The America’s Best Dance Studio Contest Video Series *Special Feature* – The Hip-Hop Dance Conservatory in NYC

Check out our latest dance contest video featuring some great hip-hop dancing, and an exclusive interview with the Hip-Hop Dance Conservatory Founder and Artistic Director, Safi Thomas!

  

 

  

 

Enter the contest at, http://americasbestdancestudio.ning.com.

 

 

Partial proceeds from the contest will be donated to Childcry, a non-profit organization that feeds hungry children all over the world (http://childcrynyc.org).

Follow us on Twitter at, http://twitter.com/abdsc2010

Learn about the contest prizes in the video below…..

“5 Deadly Thoughts on the Road to Success”

Near the end of ‘09, I partnered up with C.Thomas Gambrell, of C.Thomas Success Coaching, to host a teleseminar entitled, “Dance Your Way Into Business Success”. Two of the major components that we discussed, as it relates to being successful, were the ideas that, “You Are Your Big Break”, and “You Must Face Your Fears”. If there’s one thing that many of us have learned in the current economy it’s that, waiting for someone else to make you successful or to create opportunities for you, is a complete waste of time, and will only prevent you from reaching your goals and dreams. 

I believe that when it comes to your life, your career, or your business, you can not afford to be passive, or a bystander, and expect others to recognize your talents and create the blueprint for you that lead to success and prosperity. Only You can do this. 

Here are 5 Deadly Thoughts on the Road to Success: 

1) There just aren’t any opportunities out there.
2) I don’t have the money.
3) What if I fail?
4) No one’s ever done it before.
5) I don’t even know where to start.  

Here are my responses to these statements:

 

1) “There just aren’t any opportunities out there.” – Yes, there are. If you feel this way, you probably need to do more research, and even enlist the assistance of someone else to help you. If the opportunity isn’t there, then that’s even better! That means that you can be an innovator, and create something completely new!

 

2) “I don’t have the money.” – With the internet, do-it-yourself websites, and the explosion social media, which is totally free, you don’t necessarily need a ton of money to get started. Now granted, I don’t recommend starting a business with no capital, but, don’t let that minor obstacle stop you. Save up, get creative, start small, and go from there.

 

3) “What if I fail?” - There’s a good chance that you will. Let me rephrase that. There’s something called a “learning curve” in business, which is basically a fancy way of saying, “I failed a bunch of times along the way, and learned from my mistakes.” Remember, failure is not permanent. It is part of a learning process. There’s ALWAYS a way to bounce back from failure, and the main way is, get up and try it again (a little differently).

 

4) “No one’s ever done it before.” – This is a no-brainer! Obviously, that means that there’s a great opportunity for you to do something really special. And guess what, since you have no competition, you have a really great advantage! What are you waiting for? Do a little market research to find out if people would be interested in your idea, and discover if it’s a viable concept or not.

 

5) “I don’t even know where to start.”  Ok, this is a tough one (Not!), so let me help you…grab a piece of paper, and a pen, or better yet, go to your computer, and put on paper what your ideas are. That’s how you start! After that, ask yourself the Who, What, Where, Why, and How about your idea; Who would be interested in this product/service? What will it be used for? Where will people go to access this product/service? Why would potential clients be interested in this product/service? How will I market it to my target audience?

 

See, how easy that was? Now you’re on your way! I would also recommend doing some soul-searching to determine the motivation behind your particular idea. Is it something that you’re passionate about? Are you good at it? Do you have a lot of knowledge about that particular industry? Do you think it’s a way to make some fast cash? Are you willing sacrifice and deal with the stress, instability, and pressure that you may have to face along the way?

 

Answer these questions, and don’t be afraid! Step out on faith, and walk in your purpose. Anything less would not only be sad, but boring!

 

 

 

 

The Top 3 Reasons to Enter the “America’s Best Dance Studio Contest 2010″

1) Support A Great Cause! – Partial proceeds from the “America’s Best Dance Studio Contest 2010″ will be donated to the non-profit organization, Childcry, which feeds hungry children all over the world! 

2) Win Great Prizes! - The prizes for the winner of the “America’s Best Dance Studio Contest 2010″ are worth thousands of dollars, and will help any dance studio owner to take their business to the next level, be more successful, and gain national recognition! 

3) Tell the World About Your Dance Studio! – There are so many unique and special things about your dance studio to be proud of; your parents, your students, your teachers, your awards and community service! Share it with the world, and all of your new prospective clients and students! Enter the contest at, http://americasbestdancestudio.ning.com. 

The winner will be announced during National Dance Week 2010!

Good luck and Happy New Year!

Our Top Ten Blog Posts of 2009!

