Increased methods of communication mean you can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The fear of missing an important message or not answering a question from a dancer can lead to burnout, which is why it's useful to create a plan for how you will address new student inquiries, dancer participation and general feedback across all platforms.

Start with published office hours and a standard set of rules for how and when you will respond to messages. Take some time to write scripts for answers to common questions in the same tone you would use by phone or in person. This helps to create consistency for your clients.

The need to be socially distanced has led us to create virtual dance experiences, but it has also reinforced that online learning cannot replicate in-person education at the studio. As we welcome students back, it's a good time to emphasize the social-emotional health benefits of learning to dance, the joy of community and physical activity.