Dragonfly Dance
Team News, May 2025
Welcome to the latest Dragonfly Dance Team Update.
This update is pre-reading for our upcoming team meeting on Monday 12 May, created so we can make the most of our time together.
Instead of using the meeting to run through updates, I’ve shared them here so we can focus on discussion, planning, and problem-solving when we’re in the room. Please read through everything before the meeting — it’ll help us all come in informed and ready to engage.
Contents
Here's a list of contents for this update, with links to jump straight to a particular section.
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Quarterly focus
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People
Welcoming new faces and growing our team
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Marketing
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Systems
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Programs
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Quarterly focus
Working better together – this quarter’s focus: Accountability
As Dragonfly Dance continues to grow, I’m making space in each team meeting to reflect not just on what we’re doing, but how we’re working together.
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Each quarter, I'd like us to focus on one area of team culture to help strengthen how we collaborate and support each other.
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Why focus on accountability?
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This quarter, we’ll be exploring accountability — what it really means, how it differs from responsibility, and how it applies to our work at the studio.
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Most of us are familiar with responsibility — it’s about doing the work that’s expected of us: teaching classes, answering emails, managing tasks.
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Accountability goes a step further. It’s about taking ownership and keeping others in the loop — being proactive in communicating what you’re doing, how things are going, and what’s coming next.
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Opening up more two-way communication
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One thing I’ve noticed is that much of our communication tends to flow in one direction — from me to you. I’d love to shift that so it feels more two-way. I want to hear from you more often — whether that’s sharing what you’re working on, letting me know how your classes are progressing, or updating me on admin tasks without needing to be asked.
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What accountability looks like
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Here are a few examples of what accountability could look like:
If you're a teacher, that might mean letting me know what your classes have been focusing on and what’s planned next, and how you're using the syllabus to guide that.
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For admin roles, it means completing tasks within agreed timeframes without reminders, and providing timely updated.
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For everyone, it means taking note of key dates, being proactive about remembering what is coming up and when it is due, and meeting agreed deadlines.
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It's not about creating more work — it’s about creating more connection.
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At our meetign next week, we’ll talk more about what accountability looks like in our context, and how we can all contribute to clearer, more collaborative communication as a team.
People
Welcoming new faces and growing our team
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There have been a few key changes and additions to the Dragonfly Dance team recently, and I want to take a moment to properly introduce everyone and share a bit about how our approach to team growth is evolving. You can learn more about each of our team members, including those mentioned below, on our Team web page.
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As we have several new team members, I want to remind everyone of our safety protocol whereby we do not leave anyone alone at night to lock up (or in the day either if possible). Last night there was a person who wandered in off the street to get a glass of water - a situation I know I would have been very uncomfortable with if I'd been alone.
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New Role – Facilities Coordinator
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I'm very happy to welcome Anne Stewart back to Dragonfly Dance, now in a new role as Facilities Coordinator. Anne is managing the logistics of the venue and taking the lead on data analysis and reporting — a critical area we haven’t had the capacity to keep up with consistently. This work will play a big part in helping us improve and reach our goals.
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New Teaching Team Members
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We’ve recently welcomed some new teachers to regular class roles:
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Alannah Talbot is now teaching on Monday nights (Jazz Level 1, Jazz Level 2, and Ballet Level 1) and Wednesday mornings (Jazz Mature Level 2 and soon Tap Mature).
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Stella Page is teaching Ballet and Contemporary on Wednesday mornings.
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Both Alannah and Stella are recent graduates of the AC Arts Dance Program and started with us as substitute teachers. They’ve shown professionalism, connection with students, and a strong alignment with the studio’s values — and we’re excited to have them on board more permanently.
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Effie Saloniklis has joined the team to teach Jazz Level 3 on Monday nights. Effie brings a wealth of experience, having run her own studio (Directions Dance Academy) and taught extensively across Adelaide. After a five-year break from teaching, we’re thrilled that Effie is returning to the studio with Dragonfly.
