: lots of fun planning… and lots of not-so-fun budgeting

Our Must-Haves (aka solutions to our current pain points!)

• Parking! (finally)
• Storage, including a loading dock and lift
• Better layout for functionality—hello outlets and delivery zones!
• 9 total dance studios (including 4 big ones!)
• Better bathrooms, family-friendly options, and dedicated changing rooms (that won’t double as closets!)
• Dedicated costume/craft space + staff lounge + conference room
• Senior Edge hangout space upstairs

The FUN Stuff We’re Dreaming Up

• Eye-catching entrance and front desk (still designing this!)
• Merch area + podcast room + RHYTHM wall
• Gorgeous staircase that leads to an upstairs overlook
• A colorful, sparkly, personality-packed space that feels like us

This is truly going to be the most RHYTHM-y space we’ve ever created, and we cannot wait to bring it to life! There’s still a long road ahead, but we’ll keep you posted along the way—with lots more behind-the-scenes updates to come in future episodes.

Thanks for tuning in—and if you're dreaming of a new space for your studio someday, we hope our journey inspires you!

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In Episode 80, we’re diving into what happens once the show begins—from loading the truck to the final confetti blast!! If you caught Episode 79, you already heard all the behind-the-scenes prep that goes into our show season. If not, make sure to listen to that one as well!

In this episode, we're covering:

• The week of the show:
  • Friday truck load-out
  • Tuesday–Wednesday: lobby decor, tech, rehearsals, props, balloons & more
  • Thursday–Sunday: 8 shows, organized call times, calm backstage vibes
  • Sunday night: smooth load-out and a well-deserved Monday break
• Top 10 Things That Make Our Shows Special

1. Full Team Commitment – Our love for the show runs deep, and it’s contagious!
2. Smiling Greeters – From parking lot to program hand-off, happy faces are everywhere.
3. Lobby Decor Magic – Oz-themed displays, vintage finds, and thoughtful details set the tone.
4. On-Stage Welcome – We open every show personally to recognize staff, seniors, and YOU.
5. Opening Number + Welcome Video – It sets the tone and flows right into our tiny dancers.
6. Preschool & Elementary Productions – They get the royal treatment, with full props and character interaction.
7. On-Theme Everything – From dressing rooms to signage to stanchions, every detail reflects the show’s theme.
8. Backstage Dream Team – Assigned teams for props, dressing rooms, character changes, and crowd control.
9. Pro Photo + Video – Capturing content live so we can share real-time show magic online.
10. Clear Ending + Confetti – A joyful, energetic finale every single time.

Plus, we share a few more wins, some behind-the-scenes logistics, and how intentional planning keeps things running smoothly—even when last-minute challenges pop up.

We truly believe our Year-End Show is our best marketing of the year. And if you're a studio owner who wants help with recital planning, check out our in-depth course—we break it all down step-by-step.

Thanks for tuning in, and we hope this inspires you to make your next show even more FUN!

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In episode 79, we're taking you behind the scenes of our 7-month journey from our October Year-End Show Retreat all the way through dress rehearsal week! We’re sharing how we plan, what gets done when, and how our team brings it all together to create a magical show experience.

Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of our show planning timeline:

November:

• Met with full staff to recap retreat plans
• Saw Wicked (three times!) for creative inspiration
• Sent show day/time and costume info to families
• Master spreadsheet begins!

December:

• Ordered costumes
• Continued editing music for every class

January:

• Delivered music to staff
• Launched costume lookbooks and theme reveals
• Started choreography and prop planning
• Costumes began arriving and were sorted into garment bags

February:

• Finalized music (voiceovers, sound effects, etc.)
• Continued choreography and prop building
• Began building our personalized show app
• Started early logistics planning with DRT (ticketing partner)

March:

• Choreography goal: complete by month’s end
• Uploaded practice videos for dancers
• Preschool show leaders began working directly with classes
• Started planning backstage team

April:

• Routines finalized and shared with characters
• Set pieces in full creation mode
• Began building show program
• Ordered merch + goody bag items
• Released full show info packet to families

