Dance studio software for every style and age

If you're looking for dance studio software, you're really after three things: a schedule that shows all your styles and levels, sign-ups that parents and dancers do themselves, and class fees that arrive on their own. Avana does all three in one system, for a small dance studio with one room and for one with several teachers. Many dance studios talk about pupils or students; in Avana everyone who dances with you is a member, whether that's a six-year-old or an adult in the salsa class.

Classes by style and level on one schedule

A dance studio soon has a packed week. Tiny dancers after school, hip-hop for teens, classical ballet, and salsa or bachata for adults in the evening. In Avana each class gets a name, a description, a length, a level, a teacher and a maximum number of places. The level is beginner, some experience, advanced or all levels, so someone just starting out doesn't end up in an advanced group by mistake.

A class that repeats every week you set up once, with fixed days and times. Avana then places it months ahead in your online class schedule. Your studio page shows every style side by side, with the level and teacher on each class, and each class has a page of its own you can share.

A season with set groups

Many dance studios run a dance year that starts after the summer and ends before the next one, with a set group on a set evening. That's what seasons are for in Avana, on Studio Plus and Studio Max. You give the season a name, a first and last class date and the weeks off, such as fall break and the holidays. Then, for each group, you set the day, time, number of places and an age range if needed.

You decide when sign-ups open and close, and whether last season's members go first. On your page the season has its own tab, where parents and dancers filter by day and age and see how many places each group has left. When the season ends, you prepare the next one and roll your current members forward: everyone gets a place in the follow-on group and confirms it themselves.

Parents signing up their children

With kids' dance, it's a parent who signs up. In Avana they do so from their own account: for a season group the parent chooses who the place is for and enters just the child's name and year of birth. All emails go to the parent, and your member list shows the child as a member in their own right, with the parent's name next to them.

So for each group you see which children are in it and whom to email if something comes up. If two children from one family attend separate classes, the family shares one pack or membership on Studio Plus, and you see which child came to which class.

Fees per month, per pack or per season

For dancers who come to the same class every week, a monthly membership is the calmest option. It's charged to their card every month, and a member can cancel up to the end of the month already paid. Anyone who prefers to come now and then, or wants to try a few salsa classes first, buys a class pack with an expiry date you set.

For a season you decide how fees are paid: in one go online, at your studio, or in installments. With installments a parent pays in a few parts, either collected automatically or with a payment link each time. Someone joining halfway through only pays for the classes still to come, unless you choose to charge the full price.

A trial class and full beginner groups

People who want to start dancing often wonder whether the style and level will suit them. A trial class takes that worry away: a new member buys one and picks a class in the same step. Avana makes sure it stays at one trial class per member, and on Studio Plus the member gets a welcome with the next step after their first class.

Beginner groups are usually the first to fill after the summer. A full class gets a waitlist, and when someone cancels in time, the first person waiting hears about it. Season groups work the same way: if a place opens, the email goes to the first on the list, and if they don't reply within two days, to the next. Read exactly how it works under cancellations and waitlist.

Teachers by style, rooms and the show

A ballet teacher rarely teaches hip-hop as well, so more styles means more teachers. Studio Plus covers up to three teachers and Studio Max as many as you like, each with their own login and schedule. Add your rooms and Avana never books two classes into the same room at once. For each teacher Avana counts the classes they taught, including cover, so you know what to pay out.

In the run-up to a show you add extra rehearsals as one-off classes. On Studio Max you email all your members, or a single group, about the performance in one go. Tickets for the show itself are sold outside Avana, since ticketing isn't included.

Comparing dance studio software

When you compare software for dance studios, look at commission, the contract and how easily parents can sign up. Avana takes no commission, runs month to month, and members sign up in the browser or the app. Plan prices are shown above. Using another system or a spreadsheet now? We move your members and their credit over for free; if that's Mindbody, see switching from Mindbody.

Teach barre or yoga next to dance, or run martial arts classes too? They sit alongside your dance classes, for the same members. Every type of studio is listed under studio software.