Case Study: Fleur Elizabeth Academy of Dance: Simplifying Administration to Focus on Students
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5 min read
“Everything is just a click of a button away. It’s easy to navigate, and the team is brilliant.”
— Fleur, Founder, Fleur Elizabeth Academy of Dance
About Fleur Elizabeth Academy of Dance
Fleur Elizabeth had always been destined to run a successful dance academy. Before founding the Fleur Elizabeth Academy of Dance, she trained at Pattison's Dance Academy in Coventry as a child, and then at Leeds Dance College for teacher training.
After performing professionally for a short period, her passion shifted to teaching, a path she has followed ever since. Fleur is an ISTD-qualified teacher and a licentiate of the ISTD, and she often describes her academy as her “first child.”
The Fleur Elizabeth Academy has been running for 34 years, with thousands of students having passed through its doors. The academy is a community-focused school, fostering creativity, confidence, and personal growth in children of all ages, from toddlers taking their first dance steps in Dinky Dancers classes to 18-year-olds refining their skillsand heading into professional training and the world of performance.
Fleur has built the school into a supportive environment that inspires students, encourages long-term participation, and prioritises each child’s growth and enjoyment. Over the years, Fleur has taught and inspired a whole generation of dancers, a fantastic legacy and achievement.
Classes, Programmes, and Opportunities
Fleur Elizabeth Academy offers a wide range of lessons, including ballet, tap, acro, singing, modern, and acrobatic arts. Lessons and structured programmes are delivered across the academy, with options for children at all stages of development.
Students are supported through:
Exams in ISTD ballet, tap, and modern
Performance opportunities, including in-house shows and local events
Competition opportunities for pupils of all ages, skills, and genres, building confidence and equality within the academy.
Community engagement, performing at local care homes, and supporting the local villages by dancing at events
Special events, including workshops, summer schools, theatre trips, and FEAD community activities
The academy also runs boys-only classes, currently serving 35 children aged 5–14, providing a dedicated space for boys to learn, collaborate, and be creative. These classes are among the fastest-growing at the academy, reflecting Fleur’s commitment to inclusive opportunities.
Fleur takes particular pride in her upper school, which currently has 65 students, an achievement given that this is typically the age when students begin to leave dance or explore other interests.
Challenges Before Class Manager
Before Class Manager, Fleur managed all administration manually. She was a self-described technophobe, relying on paper forms, handwritten invoices (which were often corrected using Tippex), and a receptionist to greet students. It was a long and laborious process:
Writing and checking invoices
Handing invoices to parents
Tracking payments and chasing late payments
Repeating the cycle regularly
This sat alongside all other responsibilities: scheduling classes, enrolling students, planning events, communicating with parents, and marketing the academy. Managing these tasks manually consumed hours every week.
Why Class Manager and How It Helped
After adopting Class Manager, dance studio management software, Fleur found all aspects of running the academy seamless and manageable. She can now see instantly who has opened invoices, who has paid, and who has attended classes.
“Schools that don’t move with technological advances are at risk of being left behind. Using Class Manager has allowed us to step into the 21st century and focus on what children need.”
Fleur also uses Stage Stubs, Class Manager’s sister platform, for event ticketing. The system is easy for both Fleur and her VP (a former student, who returned to the studio and now runs it alongside Fleur) to manage, and parents find it simple to use.
“Everything is just a click of a button away. Pretty easy to navigate.”
Fleur also praises the Class Manager support team:
“All good experiences with the staff. Rob’s brilliant, Matt is brilliant, everyone is so kind and helpful.”
The Impact
With Class Manager, Fleur has been able to:
Automate invoicing and payments
Streamline event ticketing
Save hours of administrative work
Implement new initiatives, like boys-only classes
Focus on teaching, mentoring, and community engagement
The time saved has allowed Fleur and her team to concentrate on what matters most: providing high-quality dance education, inspiring students, and supporting the community.
Supporting Continued Growth
After 34 years, Fleur Elizabeth Academy continues to thrive. Class Manager provides the structure and reliability needed to manage administration efficiently, allowing the team to focus on student experience and community activities. Fleur can now continue to innovate, expand programmes, and inspire the next generation of dancers with confidence.
Follow Fleur Elizabeth Academy on Facebook and Instagram. Want to see how Class Manager can help you, like it's helped Fleur? Book a demo with our team.
