In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts

Ep 62 - Building an Inclusive Dance Studio: Scholarships, Special Needs Programs & Student Leadership with Anna Rose

47 min · 2. Juni 2026
Episode Ep 62 - Building an Inclusive Dance Studio: Scholarships, Special Needs Programs & Student Leadership with Anna Rose Cover

Beschreibung

In this episode of In the Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts, Robin Snyder-Wiencek down with dance educator Anna Rose, founder of Dreamer's Dance Company in Dunedin, Florida, to talk about what it really looks like to build a studio where every student can belong. Anna shares her journey from early training (including seasons where finances were tight) to teaching in public schools, and ultimately growing Dreamer's Dance Company from an after-school program into a thriving studio serving around 380 students. A major focus of the conversation is Dreamer's scholarship model, including the Susan Rose Bonanno Memorial Fund, which supports dancers with financial need through a thoughtful application process and a culture of dignity and fairness. Anna breaks down how the fund is sustained through fundraising events, recital ticket sales, and community contributions, and how work-study opportunities help students build ownership, responsibility, and leadership. We also dive into accessibility for dancers with special needs; how Anna integrates many students into mainstream classes and how her dedicated special needs program is staffed and supported (including trained teachers and student assistants). Along the way, Anna shares practical strategies for parent communication, building a respectful studio culture, and developing student leaders who care for the community around them. You’ll also hear a few personal moments, like the story of Anna getting married at her studio recital, and what she’s building next with her new initiative, Dance Studio Audit, designed to support other studio owners with real, human mentorship. Find Dreamers Dance Co: Search Dreamers Dance Co on Facebook or Instagram. Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EMCPerformingArtsStudio/] EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emcperformingartsstudio/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/InTheSpotlightPod/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/inthespotlightpod/] Interested in Classes at EMC? Learn More About Us Here [https://danceemc.com/]

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Alle Folgen

69 Folgen

Episode Ep 69: Inside EMC: Understanding the Rungs of the Ladder Cover

Ep 69: Inside EMC: Understanding the Rungs of the Ladder

This week, the conversation between Robin and Santina, touches on all things understanding the Rungs of the Ladder within EMC.  Get Your Brick and Support the Podcast: For $10 off your brick and to give $10 to the podcast, click HERE [https://getbrick.app/?_ab=0&_fd=0&_sc=1&snowball=ROBIN57558].  Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EMCPerformingArtsStudio/] EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emcperformingartsstudio/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/InTheSpotlightPod/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/inthespotlightpod/]

21. Juli 202623 min
Episode Ep 68: Beyond the Stage: Building a Sustainable Dance Career with Ian Howe Cover

Ep 68: Beyond the Stage: Building a Sustainable Dance Career with Ian Howe

In this episode, Ian Howe shares his dynamic journey through the dance industry, from competitive dancer to cruise ship performer, and ultimately to studio owner and educator. He offers valuable insight into the wide range of career paths available to dancers beyond high school, emphasizing the importance of resilience, adaptability, and long-term vision. Ian opens up about the realities of performing on cruise ships, the transition from artist to entrepreneur, and the ongoing challenge of balancing creative passion with business responsibilities. He also reflects on the impact of COVID-19 on performing arts professionals and the growing need for mental resilience in an ever-changing industry. This conversation is a must-listen for dancers, educators, and studio owners alike who are looking to build not just a career, but a fulfilling, flexible lifestyle in the performing arts. Connect With Ian  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ianhowedancer/] Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EMCPerformingArtsStudio/] EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emcperformingartsstudio/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/InTheSpotlightPod/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/inthespotlightpod/] Interested in Classes at EMC? Learn More About Us Here [https://danceemc.com/]

14. Juli 202645 min
Episode Ep 67 - Why We Don't Compete and Why Our Dancers Thrive Cover

Ep 67 - Why We Don't Compete and Why Our Dancers Thrive

Robin and Santina go head-to-head with dance's most polarizing topic! They chat about why EMC has spent 35 years intentionally staying out of the competition circuit and how that choice hasn't cost their dancers a thing. Robin traces it back to her own training at the Baltimore School for the Arts and a marketing decision in early-2000s Pennsylvania, then dives into the real cost of "teaching to the tricks" like lopsided technique, inconsistent judging panels with no governing body, and studios chasing trophies instead of artistry. Santina adds her own competition-world experience from Australia, and together they unpack how EMC fills the calendar (and the adrenaline) with productions, company trips, and mentorship instead of scores, proving the process can matter more than the podium. This one's for every family trying to figure out which world is actually right for their dancer! Get Your Brick and Support the Podcast: For $10 off your brick and to give $10 to the podcast, click HERE [https://getbrick.app/?_ab=0&_fd=0&_sc=1&snowball=ROBIN57558].  Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EMCPerformingArtsStudio/] EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emcperformingartsstudio/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/InTheSpotlightPod/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/inthespotlightpod/]

7. Juli 202633 min
Episode Ep 66: Flipping the Script with Will Tijerina: When a Veteran, an Actor, and a UPS Driver Turn Dance Studio Owner Cover

Ep 66: Flipping the Script with Will Tijerina: When a Veteran, an Actor, and a UPS Driver Turn Dance Studio Owner

Will Tijerina had no dance background when he became co-owner of Dance 360 Orlando. What he did have: military discipline, corporate logistics experience, and a belief that performing arts build leaders. Robin met Will at a certified coaches training through More Than Just Great Dancing and this conversation picks up right where that left off. On this show, we talk a lot about how performing arts training prepares students for the world. This time, we flip the script and explore how the world prepared Will for the performing arts. They dig into what it really takes to grow a studio, why you have to stop putting out every fire yourself, and how the lessons we teach on the stage show up everywhere else in life. If you've ever told a nervous student that their butterflies are just rocket fuel waiting to launch… this episode is for you! Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EMCPerformingArtsStudio/] EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emcperformingartsstudio/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/InTheSpotlightPod/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/inthespotlightpod/] Interested in Classes at EMC? Learn More About Us Here [https://danceemc.com/]

30. Juni 202631 min
Episode Ep 65: The EMC Way (Part 2) Cover

Ep 65: The EMC Way (Part 2)

In Part 2, Robin picks up the story in Pennsylvania; the historic hardware store she knew was hers the second she walked in, the nail-biting negotiation her dad told her not to get emotionally invested in (spoiler: she did), and the husband who renovated 20,000 square feet room by room. Two decades later, she's running EMC from Florida and somehow more inspired than ever. This one's for every family who's ever wondered what this place is actually made of. Get Your Brick and Support the Podcast: For $10 off your brick and to give $10 to the podcast, click HERE [https://getbrick.app/?_ab=0&_fd=0&_sc=1&snowball=ROBIN57558].  Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EMCPerformingArtsStudio/] EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emcperformingartsstudio/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/InTheSpotlightPod/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/inthespotlightpod/]

23. Juni 202625 min