 

2009 was a great year for us as we entered the blogosphere, and offered you some great content. In case you missed out, here are some of our top articles of 2009. Enjoy!

 

1)  “The Professional Dancer’s Survival Kit” on Dance Advantage

2) “Dance Your Way Into Business Success”

3) “5 Ways to Show Appreciation to Your Dance Teachers”

4) “Higher Education for Dancers: Fact or Fiction”

5) “The Kiner Enterprises Inc. Dance Industry Report Published Today”

6) “5 Things Your Didn’t Know About Professional Dancers”

7) “The Top 5 Reasons Dance Studio Owners Should Embrace Social Media”

8)” “The Top 5 Reasons to Give Back During the Holiday Season and Beyond”

9) “America’s Best Dance Studio Contest 2010 Prizes Are Here! – Video Premiere!”

10) “A Year in Review: Kiner Enterprises Inc.’s Top 10 Accomplishments of 2009!”

A Year in Review: Kiner Enterprises Inc.’s Top 10 Accomplishments of 2009!

 

1) In Jan. of ‘09, we went national and expanded our dance teacher staffing agency from the New York Metropolitan Area, to the entire United States!

2) We created the first annual, “America’s Best Dance Studio Contest”! The only national dance contest showcasing excellence in dance studio across the country!

3) We started our own blog for dance professionals, dance lovers, and everyone in between!

4) We joined in the world of social media, and created our own, Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace pages!

5) We created our own social networks for Dance Teachers and Dance Studio Owners on Ning!

6) We re-introduced ourselves to the dance world with a brand new logo and website!

7) We published the first annual, “Kiner Enterprises Inc. Dance Industry Report“, highlighting the trends, salaries, and wages for dance teachers in the N.Y. Metropolitan area!

We began offering Social Media Management to dance studios across the country, to help catapult their online presence, and enhance their marketing efforts!

9) In partnership with C. Thomas Coaching, we held our first ever teleseminar entitled “Dance Your Way Into Business Success“!

10) We partnered up with some fantastic dance sponsors to make the “America’s Best Dance Studio Contest 2010” better than ever! Check out our YouTube videos for the dance contest!

Well, that’s it for 2009 folks! If you thought we did it big in 2009, just wait and see what we have in store for you in 2010!! Stay Tuned!

Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous, and Blessed New Year to you all!

The Top 5 Reasons Dance Studio Owners Should Embrace Social Media

1) Establish your studio as not only top of the line, fun, successful, and the best in your area, but, project an image that it is relevant, and up-to-date with the trends in the world of technology, and the internet. Plus, your clientele is heavily involved in social media, so you should be wherever they are!

2) It is a great way to reconnect with staff, parents, and students, that you may not have connected with otherwise. It’s also an easy way to highlight your studio’s talented staff, special events, and services, to those who may not ever go to your website.

3) Get real-time, free access to information and reviews on your studio. How are people liking your new Hip-Hop class/teacher? Should you offer a Summer Dance Camp? Why was there such low enrollment for that special dance workshop that you worked so hard to organize? You can chat with fellow parents during specific times on your Facebook or Twitter page, post questions or ideas for new classes or events at your studio, and get quick feedback. The list goes on and on…

4) Create videos of your students in class, at rehearsal, at competitions, or at the recital, and post it on your studio’s YouTube, Myspace, or Facebook pages. Your students/parents will be proud to share your videos with friends and family, and will very actively be advertising and promoting your studio, without even trying to! How great will you feel when you start to see those enrollment numbers at your studio going up?

5) The parents of your students are heavily involved in social media. It’s a fun, non-intrusive and practical way for you to keep them informed, find out what’s on their mind, get immediate feedback, and offer a very easy way for their referrals to gain access to you. You can save money on flyers, mass mailings, etc., and still get important information to your parents and students in real-time. “Will the studio be closing today due to extreme weather conditions? Check our Facebook/Twitter page for updates.” See where I’m going with this?

If you still haven’t realized that social media is the way to go to enhance your studio’s online presence, increase your studio enrollment, and develop stronger communication amongst your parents and students, then do a little investigating. Ask around and find out how many of your students, parents, and staff, have Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, or YouTube pages, and make your own assessment. I’m sure you’ll find everything written here to be true.

Just remember to establish a clear purpose and strategy for the social media campaign for your dance studio, and be patient. In time, your studio will be one of many social media superstars, and grow exponentially as a result! 

Good luck!

