Building Your Dream Online Dance Business

By Erin Pride

Last week I was speaking to a lovely woman on Instagram and she shared with me how she was building her dream online dance business during the pandemic...

I then had a flashback to a memory not too long ago. I was sitting on a Zoom call with my business coach telling her my desire to pivot my brand and help dance educators build an online business. I was terrified, but I felt this nudge and I knew NOW was the time to change! 

I wasn’t sure what actually gave me the courage to shift...

• Maybe it was being locked in my house?
• Maybe it was realizing that life is short?
• Maybe it was realizing that I wanted to wake up every morning doing something that lit my soul on fire? (I seriously couldn’t think of being on the isolation hampster wheel dreading my day)⁣ 

Whatever it was, I am so grateful!

Now I literally jump out of bed (between 9 am and 10 am, I’m not an early riser) to start my day because I am doing what I truly love⁣! I have clients who went from wishing their dream was a reality to creating the reality they want.

So what is the differentiating factor to those who pursue their dreams and those who fantasize about it? 

I have found that the answer is simple...And the world is made up of two types of people...

Those who do 

Those who don’t ⁣

Those who do go through the mess, armor up, dive in and give it all they got & those who don’t go around the mess, waiting for the perfect timing never experiencing the joy of doing what they love and sharing it with others.⁣

Ok so you want to do, but you feel stuck, afraid, and overwhelmed? I get it, many of my clients do as well before they start.

Today, I want to walk through some fundamental steps to help you overcome obstacles that may be stopping you from going after your dream, and starting that online dance business you have been dreaming of.

The first thing I want you to ask yourself is why you have waited?

• What occurred in your life that made you wait to pursue your dream?
• What circumstances did you feel needed to be in place before going for it?

Whether you like it or not, not going for it, waiting, that is just as much of an action as starting. That may sound like tough love, and I’m sorry but…. It’s true.

I had a similar conversation with one of my clients who said "I have been dreaming about creating this for 2 years, and I can't believe it's finally coming to life..."⁣⁣

But, 3 kiddos at home under the age of 5 she felt like she had to wait…

Waiting turned into 1 year, and then 2 years. She finally took the leap, hired me, and began bringing her dream to reality!

So what changed?

What is that moment when everything clicked for her and how can it happen for you?

She needed a few key elements that helped break through those obstacles that held her back and hold so many others back...Maybe even you?

Get Really...Really Clear

It’s one thing to have an “idea” or “vision” but what is it really?

Maybe you love teaching dance, maybe you like to train other dance teachers, specialize in dancers with disabilities, or even want to coach other dance entrepreneurs.

All above are amazing and wonderful ideas! But are they really clear ideas? Not necessarily.

Something to start is simply outlining your niche statement…

Here’s an example.

Hi my name is _______ I help ___________ who want to  _________ by__________.

From there you can actually make a plan because you know what exactly what you do, who you do it for, and how you do it...This may seem simple, but this is the part the many get caught up on and once you hash this out the pathway becomes much clearer. 

Get accountability from others!

As a coach myself, I see clients in all different stages. Some have no clue where they want to start but feel called to use their gifts, and others have started, but need an action plan. 

The power of accountability comes with the power of perspective as well.

Blind spots, self-doubt, uncertainty...We all have them, and having a coach to hold you accountable and help you see through your blind spots is a golden nugget when bringing your dream to reality. 

Just start!... Yup it’s that simple

This is my 3rd and final point...Here’s the real kick in the boo-tay.

All of the above doesn’t mean squat if you don’t START!

Here’s a context to my own story. I was teaching dance for about 10 years when it hit me. 

You see, I did all the things I thought I was supposed to do:

• I got my BFA in Dance⁣
• Danced a bit professionally⁣
• I got my Master's in Dance Education⁣
• And landed an amazing teaching job⁣

I was set!⁣ But then something happened...⁣Something shifted...⁣

I started to wonder if there was anything else I could be good at besides dance. I began to want to explore other parts of myself. I wanted something different than the life I had planned out and that scared the sh*t out of me.⁣

I started questioning myself. Am I smart enough to do other things? Will people be disappointed and mad if I do other things?⁣ Am I capable of doing other things?⁣

And then I did the simplest thing...

 I JUST STARTED⁣!

It wasn’t overnight for me and it won’t be for you. It’s gradual, and that’s okay. But starting something as small as figuring out your niche statement (who you help, the problem you solve, and how you solve it) in point 1 (above) is a big step! 

It doesn’t have to be as hard as you think. As you take the leap and just start you will, of course, encounter obstacles (these are the things that propel the most growth), but they are all things you can handle, you can work through! YOU GOT THIS!!!!

I believe in you, my friend, now it’s time to believe in yourself.

Xo,

Erin

Want to learn more? Click HERE to listen to Episode 96 of The Dance Boss Podcast: Monetizing Your Dance Teaching, Knowledge, and Expertise Online - Part 1

Erin is an online business coach for dance educators and host of the Dance Boss Podcast. She is a Jersey girl all the way, graduated from Montclair State University with a B.F.A. in Dance and received her Masters in Dance Education from New York University. Erin helps dance educators niche down, build an online business, and bring in additional revenue for them and their families. Erin began her coaching journey as a dance education coach, providing resources and training to help dance educators run more successful classrooms. Now Erin helps her fellow dance educators pursue their dreams and start an online business that impacts the masses.  To learn more about Erin visit erinpride.com, and you can hang out with Erin on Instagram and Facebook.