babyballet’s Miss Holly has been shortlisted as a finalist at the Wales Children’s Activities and Services 2021, in association with principal sponsor Beaming Babies UK. The awards are the only dedicated awarding body for the children’s activities sector in Wales and recognises the fantastic work undertaken by children’s clubs, groups and service providers for the benefit of children and families.

The children’s activities sector has been significantly impacted by closures throughout the last 12 months and despite this, the standard of applications was incredibly high with applicants demonstrating their resilience and adaptability to continue doing what they love.

Holly Magill, franchise owner of babyballet® Cardiff and Swansea is a finalist in the Entrepreneur of the Year category along with several other businesses from all over Wales. Despite physical classes not being able to run for the majority of the last year, Holly, alongside the rest of the babyballet® network pivoted quickly to move the business online ensuring that the highly sought-after dance classes for babies, toddlers and children from 6 months old, were still accessible.

“Children’s activities such as babyballet® are a vital part of a child’s weekly routine, teaching them key physical and social skills that are so important for their development.” Says Holly. “Doing everything we can to support our customers throughout the pandemic has been our priority and in turn, their loyalty to my business during these unprecedented times has been second-to-none.”

Miss Holly took to YouTube to teach babyballet for the ‘Under the Sea’ theme as part of the businesses Free Lockdown Programme.

But Holly and her babyballet® dance school have not only survived during the pandemic but in fact thrived, as the 31-year-old young businesswoman has worked tirelessly to grow her franchise that now welcomes children to dance classes across Swansea as well as Cardiff. 

Founder and CEO of babyballet®, Claire O’Connor, has expressed her pride commenting “Holly is so deserving of this nomination and it is so great to see her hard work being recognised in these prestigious awards”.

The next stage in the process is for the expert judging panel, who bring a range of expertise and experience to the table, to select their winners. Founder of the awards, Kelly Jenkins, said “The 2020 event in January last year was a huge celebration and brought the sector together in Wales like never before. At this time, we had no idea what lay ahead just a few short months later. We are more determined than ever to put businesses under the spotlight and recognise their achievements over the last year. Each finalist has done an incredible job to get to this stage”.

‘Miss Holly’ babyballet teacher and franchise owner running classes in Cardiff and Swansea.

The winners will be revealed at a glistening black-tie ceremony due to take place this summer at The Village Hotel, Swansea providing government restrictions on events allow. Similarly, to last year, guests will enjoy a sparkling reception, 3 course dinner, awards ceremony followed by a disco and dance until late. The theme of the 2021 event is ‘The Greatest Showman’ which celebrates chasing your dreams in the face of adversity, which has been aptly chosen as a nod to providers all over Wales who have continued to follow their passion despite the obstacles and challenges. It’ll be a much-needed injection of celebration and positivity after what has been an incredibly difficult period.

The Welsh babyballet school has already picked up the title of Most Outstanding Infant Dance School – Cardiff, in the SME Business Elite Awards 2020. It would be great to see another recognition of their contribution to the children’s activities sector and especially for a personal award for Miss Holly!

For further information about the awards please visit www.walescasa.co.uk.

To book a babyballet class at a venue near you, please click here to go to our class finder!