The Top 5 Reasons to Give Back During the Holiday Season and Beyond

A spirit of giving should be something that we embrace all year round, and shouldn’t be limited to the months of November and December. Here are my top 5 reasons to give back all year long:

 

1) Because there’s always someone in need. As residents of this planet, and members of the human race, we have an unspoken responsibility for one another. We also have an innate, God-given desire to love, be loved, protect ourselves, as well as others. Whatever your comfort level or situation, there’s always a way to give back, and help someone in need. You have the option of donating all types of goods (not just money) to non-profit organizations, or giving a little money to that single mom in your building or in your child’s school, and even giving back through your time. Which leads to my next item…

 

2) Because it is so rewarding! There’s no feeling like the feeling of knowing that you’re helping someone in need, making their life better, or simply taking time out to focus on the needs of someone outside of your family and inner circle. So, my suggestion? Volunteer! I have been a dedicated volunteer for Animal Care and Control of New York City for 2 years now, and it has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life! I happen to love dogs (borderline-obsessed), so, this is a perfect scenario for me. However, if you’re thinking that you don’t have time to volunteer because of your already hectic schedule, or that with all of the stress of life, you don’t have much to give anyone, then I have news for you. You absolutely DO have something to give! You just have to get creative sometimes. So depending on your personal interests or free time, there are many options out there for you. You can volunteer for a non-profit once-a-week, or once-a-month, you can mentor a young person, or a new business-owner/entrepeneur, you can do a free, quarterly seminar in a local high school, college, or church, on a topic that you are knowledgable about that may be helpful to others. The possibilities are endless!

 

 

3) Because making the world a better place starts with individuals each doing their part. It’s not enough for us to vote for politicians who we think will make a difference, or to sign a petition for a good cause, every so often, or even participate in a rally of sorts. These are all very important of course, but it’s also important for you to recognize that you alone can make a real difference in this world. From sending a friend a kind e-mail just reminding them that they’re doing a great job, and that you admire them, to taking out that really quiet kid from your church, that always seems a little sad, to lunch, to the park, or to a ball game. It’s always good to recognize the small gestures that we can do as individuals, that will help to make the world a better place.

 

4) Because giving is like a river which flows gracefully into an ocean of goodness that affects the masses. Okay, that was a little bit of a poetic stretch, but the point is, you get back what you give. Call it karma, reaping what you sow, energy, “The Secret”, or whatever you like. But, I’ve found that people with a true, giving heart, that actively choose to make giving back a way of life, find that they always manage to have their needs met, sometimes in surprising and miraculous ways, and find that good always comes back to them, even in the midst of adversity.

 

5) Because it’s the right thing to do. It’s a little sad that giving back has become something optional for so many people, as opposed to a way of life. This really needs to change. A spirit of giving combats greed, selfishness, and arrogance. So that’s another great reason to do it! If you’re a parent, your kids are watching. Don’t just tell them what is right, show them, through your life, and through your actions.

 

You may notice that I didn’t notate any specific organizations to volunteer for, or donate to. No, that would be too easy! I would love it if you would take the time out right now, to look within yourself, and see what unique and special way that you can give back. Don’t just look at a site with tons of non-profit organizations, or a volunteer options checklist. Think about what you’re good at, what you enjoy doing, and the qualities that you already embody that are special, and then find something that fits for your personality and lifestyle. Please let me know what you find out. Once you start giving back, you’ll never stop!

 

America’s Best Dance Studio Contest 2010 Prizes Are Here! – Video Premiere!

Check out the world premiere of our dance contest video, announcing the prizes for the winner of The “America’s Best Dance Studio Contest 2010”!!

 

Check out the official Sponsors of the

 “America’s Best Dance Studio Contest 2010”

and

The Prizes for the Contest Winner!!

*Dance Advantage

Dance Advantage is an online resource for and about dance students, teachers, studio owners, and parents. Dance Advantage strives to provide high quality information that will supplement students’ in-class learning and experiences as well as inspire and support teachers in their work.

*Dance Channel TV is an online video network devoted entirely to dance. They produce original video programming that covers numerous styles of dance through news casts, human interest-stories, and entertainment features. Their goal is to establish a worldwide TV station that will educate, entertain, and expose viewers to the universal language of dance.

*Dawn DeMendonca, aka the “Dance Marketing Queen”, and CEO of Dance MassTV, the very first, hit phenomenon online dance studio that invites dancers to teach online, has given consultancy services to many dancers and dance businesses on cutting-edge strategies and priceless information about online marketing!

 

 

*DanceSignUp, a web-based application designed to bring together dance competition organizations and dance studios, simplifes many of the tasks that are cumbersome when it comes to competitive events, like registration, scheduling, payments, and communication.

*Grosh Backdrops and Drapery is your source for high-quality backdrop and drapery rentals! Since 1932 Grosh Backdrops and Drapery has been supplying backdrops for Schools, Dance Companies, Event Planners, Theaters, Photographers and Churches with an unmatched selection of theatrical curtain rental, backdrops and drapery. Grosh boasts over 5,000 unique designs in 75 categories ready for your next event.