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Camila Saraiva is also back teaching! Camila took time off after the birth of her third daughter, Stella (now 16 months), and has returned to teach on Friday mornings — Ballet Barre and Jazz Mature Level 2 — while continuing in her role as Welcome Coordinator.
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Amy de Halyn is currently travelling and is expected to return around July. She’s in Adelaide for now and is available to cover classes during this time.
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Our Growing Substitute Pool
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We’ve also welcomed Morgan Everist to our substitute teaching pool. Morgan has a strong background in jazz and tap (including advanced levels), and has been teaching since a young age. She’s now part of the go-to team for class coverage.
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Our Recruitment Approach
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Going forward, my recruitment approach will focus on building a strong pool of substitute teachers. Each sub will be formally inducted and contracted, not only to cover classes when others are away but to give regular teachers the chance to take breaks when needed — and to create a natural path into ongoing teaching roles. This method allows teachers to get to know our studio, our culture, and our community, making for stronger transitions and a more cohesive team.
Marketing
Marketing & Class Videos – A Shared Responsibility
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Videos from class can be a powerful tool for engagement, marketing, and building community, but we need a more balanced and intentional approach.
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Many of you are already sharing videos in our closed Facebook group, which has helped create a sense of connection and curiosity. However, it’s starting to create uneven expectations and has algorithmic side effects (see below), so we’re going to refocus how we use video across the studio.
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New proposed video guidelines
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You can read our current policy around videos of classes in the Team Hub. I've also drafted a one page Video Policy Discussion Document to guide this next phase.
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New guidelines for class videos
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Please share no more than one video per class, per month in the Facebook group.
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The timing is flexible—choose a class that has a strong moment or a piece you’re proud of.
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If you're taking a video, please send a copy to me (Jo) so I can use it for our public social media. I can’t download from the private group, so sending it directly helps promote your classes and Dragonfly Dance more widely.
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Why I want to limit weekly videoos
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It’s not a paid service – students are not entitled to a weekly video, and too many can create an unsustainable expectation.
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It can become a teaching crutch – our goal is to develop memory, skills, and musicality without needing a video after every class.
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It puts pressure on other teachers who may not have capacity, and it's not in anyone’s contract.
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Facebook’s algorithm prioritises video posts, which means important announcements or discussions get buried.
Team Discussion at the Meeting
In our team meeting, we’ll discuss:
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How we can create a simple system for sharing videos with me (Dropbox? Shared folder? WhatsApp?)
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Ideas for making videos easy but effective
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How we might include occasional videos of student work that still respect privacy
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Systems
Bookings sytem update - moving to Mindbody
As of Monday 19 May, we’ll be switching from Zen Planner to MindBody for all bookings, memberships, and class check-ins.
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This is a big change, but one that I believe will set us up for a more streamlined and user-friendly experience — both for our members and for the team.
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Why the switch?
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The biggest driver behind the change is the need for a simpler, more flexible membership structure.
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Under Zen Planner, the only way to give members 12 weeks to use their classes was to issue all 12 at once — which led to confusion and frustration, especially if someone missed classes late in the cycle. It also meant limited opportunity to attend alternatives if life got in the way towards the end of the 12 week cycle.
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MindBody allows for rolling expiry — members will still get their classes every 4 weeks, but they’ll now have 8 weeks to use them. This gives people more breathing room and better reflects the reality of adult life, which is often unpredictable and full.
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Memberships will shift to a 12-month contract with a 12-week minimum — this doesn’t lock anyone in for longer, but makes the system more logical and easier to manage long-term.
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Another reason for the change: Zen Planner has become increasingly glitchy, and it's been affecting the experience for both members and team. MindBody is an established industry leader with a more robust, reliable platform. I’ve used it before and only left due to pricing — but in hindsight, it’s clearly the better option, and I’m hoping this is the last system switch we’ll need for a while.
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Important language shift “alternative class”
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A quick note on language: I encourage everyone to refer to these as “alternative classes”, not “make-up classes.” The latter often leads to frustration when members expect to recover every missed class, even though our pricing already assumes some classes will be missed and is discounted accordingly.
