Step out with baby ballet (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Step out with baby ballet

11:44am Tuesday 10th April 2007 in

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On one side of the corridor the tiny toes' are twirling merrily in their tutus. The toddlers look so cute as they go through their ballet paces.

Opposite, the ballet babes' - six to 18-month-olds - giggle and clap their way through rhyme and song.

Welcome to the magical world of baby ballet. For anyone who thinks this is a playground for pushy parents, a competitive environment where youngsters are groomed for stage and screen before they get out of their baby grows, it isn't.

The mother behind this caring, fun company - modelled on a traditional ballet school but without the formality - is so passionate about her baby' she's busy encouraging others to take it on board by franchising the wonderful educational experience for little ones.

The Baby Ballet Song and Dance academy was born out of a family's passion for dance. Barbara Peters has run her Huddersfield dance school for more than 40 years, so when she had her daughter Claire it was inevitable that she'd be the next female following in the family's graceful footsteps.

"I started dancing at three but my mum never forced me into it nor did I want to become a professional dancer," says Claire. "I just didn't have that desire, but I did really enjoy it."

She pursued other sports and achieved A-levels at the Girls Grammar School, Bradford but ballet was always in the background. "I've always taught dance. When I had my son Harry, I went to work for mum," she says.

At that time, in the late 1990s, play gyms were becoming popular for youngsters. After visiting one with Harry both Claire and Barbara thought that maybe they could incorporate dance within a play gym environment.

Claire discovered that very few dance schools were teaching babies to dance. The general perception, she says, is that it isn't possible. How can a six-month-old who hasn't mastered the art of taking their first steps be taught to pirouette or point their toes? Of course the answer is that they can't, but prancing around in leotards and tutus isn't entirely what baby ballet is about.

As well as getting children into fitness and movement from a young age, ballet helps to develop co-ordination and confidence.

They may only be a few months old but these infants are eager to learn.

"If they can clap their hands and nod their head they can do it. It's sign language through dance," explains Claire.

The formula evolved from there. Initially, Claire held interactive activity sessions at local play gyms and hired halls. "We thought it would be ideal in comfortable surroundings to do a toddler class," she says.

"The first class had a lovely feel to it and the children were just mesmerised by the whole thing, and because we had the experience of training young people we made it imaginative and magical, something different."

Eventually they came up with the idea of developing baby ballet' as a marketable brand and creating a head office.

Last year a former furniture warehouse in the basement of a Halifax mill was transformed into a cosy, comfortable environment for children to come and have fun. Branding is predominantly pink - even down to the Volkswagen Beetle Claire drives promoting the company - but boys are welcome too.

When we spoke, Claire was in the throes of organising a Father's Day campaign encouraging dads to bring baby boys along. A few dads were milling around enthusiastically supporting their children when I popped by and it was a pleasure to see.

Dan Rowe and wife Rachelle from Halifax took their four-year-old son Harry along to satisfy his love of music. "Whenever we have music on in the house he's always jumping up and dancing," says Dan.

"He loves Kylie and he's really energetic and full of beans, but a lot of mother and baby classes don't have the same structure, somebody telling them what to do and making it exciting. This is exercise and he gets to meet other children too.

"And he's just taken on an extra class - he's doing tap dancing now!"

Claire says: "It's a music and agility class called baby ballet but it is far removed from a traditional ballet class. What we've found through research is that when boys join football or rugby they are much more co-ordinated.

"We are teaching them from an early age, so they are making friends, they're standing tall in the class and we're making them feel nice about themselves. As they grow into later life they will have more confidence."

One ballet baby who is learning to walk pulls herself up off the mat where her little counterparts are waving their arms with their parents' support. In a half crouched tentative stance she moves her arms from side to side as if beckoning the rest of the gang to look at me!

Through the facing window the Tiny Toes are twirling with glee. One little girl waves enthusiastically at her daddy through the window.

Hipperholme mum Amanda Hopkinson says daughter Olivia, five, was clingy and painfully shy before coming to baby ballet when she was 18 months old. "It wasn't really for the dancing. I wanted to give her confidence and social skills so she could mix with other children," says Amanda. "For the first few lessons she'd have a little go and come and sit on my knee but eventually that was it and off she went.

"If she comes out of it with confidence, social skills and good posture then that is all I want to get out of it. I'm not interested in her doing examinations or going into TV."

Sitting on comfortable leather sofas, parents watch their offspring perform in the dance studios and Claire has incorporated a café too. It's an ideal place for parties and somewhere families can socialise while their children let off steam in the play area.

The ethos behind Claire's venture isn't about creating a money-making empire. Following a double bout of post-natal depression following the birth of her two sons, Claire has learned to make the most of life. She is already rich with love and support from her family, and the arrival of eight-month-old daughter Claudia has made it complete.

Eager for more youngsters to benefit from the experience, Claire celebrated her first franchise in Huddersfield in January. With interest from as far as Perth, she's now exploring the possibilities of the brand expanding.

"We've had to go through all the legal system, have contracts sorted out, signed and sealed yet I never did business at school, I was much more arty and creative," says Claire.

Her Spanish degree will help with spreading the word overseas and her media degree has come in handy for research and marketing. "If you have something you are proud of you really want to shout about it," says Claire. "I'm so passionate about it, I love it so much. I know how much good parents and children are getting out of it."

The ballet babes course is for six to 16-month-old babies; Tiny Toes is for babies aged 18 to 30 months; Mini Groovers is for four to six-year-olds and Academy Dance is for seven to 16-year-olds. Oh, and there's cheer leading too!

l Baby Ballet is based in Square Road, Halifax. For more information visit www.babyballet.co.uk, email info@ babyballet.co.uk or call 08701 430063.