I need help! I have always taught at schools where technique was a forgone conclusion and dancers all understood that the hard work came before the performance.

I just opened my own studio in a small town in an isolated area where they are not exposed to much dance. While all my girls are really excited about dance, it seems like they actually don't want to learn.

I DO NOT want to be the kind of studio that produces sloppy dancers...I don't care if we are a small recreational studio! However I find myself compromising on technique to try to keep it fun for them.

How do you find that balance and set that standard at a new studio with a limited customer base?!?!

I just opened a studio this year as well and am having a similar problem. I came from a studio where technique was the main focus and they weren't allowed to take other styles of dance until they developed strong technique so by the time they got to me it was easy! All of my current dancers are excited and love to dance but don't seem to have any concept of technique. I am also trying to keep it fun without forgetting about technique. I have been working technique in the beginning of my classes when they are willing to put the effort in and are concentrating and do more "fun" combos the last 15-20 min of class. This is harder than I thought it would be!!!

Keep doing what you are doing focusing on proper technique To make it "fun", try changing up your music, adding in an exercise or two that builds team skills and make sure that yiou yourself stay excited. It will rub off

As for adding "games", don't do too m any and explain that they can do it if they work hard in class and use their technique. That way they understand that rewards comes to those that earn them

It will come, I opened my first studio in a the small village I lived in at the time and I'll never forget having to explain to one mum that her daughter really couldn't do her dancing wearing the pair of rubber boots she'd just walked into the class in, and another time explaining why jodhpurs where not appropriate for dance class. A lot of what your doing will be educating people as to what dance is, not just the children but the parents too.

Twenty three years later I still teach in rural dance schools and although I've never had the wellington boot or jodhpurs thing again I still do a lot of explaining about what a dance class is and what I expect from them in the way of effort, attendance and what makes a dancer a dancer and not a 'hop, skip and a jumper'.

Where ever you open your studio though you'll find people that have never been exposed to dance who need a few pointers, it's just a lot easier in a town where you know that you'll have a living example near by.

Put a TV in your waiting area, with a DVD/videorecorder and keep showing films (documentaries) about how to become a professional dancer.
Most kids love to see it and moms get an image of what you're trying to do (not making them professionals, but about the importance of technique). You could sit down with your students to see it together and give more background about dance as a training. But they can see the movies before and after their classes. Even if they only get 10 minutes each day they are in, it would be a big improvement.

For ballet I can suggest the films of Ilyaballet on Youtube.
A Chorus Line is great too.

Do not show the big famous 'instant success' dance movies. Kids have already seen them, or they give the wrong image. They should see about the hard work that is considered as 'normal' to improve in dance.