From a successful 12-year career performing on cruise ships around the world, to discovering the magic of babyballet®, Miss Jen shares what it’s really like to open a new babyballet® franchise.

Miss Jen is the passionate new franchisee behind babyballet® St Neots and Huntingdon. With a background in ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary dance, she performed worldwide with Carnival Cruise Line for over a decade before deciding to bring the magic of dance to little stars back home. In this exclusive interview, she shares her dance story, what led her to babyballet, and her exciting plans for the future…

Can you tell me more about your dance experiences before joining babyballet® as a franchisee?

It goes all the way back to when I was about two years old. I went to my first ballet class at two and half, and I danced throughout my whole childhood. I eventually did tap and jazz and contemporary as well. Then in my early teens, I decided I really wanted to do this professionally when I grew up. I wanted to be a dancer.

Looking back, it’s crazy! I did so many hours of dance practice. During my GCSEs and A-levels, I did 11 hours of dancing each week in the evenings on top of my exams. I don’t know how I did it! I got into Millennium Performing Arts in London at 18 years old to get my Diploma in Musical Theatre. I did three years there and they encouraged you to go to any and every audition that comes your way.

I was auditioning in my third year, and I got into Disneyland Paris and Carnival Cruise Line in the same week. I figured I’d rather go to the Caribbean than Paris and so the decision was made! I joined Carnival Cruise Line as a performer in 2011 and retired 12 years later, in May 2024. During my time with Carnival, I was promoted to Dance Captain after five years and then became the Cast Manager a year after that.

It was the best way to spend your twenties – travelling the world! I’ve been all the way to Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii – visiting all these amazing places whilst getting to dance every night!

When the pandemic hit a few years ago, obviously the holiday industry halted. So, I came home for about a year and half, and I got a part-time job at a bed and mattress store.

Being at home to make me think, “Okay, what am I going to do in the next?” I still wanted to dance on stage for the next few years, but what was I going to do after?

I studied online and achieved my Dance Teaching Diploma in Modern Jazz with the IDTA. Luckily, I managed to do the exam just before I started my next contract with the cruise line. So, I had my teaching qualification and then managed to get some work teaching at local dance schools and running dance workshops ad-hoc. I kind of caught the buzz and remember thinking,

“Actually, I’d quite like to be a dance teacher.”

I went back to ship in 2021 and went back to the cruise life for a few more years. It was obvious that everything had started to change because of the pandemic anyway but I was also very aware that I was in my early thirties and a lot older than the rest of the cast… I could keep up though! My leg could kick just as high, but it was getting harder to keep it there!

I started to think ahead to retirement from my career on the cruise line, and decided that after 11 years, this would be my last contract. I’d been doing some teaching with another performing arts franchise who worked with children from 6-18 years. That experience introduced me to the world of franchising. I thought it was a great idea – I didn’t have much teaching experience because I’m more of a performer. And, for the business-side of owning a dance school, I had no idea where to start! I thought franchising might be a good way to get into this route because you have the head office support network there along with lots of other people doing the same thing as you.

What made you take the leap and get in touch about joining babyballet® as a franchisee?

So, I started to do further research into franchising and that’s when babyballet took my interest. What I really liked about babyballet® was the smaller age range from six months up to six years. The thought of having a dance school for up to 18-year-olds was a bit overwhelming and I liked the idea of specialising in the younger age group with babyballet®. I also liked that babyballet encourages you to open your own upper school if that’s something you want to do. That’s my plan in the next couple of years – to open my own upper school so that my babyballet® students can stay up to 18 years with me. By then, I’ll have so much more insight into owning a school. I feel like it’s a far more sensible route than me coming home from the cruise ships and deciding to open ‘Jen’s Dance School!’

“With the babyballet® brand behind me, I hope to attract much more interest.”

In February 2024, our ship went into dry dock half-way through my contract, so I came home for the month and applied to become a babyballet® franchisee. To begin with, I had a call with Harry from the head office team. From there, everything went very quickly – it had to as I was only home for a month! I got all the paperwork done and then returned to the ship for the last three months of my performing career.

I took my final bow, came home, and just three weeks later in June 2024, headed into franchise training week. So many that I worked with on the ships who had also done almost 12 years didn’t have concrete plans for what they were going to do next on land. It felt reassuring to have the next step in my career mapped out. I also loved that I was staying within the performing industry and still dancing! I barely had any time to feel emotional about leaving and I had the biggest smile when I took that final bow. I half-expected to ‘ugly cry’ but, despite feeling a little emotional, I was just so excited about my next step and chapter!

How did you find the babyballet® franchisee application process?

It was good! Soon after I applied through the baby ballet website in February, Harry got in touch and asked whether I’d prefer to communicate through WhatsApp or email. As I was going back on the ship, it was nice to have the option to use WhatsApp – it’s a bit more informal and a nice quick way to chat with someone. We also had a call, and he was so friendly. He asked all about me, told me more about how it works and what I needed to do and get in place before training.

“The whole process was very smooth, friendly and welcoming.”

Can you share any highlights from franchisee training week?

Oh, I just wish it could have been longer and take place every year! It was just so welcoming! I loved meeting the whole head office babyballet® family. There were so many special little added touches when we walked into the room: our uniform, Twinkle Bears, a little bracelet. It was all so well thought out – as everything always is! We didn’t walk into a cold office and sit down – it was all so pink and glittery! It was just so nice and had such a friendly family feel with the lovely Harry and Lucy running it!