The winner of the America’s Best Dance Studio Contest 2010 will win:

 - A special video feature on the Dance Channel TV.com website for an entire year, providing you with exposure to the many thousands of dance channel tv viewers, and millions of people online!

- A groundbreaking, dance marketing video package and e-book with money-making strategies for your dance studio from Dance Marketing Queen, and CEO of Dance Mass TV, Dawn Demendonca!

- A beautiful stage backdrop from Grosh Backdrops and Drapery, for your end of the year recital performance!

- A website banner or logo redesign from the web design and development experts at Dance Sign Up.com!

- 6 Months of free Social Media Management for your studio’s Facebook fan page, Twitter, and Myspace accounts, from the dance industry experts at Kiner Enterprises Inc., the creators of the “America’s Best Dance Studio Contest 2010”!!

-An online press release and feature article on DanceAdvantage.net about your dance studio!

-A special YouTube video feature about your dance studio which will be showcased on the America’s Best Dance Studio Contest website, on Facebook, Twitter, and  Myspace!

- A huge banner to hang inside of your dance studio that reads, “The America’s Best Dance Studio Contest Winner 2010”!

To enter the contest visit, http://americasbestdancestudio.ning.com.

Become a Fan on Facebook!

Follow us on Twitter!  

 

The contest officially begins on Jan. 1, 2010, and the winner of the contest will be announced during National Dance Week 2010!

Enter the contest before Dec. 30, 2009, and your studio may be featured in our special YouTube Video Series!

Is Your Studio The One?

 Have you seen our dance contest pre-launch video? Check it out!

Press Release: Kiner Enterprises Inc. Announces the Pre-Launch of their New Online Training Portal, Kiner Dance Studio Success, in Partnership with C. Thomas Coaching!

Kiner Enterprises Inc. announces the pre-launch of their new online training portal, Kiner Dance Studio Success, http://kinerdancestudiosuccess.com! A brand new, interactive online training center for dance studio owners and dance professionals!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Nov 11, 2009 – Ashani C. Kiner, CEO/President of Kiner Enterprises Inc., and a professional dancer and dance instructor, will bring her expertise from the dance world, as well as her business savvy to offer a valuable online learning experience for dance professionals, powered by C. Thomas Gambrell. “C. Thomas Gambrell is nationally acclaimed, as a business success coach and learning management system consultant. With his customized system and management, this online training center will catapult dance professionals into an enhanced knowledge of the business side of the dance world, and give them all of the tools and resources necessary to establish and maintain a successful career or business”, said Ashani C. Kiner.

KinerDanceStudioSuccess.com is a membership site, and offers access to content of all types including TeleSeminars, videos, mp3’s, e-books, and much more! There will also be a two-tier affiliate program. Ashani C. Kiner stated, “We wanted to provide other dance professionals and businesses an opportunity to collaborate with us, grow their respective brands, and benefit from the valuable work that we’re doing. Our affiliate program will do just that.”

There will be a FREE pre-launch TeleSeminar entitled, “Dance Your Way Into Business Success“, on Thurs., Nov. 12, 2009 at 9:30 pm EST. The TeleSeminar will be one hour, and then there will be a 15 min Q and A.

During the FREE TeleSeminar you will learn about this new learning portal, the latest projects from Kiner Enterprises Inc., and how dancers can get in harmony with the business side of the dance world.

Go to http://kinerdancestudiosuccess.com to register for the FREE TeleSeminar!

For more information on C. Thomas Gambrell visit: http://gblsystems.com/

Announcement! Kiner Enterprises Inc. Partners with C. Thomas Coaching to Bring a New Online Learning Center to the Dance World!

We are excited to announce the pre-launch of our new learning portal, Kiner Dance Studio Success, http://kinerdancestudiosuccess.com! A brand new, innovative learning center for dance studios and dance professionals, with fun and useful interactive tools and resources accessible at the click of a button! The official launch will be in 2010!

 

Join us for a Pre-Launch Teleseminar entitled, “Dance Your Way Into Business Success“, on Thurs., Nov. 12, 2009 at 9:30 pm EST. The teleseminar will be one Hour, and then there will be a 15 min Q and A. 

 

Learn about our new learning portal, the latest projects from Kiner Enterprises Inc., and how dancers can get in harmony with the business side of the dance world. 

 

Go to http://kinerdancestudiosuccess.com to register for our free teleseminar!

 

 

Have you heard about our “America’s Best Dance Studio Contest“? See below for more information, and to view our pre-launch video!