The odor of dance sneakers and rosin, daylight streaming in on Marley flooring and reflecting off studio mirrors, laughs of little ones excited for sophistication. Dance studios are singularly particular locations. It’s the place the magic of studying and creativity occurs. Stroll in and also you’re dwelling. Stagestep desires to shine a light-weight on these particular locations, in myriad communities all throughout the nation.
Enter their Studio of the Yr Competitors. Studios can throw their hat within the ring with just some images/movies, a bit concerning the studio, and knowledge on how they use Stagestep merchandise. The deadline to enter is August 31, 2025. Study extra and submit an entry right here!
Dance Informa speaks with Susan Crofton and Mathias Escobar with Stagestep to study extra concerning the competitors — why studios ought to think about getting into, how entrees can profit, what Stagestep hopes to see come of the competitors, and extra.
How did the Studio of the Yr Competitors begin? The place did the thought start?
“The Studio of the Yr Competitors began as a option to rejoice the unbelievable creativity and onerous work of studios that use Stagestep merchandise. We needed to create a chance to showcase the areas the place our shoppers work, bringing consideration to the distinctive environments they’ve constructed with the assistance of our high-quality flooring and dance surfaces.
The concept originated from the suggestions we’ve acquired over time, with many studios telling us how Stagestep merchandise have reworked their areas. We needed to present them a platform to indicate off their studio and encourage others locally.”
What are your most important targets for the competitors? What would you prefer to see come of it?
“Our most important purpose is to rejoice the various methods our shoppers use Stagestep merchandise to create lovely, practical and galvanizing studios. We hope to see studios showcase their creativity and exhibit how our flooring helps their artwork.
Finally, we need to encourage extra studios to consider how their bodily areas can improve their apply and create a constructive, protected setting for dancers. We additionally hope the competitors fosters a way of neighborhood amongst our shoppers, permitting them to attach and study from each other.”
Why ought to studios think about getting into? How can they profit, and what can they be a part of?
“Studios ought to think about getting into as a result of it’s a incredible option to exhibit the onerous work they put into creating the proper setting for his or her dance college students and lecturers. By getting into, studios could have the possibility to showcase how Stagestep merchandise have helped them create an area that helps their work.
Successful the competitors may additionally convey added publicity, because the successful studio will probably be featured in a full web page commercial in Dance Journal and a Dance Informa article – thus gaining consideration from the broader dance and humanities neighborhood. It’s additionally an amazing alternative to be half of a bigger neighborhood of Stagestep customers, who’re all working towards elevating their areas’ requirements.”
How would possibly you advise studios getting into? For instance, present an genuine view of your area and its ethos, exhibit what you uniquely provide college students, et cetera?
“We advise studios to indicate the persona of their area, and the way Stagestep merchandise have been built-in into their studio’s ethos. Whether or not it’s a comfy, intimate vibe or a high-energy, skilled setting, the secret’s to indicate what makes your studio distinctive.
Share photos that showcase your area in motion — whether or not it’s a dance class, rehearsal or efficiency setting — so we are able to see how Stagestep merchandise improve the expertise. Think about telling a narrative about the impression the flooring has had in your apply, reminiscent of enhancing security, sound high quality or aesthetics.”
Another steerage or phrases of encouragement for studios getting into the competitors?
“We encourage all studios to enter, regardless of the dimensions or type of their area. This competitors isn’t nearly having probably the most extravagant or largest studio; it’s about showcasing how Stagestep merchandise assist create a practical and galvanizing setting for each lecturers and college students.
Each studio has one thing particular to supply, and we are able to’t wait to see the creativity and innovation that our shoppers convey to the desk. Don’t be afraid to get inventive together with your submission — present us what makes your studio really feel like dwelling, and the way Stagestep has performed a component in that!
This can be a likelihood for studios to be a part of one thing particular celebrating the areas the place artwork and motion occur. The winner will probably be prominently featured in our editorials, and from that acquire well-deserved nationwide recognition for his or her studio’s considerate design and performance.
Whether or not you’re a small dance faculty or a big efficiency venue, we need to see how Stagestep merchandise have helped make your studio the very best it may be. We stay up for seeing your submissions. We’re excited to rejoice the unbelievable areas our shoppers have created!”
For extra info and to enter, go to stagestep.com/dance-studio-of-the-year.
By Kathryn Boland of Dance Informa.
