If your organization teaches dance, music, or acting, a performing arts website design must stand out from your competition. Like other performing arts educators, you face challenges. You need to retain current students, attract new students, and increase visibility in your community.
The business end is also challenging, with rising overhead, competing extra-curricular activities, maintaining staff, and other operational pressures. In this environment, the key question is how to create a unique website for your performance arts organization that helps you stand out in a crowded online space.
From our Boston-based web design agency’s experience building successful websites for performance arts schools and organizations, such as Groton Hill and JL Dance Center, we’ve identified the top performance arts must-haves.
These critical pointers apply to most schools teaching dance, music, and acting.
The strategic foundation of performing arts website design: What are the significant performance arts school website must-haves?
There is no single path to success, but certain elements are necessary. And you want to avoid the most common website pain points. That said, the focus and design of your website depend on who you are and what you want. Performance arts school website must-haves start with presenting a clear purpose and sharing who you are.
Foundations of a successful performance arts school and venue website include:
- Clear, consistent organization brand identity
- Local and regional online visibility
- User-friendly class enrollment and registration
- New student signups
- Current student retention
- Artist and student visibly
- Performance ticket sales
- Easy online payments
- Simple donation and annual appeal
A thriving arts education website must reflect your identity. Your brand, teaching philosophy, class offerings, and atmosphere should all showcase your unique identity.
For example, a dance studio website may emphasize fun and recreation for all ages. Another may stress ballroom dancing for singles and couples. Others may focus on the range of dance styles for students of all ages. For instance, we designed a dance school website with a modern look, improved user experience, streamlined content, and conversion-focused features for performances, education, and community engagement.
Performing arts education website design must make a powerful first impression
You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression with your performing arts website design. Did you know that:
First impressions are 94% design-related
The average user forms an impression of a website in just 0.5 seconds
39% will stop engaging with content when loading time takes too long
How can you beat the odds? Partner with your web designer to leverage key elements such as branding, colors, page layout, typography, functionality, and speed. But performance arts websites must-haves go beyond how your site looks.
Case Study: A website redesign and digital marketing for a dance school seeking growth in the Boston area
Ladybugz designed a dance school’s website, punching up the design with original photos that capture the studio’s personality. Their focus is on students from preschool through high school. We have expanded the website project into an ongoing engagement for brand building and local SEO.
We have launched a new website that better reflects the quality of our programs. In addition, the user experience is much more streamlined and optimized for mobile. We have a brand identity that is modern, streamlined and easy to integrate into our online and printed materials.
Mobile-first design: A must-have for a performance arts school website
Along with the need to make an immediate impact comes the emphasis of web design for mobile searches. With more than 60% of all searches coming from mobile phones, Google prioritizes “mobile-first” websites.
Ensure that your performing arts education website design is mobile-friendly in these areas:
- Menus and on-page navigation
- Interaction buttons (CTAs, form submit, toggle, etc.)
- Photo and video quality and format
- Registration forms and functionality
- Schedules and calendars
- Filters
- Secure payments
- Increased site bandwidth for busy ticketing and registration times
Case Study: A Boston-area music school and performance venue is designed with a “mobile-first” experience
A redesigned Groton Hill Music Center’s website was built with its mobile users in mind first. Its modern look, streamlined content, and conversion-focused features deliver a positive mobile user experience.
We’re grateful for the partnership and dedication LadyBugz showed throughout the process.
Intuitive navigation for your performing arts school website design
Usability is another essential aspect of your website. Busy parents and students won’t waste time on your website if it’s hard to use. Many will just click on another nearby dance studio. The menu must be intuitive. Keep tab titles straightforward, not cute or “creative.” Everyone immediately understands “Classes.” An alternative, like “Get ready to dance,” may not be clear. Another tip is to minimize your menu to avoid confusing your visitors.
Easy-to-find class information is a must-have on a performance arts school website must-haves
Here’s another area where being intuitive in performing arts website design is crucial. Visitors must be able to find accurate, up-to-date information on classes they want to take.
If it’s too complicated, they are likely to leave without signing up.
- Ensure your website includes:
- Clear class descriptions, age groups, skill levels, lesson times, and instructor
- Calendar of events
- Appropriate filters, such as by age group, skill level and/or type of dance
- Regularly updated class and event information (make sure to use an easy-to-update platform)
- Prominent call-to-action (CTA), especially “Register Now!”
