A new student's first month: a checklist for studios

Most students who leave a studio leave in the first weeks. This is a short list for owners and teachers to make the first month count.

14 items 4 phases

01 Before the first lesson

• Take their details and what they want Name, contact, any injuries, and why they came: a wedding, fitness, social dancing or competing. Intro lesson
• Match them with a teacher By schedule, style and what they want. The first teacher often becomes the long-term one. Teacher
• Send a welcome message Time, address, parking, what to wear and that dance shoes are not needed yet. Dance shoes

02 The first lesson

• Greet them at the door Show them where to change and introduce them to whoever is at the desk.
• Give them an early success One dance they can do by the end of the lesson. A basic movement in a dance they asked for. Basic movementIntro lesson
• Write the lesson up What you covered and what to practise, so the next lesson starts where this one ended, whoever teaches it. Practice
• Book the next lesson before they leave And explain the options: packages, memberships and group classes. PackageMembershipGroup class

03 The first two weeks

• Invite them to a group class It builds confidence and lets them meet other students. Group class
• Bring them to a practice party Introduce them to two or three students at a similar level. Practice party
• Check in after each lesson A short message with what they learned and when the next lesson is.

04 By the end of the month

• Agree a first goal A showcase, a medal test, a wedding date or simply a dance they want to master. ShowcaseMedal test
• Set a regular lesson plan A fixed weekly time keeps them coming and lets them see progress. Private lessonPackage
• Show them their progress Which figures they have learned and what comes next in the syllabus. SyllabusBronze
• Ask how it is going What they enjoy, what is hard, and whether the times still suit them. Small fixes now keep students for years.

In DanceFlow, a new student's lessons, notes and package sit in one record that every teacher at the studio can see, so the second lesson starts where the first ended.

Words on this list

Intro lessonTeacherDance shoesBasic movementPracticePackageMembershipGroup classPractice partyShowcaseMedal testPrivate lessonSyllabusBronze

More checklists

• Your first competition 32 items
• Plan a competition season 25 items
• Your first showcase 17 items

Plan the season where the lessons already are

DanceFlow keeps a studio's lessons, students, packages and competition plans in one place, and each student sees their own. Free to start.