Meet Miss Danielle: The Franchisee Behind babyballet® Twickenham, Richmond and Kingston Upon Thames

From performing the Charleston to shaking pom-poms as a London Cheerleader, Miss Danielle’s dance journey has been anything but ordinary. But it wasn’t until she discovered babyballet and took the leap into franchising, that everything truly clicked. With her boundless energy, love for little ones, and passion for dance, Miss Danielle has built a thriving franchise that brings the magic of movement to hundreds of babyballet stars across southwest London. In this inspiring interview, she shares how she made the leap from freelance teacher to successful franchisee.

Can you tell me about your experiences before joining babyballet?

Well, I’ve been dancing since I was three and did ballet when I was little. I picked it all back up once I started sixth form college. I did a Dance B-Tech and then I went to Chichester University and did a BA Honours in Contemporary Dance. I was sure I wanted to perform and straight after university, I went on tour with a historical dance company… very unique! We told the story of the seven deadly sins – I was ‘Envy.’ We also did a Charleston performance and a Regency Ball! I was also a dancer on dancing through history programme alongside Lenn Goodman and Lucy Worsley.

That was a real high in 2014 after university but then the reality of three months straight of auditioning, particularly coming from a contemporary rather than commercial dance background, just wasn’t for me!

In the meantime, I’d been working other jobs and had applied to work as a baby ballet teacher for Miss Clare at babyballet Clapham and Balham. I knew Miss Claire was really looking for someone with a car, but I just loved the sound of the job so much! I spoke to her and remember saying, “I live right next door to the tube station – I will do whatever is needed!” At the time, my mum kept telling me how good she thought I’d be at the job too!

In the December 2014, Miss Clare contacted me and asked if I wanted to come along for a trial, have coffee and find out more about the role. I started working as a babyballet teacher in Clapham in January 2015 and later, taught for babyballet Wimbledon too.

As well as working as a freelance dance teacher with babyballet, I also worked with other companies. I taught older students and went into nursery settings with another company. It was during this period that I figured out under 7s were my niche. Older children didn’t seem to get my jokes anymore so I figured that I must have the sense of humour of a 5-year-old! During this time, I was a cheerleader with the London Cheerleaders, and I got to perform at some incredible venues with the company. At one point, I was balancing seven similar jobs with seven different employers… it was tricky!

Do you remember what made you take the leap into becoming a babyballet franchisee?

I remember working for Clare right in the beginning and thinking, “I love this – this is what I’m meant to do.” I’ve always loved working with kids; especially little ones and I love to dance. I just didn’t know how to combine the two as a job and a career.

It was 2018 and I had seven employers and was just constantly running around. I had been saying for years that I wanted to make the leap and open my own babyballet franchise. I just kept saying, “One day!” I just thought, let’s do this. I was very lucky that my partner was so supportive of the idea. It was great timing for us – we didn’t have any kids at that point or other commitments.

Can you describe a typical day in the life of Miss Danielle?

Of course! Each day is a little different, but I’ll describe my typical Friday. I wake up and drop the kids off at childcare. Then I make my way to my two morning classes.

I finish those at around 11:30am. I pack down, come home, and spend part of the afternoon working on business development. It’s during this time that I’ll plan future events and work towards goals. I’m currently doing a business coaching course, so I work through some of that.

Late Friday afternoon, I have some time without the two kids, so I try to go to a body conditioning or workout class.

What is the best part about being a babyballet franchisee?

Having the ability to spread the magic of dance to more and more children. I know that even if I can’t fit a class into my own week, I can find another amazing teacher who can and so the magic and reach keep growing. We’re sprinkling that magic as far as we can!

How has your role changed since starting as a franchisee?

When I started, I was a one-woman band! I did it all – the admin, the teaching, the marketing, everything. Since I’ve had my kiddos, I’ve had to take a bit of a step back on teaching. I’m trying to get back into it gradually but as always there’s the childcare conundrum!

I’ve gradually shifted into a more managerial role which I feel is hilarious for me! I never imagined myself as being somebody who would be a manager but now, I’ve got to a point where I have a team of four teachers. I find myself thinking, “How did this happen?!”

How do you find the babyballet franchise conferences?

I just love them – they’re great fun! It’s so nice to just come together because it can be a lonely business at times, working for yourself, particularly before I had a teaching team. It’s lovely to go along and be with likeminded people. I love sharing our funny stories and just feeling seen and heard. As a franchisee, I get so much out of the conferences. You’re surrounded by such fabulous people, and I always come home feeling motivated by them.

What do you think are the most important qualities to have as a babyballet franchisee?

You have to be passionate about the brand, ballet and encouraging little ones into movement. You must put so much work in so I can’t imagine doing it if you weren’t passionate! Being driven and hardworking is vital.

I think being friendly is so important both in class, and at the end of the phone or an email. We’re working with young children and their grown-ups who are dealing with energetic toddlers and pre-schoolers! Those grown-ups really need a friendly face when they come into class – they may well have just spent half an hour battling with a two-year old and a tutu!

Do you have any advice to share with someone who is thinking about becoming a babyballet franchisee?

I advise them to just go for it and get in touch. Even if you decide during the application stage that it’s not right for you, the team are always so lovely and happy to help in whatever way they can. I think it’s always better to have tried that to never know.

If you had to sum babyballet up in just 3 words, what would they be?

1. Inclusive
2. Magical
3. Fun

Miss Danielle’s story is a shining example of what happens when passion meets purpose. Her journey from performer to babyballet franchisee shows the incredible impact one person can have when they take the leap and follow their dreams. Whether you’re a parent, a dancer, or someone dreaming of starting their own business, Miss Danielle’s story is sure to inspire.

Would you like to know more about joining the babyballet team as a franchisee? Click to request your prospectus or book an online discovery day to find out more!