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“Alternative class” is a more accurate and supportive way to describe the flexibility we offer.
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Upcoming price adjustment
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I’m also planning a CPI-based price increase at the start of the new financial year. This will help ensure our pricing keeps pace with rising costs — especially rent, which increases annually and is our most significant expense. We haven’t raised prices in years, and regular CPI-based adjustments will allow us to avoid major jumps in future.
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What’s next
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I’ve exported our data from Zen Planner and sent it to MindBody. Most information will be imported by the Mindbody team, except for membership contracts and payment details, which will need to be added manually.
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I’ll be working with the support team (Millie and Leanne) over the next week to add in all the contracts and payment details. Clients will also be able to add their own payment details.
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To ensure we don't end up with a serious cash flow problem, we will implement a policy that if the client's payment details haven't been added,they will not be admitted to class.
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You can find out more about the switch on our Mindbody Switch webpage.
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What you need to do
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All team members need to:
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Download the MindBody Business App and the Check-In App from the Apple Store or Google Play
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Use your login details (already emailed to you) to sign in — if you haven’t logged in yet, those credentials may have expired
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Let me know if you need your login resent — I won’t send them again automatically, as they time out
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Please make sure the apps are downloaded and working before our meeting next Monday, so we can run through training together and make sure everything’s running smoothly from day one.
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Programs
Student Showcase 2025
Danceflix: A Salute to Iconic TV Themes
The 2025 Student Showcase is in motion!
This year’s theme, Danceflix, celebrates the iconic theme music of beloved TV shows – and all class music selections have now been finalised and announced.
Now we shift into the creative phase—building momentum in class, generating interest, and preparing students to shine on stage.​
What Teachers Need to Do​
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Step 1: Class participation
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Speak with your class now to gauge interest and confirm if your class will participate.
Please let Jo know once your class is in.
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Individual performer registration will be through an online form, filled out individually by each dancer (link coming later).​
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Step 2: Teaching
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You don’t need to teach choreography to the actual music yet—in fact, we encourage you to hold off so students don’t burn out on it.
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Instead, start teaching movement phrases and combinations you might want to use, while building key performance skills like group work (eg unison, canon, patterning, formations)
performance quality (facial expression, projection, stage presence)
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Step 3: Costumes
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Begin discussing a costume concept so students have a clear idea before committing. Even a simple, cohesive look (colours or signature items) goes a long way. Many dancers will want to be confident that they will feel comfortable in the costume before committing to perforrming.
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Tips to Build Excitement in Class​
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Share your vision for the piece – your passion is contagious!
Plant the seed – introduce the idea that “this phrase might make it into the final dance.”
Make it collaborative – ask for input, ideas, or themes that resonate with the show/music.
Highlight progress – reinforce that what they’re learning now lays the groundwork for a confident, fun, and polished performance.
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Talk up the experience – the energy of the stage, the fun backstage, the joy of teamwork, and how rewarding it feels to perform in front of a cheering and supportive crowd.​
​​More information
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Teacher Info Booklet (Find it on the Team Hub under the Projects section)
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Key Dates
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Please put these dates into your diary/calendar
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Performance:
Saturday 1 November
at Brighton Theatre, Brighton Performing Arts Centre
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Dress Rehearsal:
unday 19 October, 1–5pm,
at Dragonfly Dance studio
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Class Registrations:
Open Tuesday 6 May
Close Saturday 31 May
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Performer Registrations:
Open Tuesday 15 July
Close Sunday 31 August
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Performer Info Session:
riday 25 July
at Dragonfly Dance studio​​​
Intensive Program
Ballet Intensive wrap up
We ran our Ballet Intensive over Easter Monday and Anzac Day, and it was a real highlight:
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27 dancers came through the doors, with 10 joining us for both days and 17 attending for one. Monday was the bigger drawcard.
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Feedback was very positive and the atmosphere was energising.
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That said, numbers were slightly lower than last year’s one-day Autumn Ballet Intensive, which had 29 people. I had expected more this time with the two-day option, but running it during school holidays may have limited people’s availability.