Case study: Orchestra website redesign to support a geographically expanding, inclusive non-profit
Me2/ is the world’s only classical music organization created for individuals with mental illness. This website highlights the importance of their performances by using musician-focused photos and videos. We embedded a link to the performance calendar just above the “Join Us” button for high visibility.
Our new website received great feedback upon launch. People love the images and the ease of navigation. The switch from a PayPal processing donation site to our new donation platform makes our donors feel more confident when providing their financial information.
Most importantly, we have had people comment on how much they love the fact that our website has accessibility features for people who might otherwise have trouble reading it.
A performance arts school website design must have registration and payment options
From the factors above, we see the importance of convenience in the design of performing arts websites. The most critical areas for seamless functionality are registration and payments. You risk losing business if you don’t offer these critical areas online or fail to deliver them effectively. Focus on seamless user experience, easy-to-complete forms, transparency, multiple payment options, and security.
Share what’s new as part of your performing arts school website design
When promoting your studio, be sure to highlight your events as part of your performing arts website design. Performances are exciting for students and their families. It’s the ultimate result of many weeks of lessons and rehearsals.
Show and tell to tell a story on a performance school’s website
Showcasing these events also provides prospective parents with a visual display of what they can expect when they enroll their children. Include a dedicated page for upcoming recitals, competitions, and community events. Also, provide ticketing links or online sales options.
Case study: A children’s chorus website undergoes a rebrand and new website design to attract new students and promote performances in Worcester, MA
This performing arts website required a redesign to rebrand the school and showcase the chorus’s vibrancy, particularly in the post-COVID era. The website offers numerous opportunities to explore the organization’s impact, support opportunities, membership, and ongoing growth.
Photos and videos for your performing arts school website design
While you’re talking about your studio, remember that a picture (or video) is worth a thousand words. Bring your performing arts website design to life with high-quality pictures and videos.
Here are just a few ideas of what you can share with photos and/or videos:
- Rehearsals
- Recitals and performances
- Students interacting with other students
- Teachers instructing students
- Video testimonials
- Virtual tour
- Instructional content
- Instructor bios and credentials
It’s not just the “what” (class description) and the “how” (registration) that define the must-haves for a dance studio website. It’s also about the “who.” Instructors’ bios build trust, showcase credibility, and give your studio a personal touch. Many performing arts schools have a faculty page that is often a dropdown under “About Us.” Highlight each staff member’s expertise, certifications, and specialties. Photos will help to humanize your instructors.
Your performance arts school website must include contact options
Another key point is that the dance studio website design should facilitate easy contact for visitors. Parents, students and prospects have lots of questions, especially at certain times of the year. Make your contact information highly visible. Include your email address, social media links, phone number and a user-friendly contact form. You can even embed an interactive map for directions.
Social media and performing arts school website design
Next comes the intersection of performing arts web designs and social media. Stay connected. Link social media icons on your website to your active social channels. Here are 10 ideas for social media posts:
- Share performances, photos, achievements, and milestones
- Highlight student success stories
- Promote events such as recitals, competitions, or auditions
- Share exciting updates, such as a renovated studio, new teachers, or new programs
- Encourage user-generated content
- Share educational content, like dance tips and choreography breakdowns
- Leverage platform-specific features such as Instagram Stories and Facebook groups
- Ask parents to post online reviews
- Encourage user-created content
- Share dance industry trends and updates
Performance arts school website blog as an option
While not necessarily a dance studio website must-have, blog articles can generate the bulk of website traffic. Rather than sounding like ads, they should be informative and show your expertise. Identify topics relevant to your audience, such as techniques, trends and how to find a high-quality studio. While not essential, a credible blog can set your studio apart and improve your search engine rankings.
SEO and local search optimization: A performance arts school website must-haves
As a local business, your performance arts school needs local SEO to thrive on its website. Your dance studio is a local business. This makes local SEO a must-have for all dance studio websites. Many of your prospects will include “near me” when searching for a performing arts school or dance studio. You want them to find you, not the studio down the street.
There are good reasons to hire a local web design company.
Tips for local SEO include:
- Optimize for keywords like “dance studio near me” or “acting classes [city].”
- Add Google Maps integration to your contact page.
- Use structured data for events and classes to boost visibility.
- Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information is correct and consistent wherever you are listed online.
- Stand out with your performing arts website design
Stand out with your performing arts website design
A stunning website that features the elements above will help your school or venue stand out from your nearby competition. Make your site easy to find, convenient to use, and visually engaging, on desktop and mobile.
Now that you know the performing arts website design must-haves, partner with a reputable, award-winning, local website design company.