May:

• PURE MADNESS (and lots of magic!)
• Final staff meeting before the big week
• Tickets and merch sales go smoothly
• Hosted our character photo shoot
• Dress rehearsal week! Rehearse, group photo, photo ops, and more
• Finished and printed the program – a fan favorite!
• Created fun new photo ops and custom merch experiences
• Filmed our Welcome Video – 15 years strong!
• Set the finale and wrapped up with final rehearsals
• Packed up every last thing needed for the theater

Final Curveball:
Just days before the show, we were hit with a last-minute venue construction notice! We had to pivot quickly, reconfigure logistics, and communicate new plans—all during a major storm! But with quick thinking and teamwork, everything came together.

Challenges:

• Delays due to waiting on music tied to the Wicked movie
• Balancing a busy comp/convention season with show planning
• Last-minute venue access change

Wins:

• Incredible production value and theme
• More creative and fun merch options
• Our custom app made info easy to access
• Our rockstar team made it all happen!

Every season is a new adventure—and we’re always learning and improving. Stay tuned for our next episode, where we’ll dive into everything that happens at the theater—from load-in to load-out!

Thanks for listening! Have a tip or trick that works for your studio? We’d love to hear it.

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We’re back with Episode 78! And we’re recapping six big things that have happened over the past six months at Rhythm and Confetti on the Dance Floor — and giving you a sneak peek at what’s coming this summer. From new Camp Confettis to our biggest announcement ever (we’re moving!), this episode is packed with all the fun, chaos, and sparkle you expect from us. Here's what we cover:

1. New Camp Confetti Themes
We launched Pink Bubbles & Emerald Energy (Wicked-inspired) and Bark in the Park: A Big Blue Adventure (Bluey-inspired), and we’re loving all the pics and videos coming in. These two new themes have been a huge hit with studio owners and dancers alike.

2. Studio Owner University with MTJGD
We attended Studio Owner University in beautiful Amelia Island with our team—Krista, Kelsey, and Shelley—and left full of inspiration, ideas, and to-do lists. SOU is always a reset, and having our team there this year gave us fresh perspectives on everything from tuition to communication. Plus, our Confetti booth had one of its best events yet.

3. Summer at Rhythm is in Full Swing
Even though summer registration launched in February, we officially kicked off summer camps just a few days ago. After a quick regroup post-show, our team is dialed in and ready—improving everything from communications and staffing to crafts and content creation. The energy in the studio is high, and we’re loving it.

4. We’re Moving and Expanding
After 32 years (and 25 in our current building), we’re making a massive move to a brand new, 9-studio, 25,000 sq. ft. space later this fall. It’s a huge milestone and we’re still in permitting, but we’re so excited to share this journey with you. Expect full episodes soon about this transition—we’ve got big plans to make this the most Rhythm space ever.

5. Survived Competition & Convention Season
January through April was wild. From intense schedules to dazzling custom costumes (shoutout to Beth for sewing every piece!), we made it through the busiest season ever. Our production number continues to be a huge creative outlet—we may not choreograph it anymore, but we’re still deeply involved in all things music, costuming, and storytelling.

6. RHYTHMerald City OZtravaganza is in the Books
We just wrapped our epic Year-End Show and we’re still buzzing. From the vibrant theme to the over-the-top production, this show might be one of our all-time favorites. There’s so much to share, we’re planning a deep dive soon. If you have questions, send them our way.

Plus: Our Summer Confetti Schedule

• Dance Teacher Summit – August 8–11, New York City
• Energize Conference – August 14–17
• Dance Educators Collective – August 28–31, Nashville

Thanks for catching up with us—we’re excited to be back and have so much more in store.

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In episode 77, we're talking about our annual year-end show retreat, sharing our top takeaways, organization hacks, and some creative touches we add to make our year-end show is a fun and unique experience!