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Financially, the event brought in 15% more revenue than last year, but with a larger team of facilitators and panellists, costs were higher too.
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A re-think going forward
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It was a huge effort to pull it all together — worthwhile in many ways, but also completely exhausting. It’s made me pause and rethink how we approach intensives:
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what we want them to achieve,
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how much work they should require, and
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how sustainable they are as a way to grow our impact and income.
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Looking ahead, we had planned:
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Theatre (Jazz & Tap) – King’s Birthday long weekend: Sunday 8 & Monday 9 June
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Contemporary – Labour Day long weekend: Sunday 5 & Monday 6 October
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But realistically, the June dates are coming up too fast. I couldn’t carve out the planning time while still in the thick of the ballet event, and I don’t want to rush something that deserves proper attention. On top of that, long weekends don’t seem to work well — a lot of people are away — so I’m considering a new approach: one-day intensives on regular Sundays, spaced across the year, each with a clear identity — a Jazz Day, a Tap Day, a Contemporary Day.
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I’m also keen to make the days more cohesive. At the ballet intensive, I taught the Juliet variation, but 75 minutes just wasn’t enough. A full day gives us the space to go deeper: start with a barre, then learn part of a variation, break, build on it, then spend time on artistry and performance quality. We could include a lunchtime panel discussion related to the ballet the variation comes from — a chance to explore the bigger picture while dancers rest and recharge.
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In short: less scattergun, more purpose. Fewer sessions crammed into a day, more room to grow something meaningful.
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How the team can help
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To make all of this work, I need your help. I did the digital ads, emails, posters, fliers, social media — but it can’t just come from me. What will really move the needle is all of us spreading the word. With your students. With your networks. With the people who trust you.
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At our meeting next week, I’d love to:
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Workshop new, themed day structures that feel strong, relevant, and inspiring
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Explore practical ways the team can get involved in promotion and support
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I’m not asking for more ideas of things I can do — I’m at capacity. This has to be shared if it’s going to grow.
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Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and building something powerful together.
Class Program - New Classes
New Mature Dance Classes – Launching 21 May
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We’re thrilled to be launching three new morning classes for mature dancers, starting Wednesday 21 May.
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Why we are expanding
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This is a key step in our annual plan to make better use of our beautiful studio space during weekday mornings — and, more importantly, to better serve a growing and passionate community of older dancers.While we do offer some dedicated mature-age classes in the evenings, we know many of our older dancers now enjoy participating in our mixed-age classes. That said, there’s still a real need for classes designed specifically with mature movers in mind — especially for those who are retired, semi-retired, or simply prefer daytime schedules. These new classes are built for them.
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The new Wednsday lineup
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The new Wednesday lineup will be:
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10am – Jazz Mature (existing class, now starting earlier) and NEW Ballet Mature
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11am NEW Contemporary Mature and NEW Tap Mature
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Our mature classes are open to adults aged 60+, though we’re flexible — dancers in their 40s and 50s are absolutely welcome. They’ll run at a Beginner Level 1/2 level to suit both newcomers and those with previous experience. As the term progresses, we’ll adapt based on the group’s needs and interests.
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Alannah will continue with Jazz and take on Tap, while Stella will teach Ballet and Contemporary.
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Strategic scheduling
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We’ve scheduled all classes on Wednesdays this quarter so we can provide a receptionist — which isn’t viable when running just one class.
If things go well, we plan to add Monday or Tuesday morning classes next quarter aimed at a wider audience: shift workers, stay-at-home parents, freelancers, students, and others whose schedules don’t fit the standard 9-to-5.
Why it matters
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These new morning classes are part of a bigger picture. Our evening program is already near capacity, and we want to keep expanding without cramming. We’re also paying a premium in rent, and making use of our space across the full week helps us work smarter, not just harder.
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Bookings
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Bookings are open now in Zen Planner, and will appear in MindBody once the system switch happens next week.
