Starz Dance Studio

What Starz Dance Studio does

Starz Dance Studio is a privately held, single-location dance education business operating in Becker, Minnesota, serving families across Becker, Big Lake, Clear Lake, and surrounding communities. Founded in 1997 and owned by Jenn Shaw since 2015, the studio offers recreational and competitive dance instruction across ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, and contemporary, alongside specialty programs including Dance Cirque (aerial silks, hoop, lyra, tumbling) and a new Youth Theater offering. Curriculum is segmented by age and skill level from preschool (ages 2-5) through adult, with a competitive program comprising 5 main groups plus a competitive Hip Hop group that participates in 7+ regional and national competitions.

The studio runs approximately 30 classes per dance season with an 8-person staff of owner, assistant director, and 6 instructors, the majority of whom are University of Minnesota-Morris dance-program alumni with competition choreography credentials. Operations are seasonal (September through May) with breaks at Christmas and spring break, plus a Summer 2026 session extension. Customer-facing technology is limited to a GoStudioPro online registration platform (with ClassJuggler for hip-hop), a WordPress-based website, and organic social channels on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model with subscription-style monthly tuition billed across a 9-month season, regardless of class count per month, plus a $25 annual registration fee, costume fees for the annual recital, and incremental fees for competition dancers. Marketing relies on community events (open houses, free trial classes, Spudfest parade, Becker Freedom Days), word-of-mouth referrals, and a monthly email newsletter. No external funding, institutional customers, or geographic expansion beyond the immediate Becker-area market is evident.

Name

Starz Dance Studio

Legal name

Starz Dance Studio

Website

https://beckerstarz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Starz Dance Studio is a privately held, single-location dance studio in Becker, Minnesota, offering recreational and competitive dance instruction, plus circus arts and youth theater programs, to families across Becker, Big Lake, and Clear Lake.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dance Instruction Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Dance Companies (71112)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI), Tap, Jazz & Musical Theatre Dance (MPAGADAG), Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ), Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance) (EDAAAGAD)

Keywords

• Dance instruction services
• Youth dance classes
• Competitive dance training
• Aerial circus arts
• Dance studio programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Becker

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dance Class Tuition: Tuition divided over a nine-month period from September through May. Payment amount is consistent each month regardless of whether there are 3, 4, or 5 lessons that month. Late fee of $5 applies if payment not received by the 5th of each month.
2. Annual Registration Fees: $25 per student annual registration fee. Last month's tuition also due at time of registration.
3. Competition Dance Fees: Competition dancers pay additional fees for shoes, competitions, and slightly higher costume fees.
4. Costume Fees: Costume fees posted at registration for recital performances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Starz Dance Studio is a locally owned dance school that delivers weekly in-person dance classes for preschool through adult students in Becker, MN, covering ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, POM, acrobatic dance, and specialty circus arts (aerial silks, hoop, lyra, juggling). The studio runs a curriculum-based recreational program alongside an audition-based competitive program (five competition groups plus a competitive Hip Hop group) and supplements these with summer sessions and a youth theater offering, all culminating in an annual recital. Students register through the GoStudioPro online platform and attend scheduled classes at the physical studio location.

Product overview

Starz Dance Studio is a locally owned dance education business offering a comprehensive portfolio of dance instruction programs. The studio provides Recreational Dance Classes for all ages (preschool through adult) covering ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip-hop; a Competitive Dance Program with audition-based competition groups; and specialty programs including Dance Cirque (aerial arts and circus skills), Little Cirque & Tumbling (preschool circus), Youth Theater, and Summer Dance sessions. All programs culminate in an annual Dance Season Recital performance. The studio serves the Becker, MN area including Big Lake, Clear Lake, and surrounding communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Recreational Dance Classes Weekly in-person dance instruction for ages 2-18 (preschool through teen) in styles including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip-hop, organized as a curriculum-based program with progressive levels; meets once per week per student.
• Competitive Dance Program Audition-based competitive dance training program for advanced dancers, comprising five main competition groups plus a competitive Hip Hop group, with additional fees covering shoes, competition entries, and higher costume costs.
• Dance Cirque Circus-arts class for ages 6-18 incorporating aerial silks, hoop, juggling, lyra, and flexibility training, with focus on balance, precision, and hand-eye coordination.
• Little Cirque & Tumbling Preschool circus class for ages 3-5 incorporating silks, juggling, balance beam, tumbling, and more, focused on balance, flexibility, and large motor skill development.
• Youth Theater Theatrical training program offered alongside dance education at Starz Dance Studio for youth.
• Summer Dance Classes Short-term summer dance classes offering low-commitment options for new and returning students, including sessions focused on building technique and skills; July session begins July 13.
• Dance Season Recital Annual end-of-season recital performance held mid-May in which each student performs at least two dances across multiple shows in full costume with professional staging and reserved seating.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Artistic Dance ExchangeminorOthersDance convention provider that the studio's competition team attends.
• Bravo Dance CompetitionminorOthersRegional dance competition attended by Starz competition teams.
• GEMS Dance CompetitionminorOthersRegional dance competition attended by Starz competition teams.
• Fly Dance CompetitionminorOthersRegional dance competition attended by Starz competition teams.
• Turn It Up Dance CompetitionminorOthersNational dance competition attended by Starz competition teams.
• P3 Dance CompetitionminorOthersRegional dance competition attended by Starz competition teams.
• Activate Your Artistry Dance ConventionminorOthersDance convention attended by Starz competition teams.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Steps on Broadway: Established multi-style dance studio offering recreational, adult, and competitive programs with annual recitals. Comparable to Starz in offering a curriculum-based multi-style program with performance progression.
• The Rock School for Dance Education: Pre-professional dance school with a recreational division, offering structured progression from youth through advanced levels. Comparable to Starz in combining recreational and competitive/advanced tracks in a community-focused setting.
• Debbie Allen Dance Academy: Youth-focused dance education program offering recreational and pre-professional training with performance opportunities. Comparable to Starz in combining recreational and competitive pathways for young dancers with annual recitals.

Broad incumbents

• Goldfish Swim School: Franchised children's activity center offering year-round recurring instruction with a multi-location growth model. Comparable to Starz in targeting families with young children, recurring subscription billing, and community-based brand building.
• My Gym: Franchised early-childhood fitness and development program with structured progressive classes. Comparable to Starz in serving preschool through elementary children with curriculum-based movement classes in a recurring subscription format.
• Arthur Murray Dance Studios: Long-established franchised dance studio chain offering ballroom and social dance instruction. Similar community-based, in-person dance education model with recurring lesson-based revenue, though skewed toward adult social/ballroom learners.
• The Little Gym: Franchised children's enrichment program offering movement, gymnastics, and motor-skill classes for ages 4 months through 12 years. Directly comparable to Starz's preschool-age offerings in targeting young children and parents seeking structured developmental classes.
• Fred Astaire Dance Studios: Largest franchised dance studio chain in the U.S., offering group and private lessons across multiple dance styles. Comparable to Starz as a multi-style dance education business serving local communities, though much larger and primarily adult-focused.
• Club Pilates: Franchised group fitness studio offering subscription-based recurring classes. Comparable to Starz in the subscription-based group class business model and recurring monthly revenue structure, though focused on Pilates rather than dance.

Regional players

• Tumblebus: Mobile children's fitness and gymnastics program serving preschools and community centers. Comparable to Starz in targeting young children with structured movement education in a small-market, community-based setting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3TDj2kvRfs65nIu_pwMXlA
• Facebookfacebook.com/beckerstarz
• Instagraminstagram.com/beckerstarz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/starz-dance-studio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Starz Dance Studio