Dance School Vs Dance Studio: The Key Differences

Dance school vs Dance Studio. Understanding the key differences between a dance school and a dance studio is essential if you’re about to embark on the journey of opening one.

Let’s dive in.

Dance school vs Dance Studio. Understanding the key differences between a dance school and a dance studio is essential if you’re about to embark on the journey of opening one.

Let’s dive in.

Dance school vs Dance Studio. Understanding the key differences between a dance school and a dance studio is essential if you’re about to embark on the journey of opening one.

Let’s dive in.

Dance school vs Dance Studio. Understanding the key differences between a dance school and a dance studio is essential if you’re about to embark on the journey of opening one.

Let’s dive in.

Dance school vs Dance Studio. Understanding the key differences between a dance school and a dance studio is essential if you’re about to embark on the journey of opening one.

Let’s dive in.

Differences between a Dance School & Dance Studio

Dance Studio

In most cases, a dance studio is a business run by a teacher or professional that offers a range of dance genres to the general public—including toddlers, children, and adults of all ages and abilities.

Classes are typically held outside of children’s normal educational hours and are considered additional or recreational activities for both children and adults.

Dance Studio

In most cases, a dance studio is a business run by a teacher or professional that offers a range of dance genres to the general public—including toddlers, children, and adults of all ages and abilities.

Classes are typically held outside of children’s normal educational hours and are considered additional or recreational activities for both children and adults.

Dance Studio

In most cases, a dance studio is a business run by a teacher or professional that offers a range of dance genres to the general public—including toddlers, children, and adults of all ages and abilities.

Classes are typically held outside of children’s normal educational hours and are considered additional or recreational activities for both children and adults.

Dance Studio

In most cases, a dance studio is a business run by a teacher or professional that offers a range of dance genres to the general public—including toddlers, children, and adults of all ages and abilities.

Classes are typically held outside of children’s normal educational hours and are considered additional or recreational activities for both children and adults.

Dance Studio

In most cases, a dance studio is a business run by a teacher or professional that offers a range of dance genres to the general public—including toddlers, children, and adults of all ages and abilities.

Classes are typically held outside of children’s normal educational hours and are considered additional or recreational activities for both children and adults.

Dance Schools

A dance school is more similar to a traditional educational institution. Dance schools typically offer a structured, curriculum-based approach to teaching dance. Instead of labeling classes as recreational, the focus is on formal training, often to prepare students for a career in the dance industry.

While both dance schools and dance studios may offer competitions, exams, and recitals, these tend to be more formal in a dance school setting and can significantly impact a student’s progression or future within the school.

Dance schools are often affiliated with production companies, giving students a vast number of opportunities to perform.

Dance Schools

A dance school is more similar to a traditional educational institution. Dance schools typically offer a structured, curriculum-based approach to teaching dance. Instead of labeling classes as recreational, the focus is on formal training, often to prepare students for a career in the dance industry.

While both dance schools and dance studios may offer competitions, exams, and recitals, these tend to be more formal in a dance school setting and can significantly impact a student’s progression or future within the school.

Dance schools are often affiliated with production companies, giving students a vast number of opportunities to perform.

Dance Schools

A dance school is more similar to a traditional educational institution. Dance schools typically offer a structured, curriculum-based approach to teaching dance. Instead of labeling classes as recreational, the focus is on formal training, often to prepare students for a career in the dance industry.

While both dance schools and dance studios may offer competitions, exams, and recitals, these tend to be more formal in a dance school setting and can significantly impact a student’s progression or future within the school.

Dance schools are often affiliated with production companies, giving students a vast number of opportunities to perform.

Dance Schools

A dance school is more similar to a traditional educational institution. Dance schools typically offer a structured, curriculum-based approach to teaching dance. Instead of labeling classes as recreational, the focus is on formal training, often to prepare students for a career in the dance industry.

While both dance schools and dance studios may offer competitions, exams, and recitals, these tend to be more formal in a dance school setting and can significantly impact a student’s progression or future within the school.

Dance schools are often affiliated with production companies, giving students a vast number of opportunities to perform.

Dance Schools

A dance school is more similar to a traditional educational institution. Dance schools typically offer a structured, curriculum-based approach to teaching dance. Instead of labeling classes as recreational, the focus is on formal training, often to prepare students for a career in the dance industry.

While both dance schools and dance studios may offer competitions, exams, and recitals, these tend to be more formal in a dance school setting and can significantly impact a student’s progression or future within the school.

Dance schools are often affiliated with production companies, giving students a vast number of opportunities to perform.

dance studeo instagram posts being indexed on Google

Other differences include:

Curriculum: Both dance schools and studios may offer a curriculum, but a dance school’s program is typically more comprehensive.