The training lasted five days, Monday to Friday and we went into so much depth and detail. Obviously, I was a bit nervous to meet everyone as it’s a big step to take – even though I was certain and confident that I was doing the right thing. However, the week really solidified and confirmed it for me. I remember thinking, “This is a good family to join!” The whole week was so interesting and just felt right. Those five days went quickly but I was able to get answers to all my questions. I just wanted to do seven days… or stay! It was so much fun, and I’d love to do it again if I could. Hey, can I come back with a moustache and pretend that I’m new?!

I joined at the same time as Miss Charlotte, Miss Laura and Miss Becks. The girls are so lovely, and we all got on well. We did a personality test during the first day and discovered we were all very similar! We were in the blue segment on the wheel. When we were talking about things like how to manage difficult customers, we all had a similar “Oh I don’t really want to do that kind of thing” reaction! We’re definitely not a confrontational group! We’ve stayed in touch and call ourselves the ‘Blue Group!’

How did you find your first classes in September?

I was so nervous because I just wanted it to be perfect – which I know is never going to happen! I was more worried about learning names and knowing what exercise comes next without checking my book. As I got to my fourth class of that first day, I had met so many babies, children and parents that it was all very overwhelming! It was then that I realised that nobody cared if I had to restart the music or swapped exercises around- you can adapt each class as it happens. I really wanted to learn everyone’s names straight away which was tricky. Eventually I learnt them through doing the register. The order of the exercises started to come naturally too after doing many classes. I really did enjoy it all though.

And how are you finding your classes now, 5 months on?

What I noticed was that in the beginning, everybody was new and so a little nervous. The children would generally be shy and sit on their grown-up’s lap. Skip-forward to just one month later, and everyone was so much more relaxed and interacting with each other. I’ve noticed that people joining for the trial period now, are more likely to continue after three weeks as the atmosphere is relaxed and familiar; children are really enjoying themselves; and I now know everyone’s names. It all makes such a difference.

What do you think are the most important qualities for a babyballet® franchisee?

1. Well, if you’re a franchisee who is teaching (because not all franchisees teach), being able to separate all the admin sides to your work when you’re in class is important. You have to be able to take your business hat off and for 35 minutes, just be the ballet teacher for these children. You must suddenly become more animated, fun and personable. For me, that’s the most important part of my business. I want to stay teaching as much as I can.
2. Knowing your boundaries. It’s important to not put too much stress on yourself or overly compare yourself to others and end up worrying about your own progress. Being able to step back and take a deep breath before working out a solution to a problem is important. Working on your own to begin with, you really can’t be a stress head! I sometimes have to just shut my laptop, have a chocolate bar, and come back in an hour’s time.

As a babyballet® franchisee, what are you most looking forward to about the year ahead?

Ooh a forward-thinking one! So, I’ve just opened classes in a new area, Huntingdon. It’s within my franchise territory, but it’s a different town. I’m excited to hopefully get as much interest there as I’ve had in St Neots. All my classes are just so busy, which is lovely! I’m hoping that by expanding, I can hopefully bring that same kind of growth and excitement to a new area. That’s my focus now until Easter and it’s at the forefront of my priorities at the moment. Hopefully, if I can get to the end of the summer term with two big, popular areas, I think that would be a really good achievement in my first year at babyballet®.

I heard that you helped at someone’s babyballet® show recently too. How did you find it?

Ah yes! I visited babyballet® Biggleswade and Bedford. It was just the best day! It was so lovely! Miss Lauren has got such a big school and has been running for over 10 years. I believe she did two shows with around 150 children in each! The amount of people there was incredible to see. I just felt inspired and thought,

“This is what I’m growing to.”

And it’s possible – she was in my position once too!

I was looking after a group of children who I’d only just met backstage. When they were on stage, I just stood at the side crying! It was just so cool that they’re there doing their little cowboy dance, and that this theatre was just full of parents, grandparents and friends. I can’t wait until I do my first show in a couple of years’ time!

Big question now – what does dance mean to you?

Dance has just always been the main part of my life. I’ve been dancing since I was two. Whilst many kids end up leaving their hobbies because life becomes more about boys and texting, as they go through puberty, I was just never that person. I went to dance every night and from around 15 years old, I had decided I wanted to go to performing college rather than university. At the time, my parents weren’t too happy with that, but they are now!

I’m going to sound really corny, but I just live and breathe dancing – I always have and always will. That’s why I’m so happy to be staying within the industry. I just couldn’t imagine doing something completely different like an office job now!

Do you have any advice to share with someone who might be thinking about making that leap and becoming a babyballet® franchisee?

My main piece of advice would be to have the financials behind you. I was very fortunate working a ship as I was highly paid. You save a lot of money living on the ship and then of course, I got a big retirement package after working there for so many years. It’s just helpful to have that financial security because this first year does take a plunge, like with any business. It can take some getting used to as it’s not a monthly income. Instead, your income is just as and when it comes in. If you’re working on a half-term model, it’s like getting a big pay day every two months. At the same time, I can see that where this is going to be a tough first year, it’s only going to get better, and hopefully I’ll be laughing in five years’ time! I wouldn’t change it for the world though. I made the right decision and if anyone wants to do it, and knows that they’d be good at it, just do it! It’s really rewarding.

“I wouldn’t change it for the world…”

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!