Mom to Momtrepreneur: Tiny Twirls That Changed Everything

My journey as a Tutu Toddler Mom to being the Owner of Tutu School Boulder

Last September, newly postpartum with my second daughter, I took my two-year-old to Tutu School for her very first ballet class. I thought I was signing her up for something fun: a little music, movement, and a chance to twirl with friends in a tutu.

From the moment we walked in, Tutu School felt different. The studio was whimsical and warm, the curriculum was imaginative, and my daughter was instantly captivated by the music, storytelling, and magic of ballet. Week after week, I watched her confidence grow. And almost immediately, Tutu School came home with us. Our living room became her stage. She twirled through the house on her tippy toes, practiced flapping her ballet butterfly wings, and proudly showed us what she was learning in class (to include French!)

In January, I watched her step onto the stage for her very first Bravo Bash ballet recital. At just two years old, she courageously performed in front of an audience: tiny, brave, proud, and glowing. That moment showed me what Tutu School was really about. Ballet at this age is not about perfection. It is about imagination, confidence, music, movement, community, and the joy of watching a child discover what they are capable of.

Around that same time, I was feeling a big shift in my own life. After more than 12 years in corporate finance, I had built a career I was proud of, but I wanted more freedom, flexibility, and space to be a present and engaged mom and wife. My husband, who has always been my biggest fan, encouraged me to strongly consider small business ownership. He saw how much joy Tutu School had brought our family and knew I was ready to pour my experience, passion, and business skills into something of my own.

What began as a magical weekly outing with my daughters became a dream of bringing that same experience to more families in Boulder. This dream is also deeply connected to my own story. I am a Colorado native with a lifelong love of the performing arts. I spent more than a decade playing classical violin and was in show and chamber choirs. Those experiences shaped my appreciation for music, movement, and classically-based expression.

That is part of why bringing Tutu School to Boulder at Table Mesa feels so meaningful. Boulder values creativity, wellness, education, and connection and the performing arts are an important part of fostering those values; bringing people together, helping people learn how to creatively express themselves, and creating shared community experiences for families and neighbors.

Opening Tutu School Boulder allows me to bring together pieces of my life that have, up until this point, always felt so separated: my business background, my love of the arts, and my role as a mother. It is still a lot of spreadsheets and strategy, yes, but it is also a lot of sparkly tutus, tiny ballet slippers, storytime adventures, classical music, and the joy of creating a magical space where children can imagine, move, and shine!

This journey would not be possible without the support of my friends, family, and most importantly, my ever-supportive husband. What started with the brave little twirls of one tiny dancer has grown into so much more.

I am so honored to bring Tutu School Boulder to life, and I cannot wait to welcome families and dancers into a studio filled with imagination, movement, music, and a little everyday magic.