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 house. Stagestep needs to shine a light-weight on these particular locations, in myriad communities all throughout the nation.
Enter their Studio of the 12 months Competitors. Studios can throw their hat within the ring with just some pictures/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 contemplate coming into, how entrees can profit, what Stagestep hopes to see come of the competitors, and extra.
How did the Studio of the 12 months Competitors begin? The place did the thought start?
“The Studio of the 12 months Competitors began as a option to have fun the unimaginable creativity and laborious work of studios that use Stagestep merchandise. We needed to create a possibility 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 thought originated from the suggestions we’ve acquired over time, with many studios telling us how Stagestep merchandise have reworked their areas. We needed to provide them a platform to point out off their studio and encourage others locally.”
What are your principal objectives for the competitors? What would you prefer to see come of it?
“Our principal purpose is to have fun the various methods our shoppers use Stagestep merchandise to create stunning, practical and galvanizing studios. We hope to see studios showcase their creativity and reveal how our flooring helps their artwork.
In the end, we wish to encourage extra studios to consider how their bodily areas can improve their observe and create a constructive, protected atmosphere for dancers. We additionally hope the competitors fosters a way of group amongst our shoppers, permitting them to attach and study from each other.”
Why ought to studios contemplate coming into? How can they profit, and what can they be a part of?
“Studios ought to contemplate coming into as a result of it’s a incredible option to reveal the laborious work they put into creating the right atmosphere for his or her dance college students and academics. By coming into, studios may have the possibility to showcase how Stagestep merchandise have helped them create an area that helps their work.
Successful the competitors may additionally deliver added publicity, because the profitable studio might 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 group. It’s additionally an incredible alternative to be half of a bigger group of Stagestep customers, who’re all working towards elevating their areas’ requirements.”
How would possibly you advise studios coming into? For instance, present an genuine view of your area and its ethos, reveal what you uniquely provide college students, et cetera?
“We advise studios to point out the character of their area, and the way Stagestep merchandise have been built-in into their studio’s ethos. Whether or not it’s a comfortable, intimate vibe or a high-energy, skilled atmosphere, the bottom line is to point out what makes your studio distinctive.
Share pictures that showcase your area in motion — whether or not it’s a dance class, rehearsal or efficiency setting — so we will see how Stagestep merchandise improve the expertise. Take into account telling a narrative about the influence the flooring has had in your observe, corresponding to bettering security, sound high quality or aesthetics.”
Another steerage or phrases of encouragement for studios coming into the competitors?
“We encourage all studios to enter, regardless of the dimensions or fashion 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 atmosphere for each academics and college students.
Each studio has one thing particular to supply, and we will’t wait to see the creativity and innovation that our shoppers deliver to the desk. Don’t be afraid to get inventive along with your submission — present us what makes your studio really feel like house, and the way Stagestep has performed an element 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 might be prominently featured in our editorials, and from that achieve 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 wish to see how Stagestep merchandise have helped make your studio the perfect it may be. We sit up for seeing your submissions. We’re excited to have fun the unimaginable areas our shoppers have created!”
For extra data and to enter, go to stagestep.com/dance-studio-of-the-year.
By Kathryn Boland of Dance Informa.