Annual Year-End Show Retreat Highlights

• Pre-Retreat Prep
  • Review last season’s recap to set clear goals.
  • Streamline props and sets; reduce and repurpose where possible.
  • Pre-plan with team: collaborative playlists, light decor, idea sharing via Google Docs.
  • Brainstorm preschool production ideas in advance with voice recordings.
• Setting the Creative Scene
  • Retreat held in a decor-rich setting inspired by Oz and Wicked themes.
  • Green decor, custom banners, themed books, and collectibles for an immersive environment.
  • Key team member Beth joined for early insight into props, sets, and coordination for smoother season planning.
• Retreat Agenda
  • Arrange costumes on poster boards for visual organization.
  • Finalize show concepts, music, costume sizing, and themes.
  • Develop massive planning spreadsheets, finalize dress rehearsal schedules, and outline communication materials for families.
  • Compile visual boards for costume inspiration and show themes.
• Costume Planning
  • Quicker costume selection process.
  • Frustrations with character costumes addressed.
  • Organized costumes with garment bags and tags.
  • Finished the lookbook ahead of schedule.
• Fun Elements
  • Listening to themed playlists.
  • Candy bar, themed drinks, bell for costume choices.
  • Oz-inspired “explosion” cake and charcuterie board.
• Top 3 Wins
  • Dani: Detailed notes, organized props and sets, early hand-held prop orders.
  • Becca: Completed lookbook early, streamlined decor, more organized with Beth’s support for team questions.

Pro Tip:
Consider planning a day or afternoon retreat if a full weekend isn’t possible.

Did You Know? We offer a recital planning course! Your Fun Big Show is a Complete Recital Planning Course with an extra fun Confetti factor! We’ll provide you with a proven formula and lots of tools to plan the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, CONFETTI-ational Fun Big Show ever!

This Course allows you to listen and learn at your own pace to nearly 3 hours of recorded presentations from us, as well as all the notes, guides, resources and more! Purchase it today and your download will be emailed to you immediately!

Related Episodes on Recital and Show Planning

• Planning YOUR Fun Big Show (+ Our Fave Recital Moments)!
• Fall Recital-A-Rama
• Make Recital Planning Fun

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In Episode 76, we're talking all things HALLOWEEK and sharing fun things we do at our studio to make dance extra fun!

Some of the things we talk about are:

• Encourage dancers to dress as a character from our show theme and give out a special sticker if they do
• Staff Pumpkin Pizzazz party
• Staff photo - everyone chooses a character from our theme to dress as and we have an annual group and individual photo to use in program and on birthday posts.
• Halloween decor in our Year-End Show theme
• Class fun - our teachers all have their favorite games they do, from obstacle courses to choreo contests and a fun game called get it got it good
• Halloweek on the Dance Floor - our free Halloween Hip Hop Combo for you to teach to your classes. This is our 9th year! Check out this year's video and link to all our past ones too! You can read all about it in our blog post too, and see link to our past 8 years of fun Halloween videos also!

How to use the combo:

• Have dancers learn ahead of time - make it a competition
• Having an event? Teach to all and record it as a music video in diff areas of studio or outside!
• Learn it and teach it to your classes! Record and make some reels to post during Halloweek!
• Have your dancers get their phones during class and learn it! Give them some time and then have them record and put on your social
• Even have your staff learn it and do it all together. Kids will love that!

Don't overthink Halloweek! Just add something simple and new...use a halloween playlist in every class, share halloween coloring sheets with all your preschool classes, or create a pumpkin patch obstacle course with your elementary age dancers. Make it festive in any way you can and your dancers and families will love it.

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In Episode 75 of Make Dance Fun, we continue our Confetti Conversation with the amazing Melissa McGhee, Head Coach of The Ohio State Dance Team who also owns her own studio, Lineage Dance in Columbus, Ohio!

Make sure you listen to Part 1 if you haven't listened yet! In Part 2, Melissa talks all things team mentality, leadership, how she scouts, recruits, what she looks for in her team members and so much more. This is a great episode for everyone in the dance world to listen to, including dancers!

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