It often includes dance history, technique, rhythm counting, theory, choreography, and more. In contrast, a dance studio’s curriculum tends to emphasize the fun and expressive aspects of dance, with less focus on professional training.

(Although that’s not to say a student can’t go on to study at a dance school after discovering a love for dance at their local studio.)
Faculty: While both dance schools and dance studios have knowledgeable, skilled, and capable dance teachers, dance schools often have a more extensive and specialized faculty.

This may include not only dance instructors but also principals, a management team, and additional support staff.

Dance schools frequently have dedicated administrative and marketing teams as well. In contrast, in many dance studios, these responsibilities are typically handled solely by the studio owner. (You dance studio owners wear a lot of hats!)

Entry Requirements: Dance studios typically follow an “all are welcome” approach, where individuals of any age or ability can join and are placed in a class that best suits their level and needs.

In contrast, dance schools often have more rigorous admission requirements. These may include set enrollment periods, auditions, or even interviews to ensure that a student’s skills and goals align with the school’s standards and offerings.

Other differences include:

Curriculum: Both dance schools and studios may offer a curriculum, but a dance school’s program is typically more comprehensive.

It often includes dance history, technique, rhythm counting, theory, choreography, and more. In contrast, a dance studio’s curriculum tends to emphasize the fun and expressive aspects of dance, with less focus on professional training.

(Although that’s not to say a student can’t go on to study at a dance school after discovering a love for dance at their local studio.)
Faculty: While both dance schools and dance studios have knowledgeable, skilled, and capable dance teachers, dance schools often have a more extensive and specialized faculty.

This may include not only dance instructors but also principals, a management team, and additional support staff.

Dance schools frequently have dedicated administrative and marketing teams as well. In contrast, in many dance studios, these responsibilities are typically handled solely by the studio owner. (You dance studio owners wear a lot of hats!)

Entry Requirements: Dance studios typically follow an “all are welcome” approach, where individuals of any age or ability can join and are placed in a class that best suits their level and needs.

In contrast, dance schools often have more rigorous admission requirements. These may include set enrollment periods, auditions, or even interviews to ensure that a student’s skills and goals align with the school’s standards and offerings.

Other differences include:

Curriculum: Both dance schools and studios may offer a curriculum, but a dance school’s program is typically more comprehensive.

It often includes dance history, technique, rhythm counting, theory, choreography, and more. In contrast, a dance studio’s curriculum tends to emphasize the fun and expressive aspects of dance, with less focus on professional training.

(Although that’s not to say a student can’t go on to study at a dance school after discovering a love for dance at their local studio.)
Faculty: While both dance schools and dance studios have knowledgeable, skilled, and capable dance teachers, dance schools often have a more extensive and specialized faculty.

This may include not only dance instructors but also principals, a management team, and additional support staff.

Dance schools frequently have dedicated administrative and marketing teams as well. In contrast, in many dance studios, these responsibilities are typically handled solely by the studio owner. (You dance studio owners wear a lot of hats!)

Entry Requirements: Dance studios typically follow an “all are welcome” approach, where individuals of any age or ability can join and are placed in a class that best suits their level and needs.

In contrast, dance schools often have more rigorous admission requirements. These may include set enrollment periods, auditions, or even interviews to ensure that a student’s skills and goals align with the school’s standards and offerings.

Other differences include:

Curriculum: Both dance schools and studios may offer a curriculum, but a dance school’s program is typically more comprehensive.

It often includes dance history, technique, rhythm counting, theory, choreography, and more. In contrast, a dance studio’s curriculum tends to emphasize the fun and expressive aspects of dance, with less focus on professional training.

(Although that’s not to say a student can’t go on to study at a dance school after discovering a love for dance at their local studio.)
Faculty: While both dance schools and dance studios have knowledgeable, skilled, and capable dance teachers, dance schools often have a more extensive and specialized faculty.

This may include not only dance instructors but also principals, a management team, and additional support staff.

Dance schools frequently have dedicated administrative and marketing teams as well. In contrast, in many dance studios, these responsibilities are typically handled solely by the studio owner. (You dance studio owners wear a lot of hats!)

Entry Requirements: Dance studios typically follow an “all are welcome” approach, where individuals of any age or ability can join and are placed in a class that best suits their level and needs.

In contrast, dance schools often have more rigorous admission requirements. These may include set enrollment periods, auditions, or even interviews to ensure that a student’s skills and goals align with the school’s standards and offerings.

Other differences include:

Curriculum: Both dance schools and studios may offer a curriculum, but a dance school’s program is typically more comprehensive.

