Hey everyone,
I just wanted maybe some help or words of encouragement. I have had enough. I'm tired of the parents taking advantage of me, of no one appreciating how much work and time I put into things. I'm tired of the kids not caring nearly half as much as I do. My studio is completely recreational, because if it wasn't, I wouldn't have any students. There is no one in this area that wants to dance for a living. This town is all about sports, and school sports. I've just had enough. I'm tired of not getting paid on time and having to fight and have confrontations with people. I'm also tired of getting weather updates sent to my phone or nasty text messages, or just silly ones that say "hi" from some dancers. I am really tired of stressing out about trying to make my recital and competition routines perfect so that hopefully my enrollment will grow and then I have dancers that don't show up and don't care and I can't motivate these kids. Maybe it's me.... but I've tried. I've tried it all. I've gotten some of the best advice on here and it's helped me a lot. I've been doing my own studio for 6 years, and I'm young. I'm still just 24. And I'm tired and ready for something else.
I am really sad to leave some of my students. I know I won't see them, hardly ever. I had a few families that really really enjoyed and appreciated me. I guess, just not enough. It's hard... Thanks for reading my vent. When I finally decided to call it quits after this recital, I could just feel the stress leave my body. I don't have to impress the audience, we can just have fun. That's what it should have always been about. Thanks.

Miss Natalie

I hope that the decision that you make is the right one for you. Obviously we can't help you on this one, but if you ever need to talk remember you can still come here. I stopped teaching this year-partially because I wanted to, partially because the last studio I was at closed. I felt alot of the same things as you are and I pretty much knew it was the right decision for me at the time. As much as I love the stress relief of it all, I still miss it-just about every single day. I don't know whether this is something you have been thinking about for a while or just up and decided to do, but make sure you think about the things you will miss just as much as what you won't. I also think you should talk to JLL(I hope you don't mind me doing this to you JLL) but she always has great advice and as I recall she gave up her own studio a few years ago.

Good luck in whatever you do decide to do, and remember if you ever need anything you know where to come. Hopefully we will still see you around here, we can still use your advice!

Hi
I just had to reply to your post because it made me so sad!
I think as dance teachers we can all relate to your experiences and feeling the way you have felt at times.

You sound to me as if you really love dance and love teaching dance and if those other things were not bothering you then you would continue your business.....So I have some suggestions if you really do want to continue your studio....

My first suggestion would be to take a look at all the things that are making you feeling badly and find ways to change them!....It sounds like all you need is change. If you want to have a competitive team or people to appreciate your hard work find a way to do that....take a small business course or look into books on dealing with people. Go take an out of town dance teachers course, talk to other studio owners....I am a true believer in if there is a will there is a way!!!

Or...if you really feel that owning a business is not for you and will not make you happy...then there are still TONS of ways to keep dance and/or dance teaching and choreography and all that in your life....there are so many possibilities!

Anyways...best of luck with everything!
Cheers,
Goldfinger's Girl

I understand where you are coming from. It was a long, hard fight for me in a sports town, too, but I kept trucking along. I got tougher and tougher, and slowly, things turned around.

I retired because my life had many changes and it was not because I did not like running my school. My son had died a few years earlier, my husband retired due to it and then my daughter got pregnant, with the sperm donor taking off (we do not call him a father). I decided that my family came first, that I needed to be more with them.

I decided to start out small, with another school and I am very happy where I am but I do not have to put in the hours that I once did, take the pressure of running it all. It was a good decision.

I really miss my former students, but we keep in touch on facebook and myspace, and some I see regularly. I am now forging new relationships with great students and parents and, sort of like graduating and moving on... you miss it but then life starts to become different and new and exciting, and then it is all a great memory.

You have to do what is good for you. You need time for YOU to think and breathe and maybe it is not giving up but changing things... and maybe it is.

If you have difficult people, get rid of them and start anew. Just do not let them sign up (class is filled, we will call you). Get an office manager, if you can, to handle non-dance issues.

If that does not work, find a nice place to work, like I did, and enjoy the best of both worlds. Whatever you choose, let it be your decision and then go for it 100%

Hugs!!

My SO is going through the same thing...I just got told that I probably wouldn't have a job to go to since they were most likely closing down the studio. I was sad but at the same time I totally understand! They put all there money into it and don't even get a paycheck, there are parents who owe them a ton of money and of course all the complaints about this or that! I think you probably have thought long and hard about this just like they did...we've been praying too! It is what it is you know...if your not having fun anymore because of all the BS then maybe it is time to call it a day! I'll pray for your situation too! Good luck!

I have the exact same problems in my location. (I live in an adjoining township, so I didn't know up front.) It was a booming township 30 years ago when the original owner started my dance school. Now it's shrinking as the homes/lots are so small, it works as a starter (no children) or empty nester (retirees.) The families remaining are recent immigrants on tight budgets, even with moms working full time. There are half the number of young children, and triple the number of dance schools. When I bought the school about six years ago, I was leaving my corporate job, and looking to be self-employed, and had very successfully taught dance for others part-time. I've invested too much of my time and money to give up so here's what I did to survive.

I sublet to other forms of dance (who struggle also, so I know it's just not me.) I got certifications in fitness, and I started teaching ballroom dance - which I had pursued as a hobby. There's a big market for wedding couples' first dance and I found my niche by being available last minute for them. (The franchise ballroom studios turn them away.) Thanks to my satisfied brides & grooms, I was recruited to teach at Adult Night Schools, which pay well, and I get rave reviews.

