In this episode, I’m joined by Zoe Trilsbach and Kristy Wright - the powerhouse duo behind Act It Out, a progressive, curriculum-based drama program that’s reshaping the way performing arts is taught across Australia.
We dive into how their experience in the industry inspired them to create a program that bridges the gap between studio training and real-world performance careers. Zoe and Kristy share how Act It Out goes beyond fun weekly classes to develop measurable skills in confidence, communication, creativity, and consent.
Whether you’re a dance studio owner looking to expand your offering or simply curious about where performing arts education is heading, this conversation will give you fresh insight into how structure and creativity can work hand in hand to prepare the next generation of performers.
After an incredible weekend at the Business of Dance Conference in Perth, I walked away with a notebook full of insights and today, I’m sharing the six biggest lessons I learned (and how you can apply them to your studio before 2026).
In this episode, I unpack what it really means to be in a room full of growth-minded studio owners and why proximity, leadership, simplicity, and presence are the real game-changers for your business.
We’ll talk about:
Why the right environment shifts your standards
How to lead with calm, confident energy
The importance of simplifying your strategy before the new year
Turning ideas into action (without waiting for the perfect moment)
Why culture and connection matter more than any marketing plan
Whether you were at the conference or watching from afar, this episode will help you reset, refocus, and finish the year with clarity and direction.
Listen now to gain perspective, reignite your leadership, and take a few actionable lessons into 2026.
Timetabling is one of those jobs that hangs over you.
You’ll get it done...but it usually costs a few late nights, too many spreadsheets, and a lot of second-guessing.
But here’s what I believe now:
Your timetable is one of the most powerful tools in your studio.
Not because of what goes where, but because of what it unlocks.
In this replay, I walk you through the 7 steps to designing an intentional timetable that can unlock the next level of growth for your studio.
Tickets for the Business Conference are still available:
[Click Here] to get one
Marketing for dance studios is changing faster than most owners realise. In this episode, I’m joined by industry leader Sally Prendergast to unpack the hidden shift that will decide who stands out in 2026. We dive into AI, search optimisation, and content strategies that go far beyond social media, giving you the tools to get ahead while others are still playing catch-up.
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Get your tickets
When it comes to growing your studio, I think every one of us has had those late-night thoughts: “Is there a faster way? Am Imissing something? Surely it shouldn’t feel this hard all the time?”
And I want to tell you this—yes, there is a shortcut. But it’s probably not what you think.
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[BOOK IN A CALL FOR THE MASTERMIND HERE]
Want tickets and more information about The Buisness of Dance Conference [CLICK HERE]
Most of us are living at the intersection of creativity and business.
And sometimes… that intersection feels more like a head-on collision than a smooth merge lane.
Some of us love the creative side — the choreography, the class planning, the student moments. But the business side?The numbers, the systems, the growth strategy? It feels like a foreign language.
Others are the opposite — they thrive in planning, love a good spreadsheet, and secretly enjoy a to-do list... but find it hard to carve out space for creative flow.
But here’s the really exciting thing I want you to hear:
If you set your studio up right — with the right structure, systems, and support — you get to spend MORE time doing theparts you love, and LESS time getting stuck in the bits you don’t.
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Want to chat about joining the mastermind? [CLICK HERE]
It’s not about having the biggest studio. It’s not about being the loudest or the most popular. It’s not about becoming the most followed account on Instagram.
Scaling your studio is about building something that works.
It’s about creating a business that is profitable, spacious, and supportive of your life. One that gives you control, predictability, and breathing room...not burnout.
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I want you to imagine we’re on a coaching call together.
You’re sitting down with your favourite drink, your 2025 timetable open in front of you, pen in hand, and that little voice in your head saying: "Where on earth do I start?"
Well, I’m going to tell you exactly what I’d say if we were working through this side by side.
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[CLICK HERE to join me for the 2026 Timetable Power Hour]
When it comes to planning for a new year, there are so many directions you could take. You might start with your big goals, your marketing plan, your finances, or even your team structure.
All of those are important. But after decades of running a studio and now working closely with owners every day, I’ve realised there’s one place that makes everything else easier.
The timetable.
Your timetable is more than just a schedule of classes. It’s the foundation on which enrolments, retention, staffing, and growth are built.
And if you want to feel confident about where your studio is heading in 2026, the smartest place to begin is right here.
So, in today’s episode, we’re talking about why the timetable should be the starting point of your studio planning, what smart owners are already doing now, and how you can use it as a strategic tool for growth...not just a piece of admin.
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Someone asked me this question the other day:
“If you had to start all over again from scratch, what would you do first?”
But before I give you that, I want to explain why my answer is different now than it was five or ten years ago.Because being a customer...being a parent...in 2025 is different.
Now, you can roll your eyes and wish it were different, or… you can accept that it is what it is.