It often includes dance history, technique, rhythm counting, theory, choreography, and more. In contrast, a dance studio’s curriculum tends to emphasize the fun and expressive aspects of dance, with less focus on professional training.

(Although that’s not to say a student can’t go on to study at a dance school after discovering a love for dance at their local studio.)
Faculty: While both dance schools and dance studios have knowledgeable, skilled, and capable dance teachers, dance schools often have a more extensive and specialized faculty.

This may include not only dance instructors but also principals, a management team, and additional support staff.

Dance schools frequently have dedicated administrative and marketing teams as well. In contrast, in many dance studios, these responsibilities are typically handled solely by the studio owner. (You dance studio owners wear a lot of hats!)

Entry Requirements: Dance studios typically follow an “all are welcome” approach, where individuals of any age or ability can join and are placed in a class that best suits their level and needs.

In contrast, dance schools often have more rigorous admission requirements. These may include set enrollment periods, auditions, or even interviews to ensure that a student’s skills and goals align with the school’s standards and offerings.

So, Are You Running a Dance School or a Dance Studio?

As you can see above, the differences between a dance studio and a dance school are significant. If you’re looking to take the plunge into teaching dance, the most natural first step is to open your own dance studio—not a dance school.

With a dance studio, you have complete freedom over the dance styles and genres you offer, the number of classes per week, the structure of your schedule, and more. Everything is under your control, without the constraints of a formal curriculum or a board of governors.

But what exactly do you need to consider when choosing to run a dance studio instead of a dance school?

So, Are You Running a Dance School or a Dance Studio?

As you can see above, the differences between a dance studio and a dance school are significant. If you’re looking to take the plunge into teaching dance, the most natural first step is to open your own dance studio—not a dance school.

With a dance studio, you have complete freedom over the dance styles and genres you offer, the number of classes per week, the structure of your schedule, and more. Everything is under your control, without the constraints of a formal curriculum or a board of governors.

But what exactly do you need to consider when choosing to run a dance studio instead of a dance school?

So, Are You Running a Dance School or a Dance Studio?

As you can see above, the differences between a dance studio and a dance school are significant. If you’re looking to take the plunge into teaching dance, the most natural first step is to open your own dance studio—not a dance school.

With a dance studio, you have complete freedom over the dance styles and genres you offer, the number of classes per week, the structure of your schedule, and more. Everything is under your control, without the constraints of a formal curriculum or a board of governors.

But what exactly do you need to consider when choosing to run a dance studio instead of a dance school?

So, Are You Running a Dance School or a Dance Studio?

As you can see above, the differences between a dance studio and a dance school are significant. If you’re looking to take the plunge into teaching dance, the most natural first step is to open your own dance studio—not a dance school.

With a dance studio, you have complete freedom over the dance styles and genres you offer, the number of classes per week, the structure of your schedule, and more. Everything is under your control, without the constraints of a formal curriculum or a board of governors.

But what exactly do you need to consider when choosing to run a dance studio instead of a dance school?

So, Are You Running a Dance School or a Dance Studio?

As you can see above, the differences between a dance studio and a dance school are significant. If you’re looking to take the plunge into teaching dance, the most natural first step is to open your own dance studio—not a dance school.

With a dance studio, you have complete freedom over the dance styles and genres you offer, the number of classes per week, the structure of your schedule, and more. Everything is under your control, without the constraints of a formal curriculum or a board of governors.

But what exactly do you need to consider when choosing to run a dance studio instead of a dance school?

Area

Dance Studio

Dance School

Dance Studio Management Software

Must-have tool for scheduling, payments, and communication. (You’ll thank us later)

Often built into institutional systems.

Curriculum

Flexible—you design it.

Structured and standardized.

Student Entry

You set it - but often open to all ages and abilities

Selective—may require auditions.

Facilities

One or two equipped studios.

Full campus-style setup.

Area

Dance Studio

Dance School

Dance Studio Management Software

Must-have tool for scheduling, payments, and communication. (You’ll thank us later)

Often built into institutional systems.

Curriculum

Flexible—you design it.

Structured and standardized.

Student Entry

You set it - but often open to all ages and abilities

Selective—may require auditions.

Facilities

One or two equipped studios.

Full campus-style setup.

Find out more about what you need to run a successful dance studio in our blog posts:

How Can Class Manager’s Dance Studio Software Help Run Your Dance Studio?

Class Manager’s free class management software—with no monthly subscription—has been designed specifically with dance studio owners in mind. So when you take the plunge and open your own dance studio (not a dance school—although we can help with that too), we’re here to support you every step of the way.