It breaks my heart that this is a sports town, where coaches put down dance, and my students are ridiculed by their peers. Also, musical theater is so big, (there's four local theater groups, plus school shows), it's the reason why I'll remain a rec school, which was never my intent. My students miss a lot too for these activities, and I have to put up with it, or I'll have no students at all!

Reading the comments of other SO's here is enlightening, but also demoralizing for me, because they're blessed with a good location, and don't appreciate my predicament. Perhaps they think there must be a reason why I struggle ;~( Instead, I hope I can warn them that the tide may turn someday, so be aware!

I want to start off by saying Look what you have accomplished at such a young age! Opening your school at 18 and meeting all the challenges that go with it. My heart does break for you though as I'm sure you started this with so much anticipation and enthusiasm only to be somewhat disillusioned. I agree with some of the other posts that you sound like you love dance and inspiring other young dancers. You don't have to quit as you found your answer at the end of your post when you said it should be fun. I believe you are going to find a way to do this and not deal with the stress of being the SO. You are so young that you can always go back and try that again down the road if you wish. I opened my own school two years ago after years of teaching for others and I am old enough to be your mother. I love it but it is on my own terms. It has its challenges and momentary headaches but when I watch my little dancers and the amazing progress they have made in these 3 years I am so happy to be doing what I do. Good luck Miss Natalie and enjoy your recital!

I, too, am heartbroken by your post. But I also know exactly what you are going through. I don't own the studio, but I do most of the teaching and it gets to be such a struggle when girls don't want to come to class because they are the baseball manager or whatever it is.
I get leaned on a lot by the SO because I have such a great rapport with my parents and am trying to build up our recreational dance studio through our youngest dancers. I am trying to re train their way of thinking early. We are dancers and that is what we do... Dance. I hope you have a great recital and, although I am sure you have really thought it out thoroughly, I hope you decide to stay with it.
Many hugs

I too decided this was my last year teaching...my reasons were much the same as yours, but it also came down to this: If I could only participate in a dance activity one day a week would I dance or would I teach??? I decided that even at 46, I still have a few good years left. I realized that I am the only one I can hold to my standards of timeliness, proper dance etiquette (would it kill you to curtsy and applaud at the end of class?) and hard work (sweat? What's that??) without students and parents pushing back...I'll be the little old lady in the corner at the barre just chugging along...So, let me just say to all those disheartened dance teachers out there: I hope YOU DANCE!!!! Feed your souls....Go Bless...

You go girl!!!!

That's exactly what I'm doing. Just dancing. I moved to a new city this past week and instead of teaching again, I've decided that I need to find my love and passion for dance again. So for now....I am dancing.

well good luck with that and I hope that you will find you passion for DANCE again!!
take care

maybe you just need some time off... take a year to not dance? After I started uni I got really burnt out, and that paired with a horrible ballet teacher at uni and a lying SO boss meant I was just over dancing, so I quit. Everyone was sooooooo shocked but I just didn't enjoy it anymore... After about 8 months a started getting back into it slowly, doing classes, teaching a few classes, and finally realised that it is what I want to do. So maybe you just need a bit of a holiday?

You may just need a break for a few years. You opened up quite young and I feel like sometimes younger studio owners have a harder time standing up to parents. Maybe teach for someone else for a while until you are ready to give it another shot...when you do- don't give out your personal cell phone, set rules and stick to them, and hire someone to run the office and be the "bad guy" if you have a hard time with that....

Lastly- never underestimate the value of recreational dance. You never know who will decide to take it more seriously because you have inspired them to. Also, even in studios that are heavily competitive, only a small percentage of those kids go on to dance professionally. You are playing an important role in their lives and teaching them more than you know- even if they only dance a few hours a week.

Good luck, enjoy your break, and if its meant to be that you open a school, then it will happen.....

Hi Natalie...I've been where you are and I've got to tell you that you are too young to be experiencing burn-out. It sounds like you put your heart and soul into your studio and you've been getting your heart and soul broken. I applaud your bravery for taking the big step of closing your school. Always remember that when God closes a door he always opens a window. When you can step back and breathe you will find that there is something out there that will feed your spirit and allow you to be involved with dance in another way. Whether it's teaching for someone else, teaching in a school system or teaching in a pre-school you will find that this may be a blessing in disguise. If you go to work everyday dreading what the day will bring..you shouldn't be doing it. Watch old recital
videos of the last six years and pat yourself on the back for all of your talents and all you have accomplished over the years. I wish you much luck in your quest to reinvent yourself...that's what keeps life interesting!

You started too young on your own! I did the same thing and WOW,it was horrible. Then I went and danced myself,(VERY IMPORTANT) hung out with dancers and teachers, watched classes and made money much easier than teaching. Now MANY years later I'm teaching again and I like it! I also learned how to say no,quickly oust students and parents who disturb the vibe of the class and I ask for help if I need it. Relax and enjoy dance for yourself for a while. Maybe you'll find your way back to teaching or coaching. I certainly hope you still love the art.

i'm the same age as you and haven't accomplished half of what you have done. pat yourself on the back honey! take a breather, you deserve it. we can all identify with how you're feeling. i hope you do continue to teach somewhere becuase i know you're a great teacher.

hope to still see you around.