What 2025 Taught Us — And Where Dance Studios Are Headed in 2026
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
Release Date: 12/15/2025
Building a Career from Dancer to Artistic Director with Alicia Graf Mack
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
Dance education is evolving , and studio owners are standing right at the center of it. As our industry evolves, the studios that will thrive are the ones willing to look beyond technique and toward something deeper: leadership, curiosity, collaboration, and belonging. In this powerful conversation, Olivia Mode-Cater and Inner Circle Program Director Lisa DeMaio sit down with Alicia Graf Mack, newly named Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, to explore what it truly means to prepare dancers for the future, not just the...
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How Studio Owners Can Strengthen Their Visibility and Capacity in 2026 with Lisa Fabrega
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
You don’t need more strategy. You need more capacity. If you’ve ever wondered why you're working harder than ever but not seeing the growth you expected, this episode will feel like a deep exhale. Leadership mentor and capacity expert Lisa Fabrega returns for a conversation that every studio owner needs to hear before stepping into a new year of growth. Lisa breaks down the six “visibility levers” that determine how you show up as a leader, how you attract the right families, and how you sustain momentum without burning out. From pricing to team to positioning, she reveals why many...
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What 2025 Taught Us — And Where Dance Studios Are Headed in 2026
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
In this reflective solo episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater takes studio owners on a powerful journey through the biggest lessons of 2025—and the mindset shifts required to thrive in 2026. From the collapse of one-size-fits-all marketing to the rise of authentic content and the return of belonging, Olivia breaks down the trends shaping the dance industry and the internal leadership work every studio owner must embrace. She shares the three actions that helped top-performing studios escape hustle culture, the hidden truth about the “re-tiering” of your...
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The Offer Blueprint Every Studio Owner Needs (Part 2) with Roland Frasier
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
This episode is Part 2 of our powerful two-part series with global business strategist and offer-creation expert Roland Frasier. And if Part 1 cracked open what studio offers can be, Part 2 is the masterclass that shows you how to actually build them. In this jam-packed final installment, Olivia Mode-Cater and Roland go deep into the psychology, structure, and strategy behind high-converting trial offers, premium incentives, and event-based enrollment systems that reliably turn curious families into committed students. If you’ve ever struggled with no-shows, low-quality leads, or families...
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The Offer Blueprint Every Studio Owner Needs (Part 1 ) with Roland Frasier
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
In this practical and powerful episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater sits down with strategic growth expert Roland Frasier to unpack the science, structure, and psychology behind offers that actually convert. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the “feast or famine” cycle, struggled with free trials, or wondered why some offers fall flat while others take off, this conversation will completely reframe how you approach enrollment. Roland breaks down the nine emotional drivers that influence families to choose your studio, the core objectives behind irresistible...
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Forget 20% Off — Create an Experience They’ll Never Forget
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
In this powerful episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, CEO and DSOA mentor Olivia Mode-Cater dives into the Black Friday strategies that actually work for dance studios and why most studio owners miss this massive opportunity. Using the nostalgic example of Build-A-Bear's holiday marketing genius, Olivia breaks down how to shift from forgettable discounts to irresistible experiences that spark emotion, build loyalty, and bring in new dancers before the new year even begins. You’ll explore the psychology behind seasonal spending, the danger of blending into the marketing noise,...
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What Families Remember Most (and Why It Keeps Them Enrolled)
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
In this inspiring episode of Transform My Dance Studio, Olivia Mode-Cater sits down with Inner Circle mentor and long-time studio owner Loren Specht to explore how the holiday season can be your biggest opportunity to build connection and loyalty. Together they unpack Barrett Brooks’ framework of trust and excellence—and how those two words can transform your culture, customer experience, and retention. From creating beloved traditions like the Nutcracker and Holiday Showcase to small-moment magic at the front desk, Loren shares how intentional consistency, community, and care can turn the...
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Make December Your Most Joyful—and Profitable—Month Yet
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
In this heart-warming and strategy-packed episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater sits down with Inner Circle mentor and Los Angeles studio owner Jodi Shilling to talk about one of the toughest seasons for studio owners—the holidays. When attendance dips and families get busy, Jodi shares how she keeps her dancers coming back year after year through community, simplicity, and a little festive magic. From The Cracked Nut to pajama week, discover how to transform your December from stressful to joyful—and why “easy” might be your most powerful...
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How To Avoid Holiday Burnout and November Drop‑Outs
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
In this insightful and relatable episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater sits down with Rosina Andrews, author, educator, and host of The Dance Smarter Podcast, to unpack one of the biggest challenges in the studio calendar—the November slump. Together, they break down why student motivation dips, how family schedules and burnout collide, and the practical ways to protect retention and community when stress levels are high. You’ll walk away with strategies to keep your students showing up, your parents communicating, and your team thriving through the...
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How to Turn Events Into Revenue Machines
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
In this empowering solo episode, Transform My Dance Studio host and DSOA CEO Olivia Mode-Cater flips the script on recital season. What if your recital wasn’t just a show—but your studio’s biggest retention and revenue driver? Olivia dives into how to make your recitals a celebration that’s as profitable as it is meaningful. You’ll learn exactly how to turn your biggest event into a loyalty-building, memory-making machine that keeps families coming back year after year. From tiered ticket pricing to program shout-outs and backstage busy bags, Olivia shares five simple yet powerful...
info_outlineIn this reflective solo episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater takes studio owners on a powerful journey through the biggest lessons of 2025—and the mindset shifts required to thrive in 2026. From the collapse of one-size-fits-all marketing to the rise of authentic content and the return of belonging, Olivia breaks down the trends shaping the dance industry and the internal leadership work every studio owner must embrace.
She shares the three actions that helped top-performing studios escape hustle culture, the hidden truth about the “re-tiering” of your customer avatar post-COVID, and why leaning into video, humanity, and personal branding will become non-negotiable in 2026. Olivia also offers a vulnerable look at her own mistakes, the power of pruning, and a simple year-end exercise that will reshape your leadership for the year ahead.
If you’ve felt overwhelmed, stretched thin, or unsure why this year felt different, this masterclass-style episode will bring clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose heading into the new year.
What You’ll Learn:
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Why 2025 marked a fundamental shift in student behavior, engagement, and expectations.
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The three things successful studios did to break free from busyness and burnout.
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How the “customer avatar reset” is impacting enrollment—and how to adapt your marketing.
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Why authenticity beats AI every time (and what kinds of content families trust now).
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How automation frees you to be more human—and why enrollment is now an emotional experience.
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Why Canva posts are dead and video is essential for visibility and connection.
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The key numbers every studio owner must know to make confident decisions.
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How belonging is becoming your biggest competitive advantage in a digital-first world.
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Why studio owners MUST develop a personal brand—and how to start without oversharing.
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The power of pruning: how to cut back to grow, reclaim your time, and step into CEO leadership.
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A simple end-of-year reflection ritual that sets the foundation for an intentional 2026.
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