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How you can help
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I'd love your support to help these classes get off to a strong start:
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Mention them to your students — especially those who have friends, parents or colleagues who might be interested
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Share and engage with our social media posts
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Personally invite people in your network who might be looking for a friendly, low-pressure way to move, connect and express themselves
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These classes aren’t just about fitness or dance technique — they’re about welcoming people into a community, keeping bodies moving at every age, and proving that creativity doesn’t have a time limit.
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Exams / Assessments
Pressing Pause for Now
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I had originally planned to introduce some low-pressure, mid-year assessments this year as a way to support student development and add a new layer of progression. However, after reviewing everything the studio needs right now — and what’s sustainable — I’ve decided not to go ahead with assessments in 2025.
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Prioritising studio sustainability
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Assessments won’t make a meaningful difference to our revenue goals, which are a priority this year. Hitting those targets is what will allow me to create more paid opportunities for the team, offer paid training, create new roles within the studio to reduce the load I’m carrying, and keep the studio running in a way that’s healthy and sustainable.
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Foundations first
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A bigger reason, though, is that we’re still developing the teaching foundations that would make assessments worthwhile. I’ve put a lot into building our syllabi across styles, and while they’ve come a long way, they’re each at different stages of development. Right now, most of the syllabus content focuses on what steps belong at each level — but true progression is about much more than that.
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Beyond the steps
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We also need to be clear on the how:
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How quickly or slowly things are introduced
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How many repetitions are appropriate
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What kind of technique and musicality is expected
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How much coordination is required (e.g. how many body parts are moving at once)
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These less tangible elements are just as important in defining the level of a class, and right now they’re not fully captured in our documents — which makes consistency more difficult.
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Bridging the gaps
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I know you are already working with the syllabus documents and teaching progressively, which I appreciate, but I’m noticing areas where our understanding of level expectations may differ, or where there is a lack of consistency between classes and teachers. That’s not a judgment — it’s just a sign that we need more shared clarity.
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Ongoing training support
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To support this, I aim to run team training sessions every couple of months, focused on syllabus content, teaching pace, progression, and strategies for alignment across classes. These sessions will be paid and are a key part of how we grow stronger as a team. Outside of that, I need everyone to take ownership of the syllabus resources, and reach out if you’re unsure about anything.
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Creativity within structure
I’m also very aware that we are a team of creative people, and that’s a huge strength. I value your creativity, and I don’t want to diminish it. You are all experienced dancers and/or teachers, and I trust your instincts. This is not about restricting your artistry — it’s about building a strong, shared foundation that gives us room to create, teach, and lead with confidence and consistency.
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It isn’t about control — it’s about cohesion. We want our adult students to feel their progress, and for each of us to know we’re contributing to that growth in a unified way. Getting that right together is more valuable than any formal assessment right now. Thanks for staying committed to that process.
Friday spotlight series
A space for creative exploration
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Following on from the conversation about alignment and syllabus structure — I also want to acknowledge that sometimes, what we teach within the structure isn’t enough to fully explore our creative ideas. That’s where the Friday Spotlight Series comes in.
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This is something I’ve spoken about with some of you already, and it’s still very much on my agenda — I just haven’t had the time or headspace to get it off the ground yet.
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The idea is to use Friday nights, when we don’t currently run regular classes, as a space for something different:
A 6–8 week series of sessions that sit outside of our usual syllabus — giving teachers the chance to share something they’re passionate about, try something new, or dive deeper into a style or concept they love.
It could be:
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A jazz choreography program
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A contemporary technique or improvisation series
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A conditioning or flexibility course
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A themed or open-level creative project
These sessions could be open-level or targeted, and would be a chance to flex your creativity in a focused way — without needing to fit it into a set progression or class structure. They’d be open to studio teachers, but also to aligned guest teachers who share our values and style.
This isn’t about launching something radically different - just creating a space to enrich what we already do, while giving you room to grow, explore, and offer something fresh to our community.
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If this sparks ideas, I’d love you to start sitting with them. When the time is right, I’ll be inviting expressions of interest so we can start shaping a program that’s both creatively fulfilling and exciting for our students.