Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Date Created
12-10-2022
Abstract
ABSTRACT Hunt, Ann Campbell. Finding the right combination: An exploratory study of business acumen, community engagement, and success criteria in Colorado dance studios. Unpublished Master of Arts thesis, University of Northern Colorado, 2022. The primary purpose of this study was to discover similarities and differences between Colorado dance studio owner’s definitions of success and data pertaining to community engagement and business strategies. This may help to inform current and future dance studio entrepreneurs of the variety of interpersonal skills needed to maintain a dance studio, how community engagement may be an instrumental part of studio culture, and how business strategies and goals realized an owner’s vision. The essential questions that focused this research study were: Q1 Why is it important for dance studio owners to define success for themselves? Q2 What can be gained by the community, students, and studio owners bringing dance into the community? Q3 What makes a dance studio stand out in the marketplace? A digital survey was sent to 176 Colorado dance studio owners that operated their business in cities with populations greater than 100,000. The participants were asked to answer questions pertaining to how they define success, engage with the community, and their business acumen. Each section was designed to elicit qualitative and quantitative responses. Analysis of the data showed that Colorado dance studio owners were eager to please their clients and create a safe and supportive environment for their students. Most owners found that being involved in their community was of great importance to them, their studio, students, and the community. Colorado dance studio owners had a strong vison of what their studio values and mission were and how they defined success. A limitation in this study was the dance studio owners surveyed were only located in urban locations. Further research could investigate rural and suburban settings to identify important trends and differences present in theses locales.
Keywords
colorado; dance studio; business acumen, success, community
Recommended Citation
Hunt, Ann, "FINDING THE RIGHT COMBINATION: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF BUSINESS ACUMEN, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND SUCCESS CRITERIA IN COLORADO DANCE STUDIOS" (2022). Master's Theses. 252.
https://digscholarship.unco.edu/theses/252