Behind every standout dance studio is a team of skilled, passionate instructors who inspire students and represent the values of the studio. But as any studio owner knows, finding truly great teachers—and keeping them—is one of the biggest challenges in the business. High staff turnover disrupts classes, damages relationships with students and parents, and makes it harder to grow your studio sustainably.
So how do you attract instructors who are the right fit? And more importantly, how do you keep them committed to your studio long term?
Here’s what every dance studio owner needs to know about hiring and retaining a top-tier teaching team.
1. Hire for Personality, Train for Skills (When You Can)
While dance technique and teaching experience matter, don’t underestimate the importance of personality and alignment with your studio’s culture. A technically excellent instructor who clashes with students or staff can cause more harm than good.
What to look for:
A passion for teaching and working with kids
Strong communication skills
Flexibility and willingness to grow
Alignment with your studio’s values and teaching philosophy
If a candidate checks most of the boxes but lacks experience in a certain area, consider offering mentorship or training. A teachable mindset often outweighs a perfect résumé.
2. Create a Clear and Professional Hiring Process
Your hiring process sets the tone for how instructors will view your studio. Professionalism matters. Make sure you're treating interviews and onboarding like the business-critical tasks they are.
Pro tips:
Create a clear job description with expectations, hours, pay range, and your studio’s mission.
Use a structured interview process with scenario-based questions.
Offer a trial class or audition to evaluate real-time interaction with students.
Check references and past teaching evaluations if possible.
3. Offer Competitive (and Clear) Compensation
Passion for dance is important—but your instructors still need to make a living. If you're underpaying or being vague about compensation, you're more likely to lose great teachers to studios that are more transparent and competitive.
Ideas to consider:
Offer hourly rates that reflect experience and expertise.
Consider incentives like bonuses for recital preparation, retention, or attendance.
Provide clear raises tied to performance or longevity.
Be upfront about what’s included—class prep time, meetings, costume support, etc.
4. Invest in Professional Development
The best instructors are always growing—and they’ll appreciate it when your studio supports that growth.
Ways to support development:
Provide funds or time off for workshops and certifications.
Offer in-house training on topics like classroom management or choreography.
Share performance feedback regularly in a supportive, non-critical way.
Helping instructors become better teachers boosts your studio’s quality—and builds loyalty.
5. Foster a Positive Studio Culture
Retention isn’t just about pay or perks. It’s also about how people feel when they walk through your doors. A positive, collaborative culture makes staff want to stay.
Culture-building practices:
Communicate regularly and respectfully with staff.
Celebrate wins—big and small.
Encourage collaboration rather than competition among teachers.
Avoid micromanagement and empower instructors to make decisions in their classes.
Creating a studio where teachers feel valued and heard goes a long way.
6. Recognize and Reward Loyalty
Don’t take long-term staff for granted. Teachers who stick with your studio through growth, recitals, and even challenges are worth celebrating.
Ideas to recognize commitment:
Anniversary gifts or bonuses
Public shout-outs in newsletters or social media
Opportunities for leadership or curriculum input
End-of-season appreciation events or staff awards
Recognition builds morale—and motivates others to stay committed, too.
Final Thoughts
Building a strong team of instructors isn’t a one-time task—it’s an ongoing investment in your studio’s success. When you hire intentionally, support your staff professionally, and foster a culture they want to be part of, you’ll build more than just a teaching roster. You’ll build a loyal, motivated team that elevates your entire studio.
Looking to make your staffing—and all your operations—smoother? Prosody Backstage helps dance studio owners manage staff, communication, and performance all in one place. Schedule a demo to see how our platform can help you build and retain a stronger teaching team.