Then, decide how to meet it head-on in a way that still aligns with your studio values.
Want the Retention Kit Done-for-you Scripts?
In today’s episode, I’m walking you through the three mistakes I made when I was trying to strengthen enrolments and how shifting the focus to retention completely changed the game for our studio.
Let’s dive in.
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The studios that retain 85–90% of their students?
It’s not luck...it’s strategy, scripts, and systems.
In this episode, I’m sharing the exact scripts I used inside my own studio to consistently retain 90%+ of our students year after year...especially during key growth and scaling seasons.
You’ll learn:
Why retention starts long before enrolments open
How to make your conversations feel confident (not canned)
The 4 principles I use to create high-retention touchpoints across your team
🎁 Want the free Done-For-You Retention Kit?
[Click here to grab your copy], or
DM me the word “Script” on Instagram and I’ll send it straight to you.
After years of hiring, delegating, creating job roles, and navigating different personalities inside the studio, I’ve learned that successful hiring is rarely about finding someone with the perfect résumé.
Instead, it’s about finding someone who fits. Someone who gets it.
Someone who can lift the energy of the space, do their jobwell, and carry themselves with ownership - particularly when no one’s watching.
In this episode, I want to walk you through what i’ve learned - through my own experience - as a studio owner who’s tried it all.
It’s tricky, isn’t it? When you know you need help in your business, but you’re not quite sure where to start or what that help should even look like.
What should they actually be doing?
What can I realistically hand over?
And how do I know I’m structuring this right?
I get it - because I’ve lived it.
And in this episode, I walk you through exactly how the role of Studio Manager evolved inside my own business.
Not just the polished end result, but the messy, real, behind-the-scenes version too.
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And if you're listening, thinking, “This is exactly what I need help with,” know you're not alone.
Inside the Dance Studio Scaled Mastermind, this is the kind of strategic support we offer:
You get clarity on your team structure, guidance on hiring and role-building, and ongoing accountability to make sure your business works for your life.The waitlist is now open.
Even when things were messy and I felt like I was barely keeping my head above water, I always made time in July to look ahead.
In this episode, I share the raw and honest truth about what I really do in July. No fluff, no perfect systems, just whatI quietly rework behind the scenes so that I feel in control again.
Grab a notebook and let’s dive in...
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If you want someone to guide you through these decisions, to look at your team, timetable, retention, growth, and systems with you, then I want to invite you into the Dance StudioScaled Mastermind.
The waitlist is officially open....[CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WAITLIST]
I always say, it’s not about how many students you can get.
...It’s about how many you can keep.
Because when you think about it, every time you lose a student, you lose their term fee, their concert costume, their merchandise purchase, their word-of-mouth potential, andtheir impact on your community vibe.
So if we can keep more dancers longer, not only do we grow, but we grow in a way that feels grounded, connected, and joyful.
If you’re attracting the right people and making it easy for them to try a class, this part becomes really simple...but only if you’ve done the groundwork.
...Because what happens during and right after that first class? That’s where the magic is or the missed opportunity.
In Part 2 of the Simplifying Your Foundations Series, I’m diving into the next step after attracting the right families - enticing them to actually try a class.
If you’re getting enquiries but they’re not turning into bookings, this episode will walk you through what to say, what to offer, and how to make that “yes” feel like a no-brainer. From VIP enrolment bonuses to simple follow-up reminders, I’ll show you how to build trust and make trial bookings effortless.
Whether you’re just getting started or refining your enrolment flow, this episode will help you turn interest into action, without feeling salesy or overcomplicating things.
Join me as I sit down with Nadia Vella-Taranto, studio owner,teacher, talent agent, and mum...and the creator of 'Set The Scene.'
Founder of Nadia’s Performance Studio, and having spent over 20 years helping young performers , Nadia has created - 'Set The Scene' - a plug-and-play acting program designed especially for dance and performing arts studios.
It's designed to easily add acting to your studio's class schedule - no prior acting experience required from teachers!
The weekly classes are fun, structured, and designed to boost student confidence, creativity, and collaboration.
Whether you're looking to diversify your class offerings, boost enrolments, or simply engage students in a fresh new way, Set The Scene is your all-in-one solution.
Perfectly suited for primary-aged students, this program integrates seamlessly into your existing timetable and adds a powerful performance layer to your studio's curriculum.
Launching soon in the USA and Canada
Want to know more???
Check out the links below:
One minute it’s AI, the next it’s TikTok, and somehow you’re also meant to be designing concert packs, replying to enquiries, and thinking about retention, all before 9am.
If your brain feels full, your list feels endless, and you’re wondering how on earth you’re meant to grow your studio when you can barely keep up, you are not alone.
If you want to scale, you have to simplify...and that is what this episode is all about.
