The students aren't your physical property but they are students of the studio, not of the teacher. Also, paperwork, students personal information, etc. are all properties of the studio and taking them is illegal.

Non-compete clauses that are reasonable can and have been honored. It has to be a realistic distance (not 15 miles or more) and for a certain length of time. There's a chance it may not be upheld but if it's reasonable it may be (and has been). The non-solicitation clause has been held up twice to my knowledge and I only know 2 people that sued because of it.

At the least it lets the teacher know that you do mean business if they fail to honor the agreement they sign and at as a deterrant(but you have to be able to follow those words with action if necessary).

There's little respect and people are into things for what they can get out of it. I would never think of stealing the efforts of my boss who has worked years for what she has and I never did. I've seen and heard of way too many that have lost everything because of the unscrupulous actions of employees. It happens in business all the time. The only difference between a big business and a dance studio is the size and that our business is a personal service one. That makes it even harder and hurt more when someone purposefully sets out to deceive us with the intention of hurting our life's work. We make enough mistakes of our own along the way!

There is room for everyone someplace, just do it like everyone else has started out and remain ethical at all times. Someday it could be your teacher doing it to you.