Set up for Success – Your Little Dancer’s First Ballet Class

The first day of anything new can be a mix of excitement and nerves—for both you and your little one! At Tutu School Wilmington, our goal is to make every part of your experience joyful, from the moment you sign up online (there’s digital confetti 🎉 – yes, really!), to arriving at the studio for the first time, to your very first plié and beyond. Here’s a quick guide to help you and your dancer prepare for ballet class…

1. Talk About What to Expect
We’re big Daniel Tiger fans and as he says: “When we do something new, let’s talk about what we’ll do.” Let your little dancer know they’re coming to a special place where they will:

• Learn about ballet
• Practice dance steps and play movement games
• Listen to beautiful music
• Meet a wonderful Teacher and new dancing friends
• Use their imagination to become anything from a magical swan to a dancing snowflake

2. Meet Your Teacher Before You Arrive
We know that seeing a familiar face can make all the difference. Prior to your child’s first class, you’ll receive a special text message from us with a short video of their Tutu Teacher introducing themself. Be sure to show this to your child so they can start to get familiar with their teacher’s voice and face.

You can also show them a photo of our studio or a capture of a class or event from our Instagram page here. These are small details that make a big difference in helping them feel comfortable leaping into something new and feeling ready to dance!

3. What to Wear: A Quick Dress Code Guide
Ultimately, we want your dancer to feel good! Tutus and dancewear are certainly welcome and often add to the experience but are not required. To make sure every dancer feels comfortable and ready to move, here are a few simple guidelines for what to wear.

• For your trial class: We recommend clothing your dancer can easily move in (whether dancewear or not), plus ballet slippers or bare feet.
• Baby Ballet & Tutu Toddlers: Students in our youngest division are invited to wear any clothes they can move easily in. They can take class with bare feet or rubber-soled socks if they do not have ballet slippers. Adults participating in these classes should also wear comfortable clothes and bare feet or rubber-soled socks.
• Exploring Ballet & Primary Ballet Prep: For our older divisions, we ask students to wear leotards, dance dresses or fitted shirts with tights or leggings and ballet slippers. Please tuck in all drawstrings on slippers and secure long hair away from the face as much as possible. No specific color or style of dancewear is required—and tutus and skirts are always permitted!

4. Arrive 5-10 Minutes Early
To help the class start smoothly, plan to arrive 5 to 10 minutes before the scheduled time. This gives you a chance to greet the teacher, find a cubby for your child’s belongings, put on their ballet slippers, and simply get acclimated to the studio before class starts. We also recommend a quick bathroom trip before class to avoid any interruptions!

5. Be Ready to Follow your Dancer’s Lead and Embrace Their Unique Pace
Every child embraces ballet at their own perfect tempo. While some dancers leap right in with excitement, others may take a few weeks to observe from the side. Both are perfectly normal, and both are gaining so much from the experience. We often hear from parents that they begin to observe their children practicing what they’ve been watching in class at home even before trying it in class! This is a wonderful and natural way for them to absorb and process all the new things they are learning. Just by being in the room, they are gaining valuable exposure to movement, music, and a creative community.

6. Polka Dots Mark the Spot!
Once it’s time to begin, your teacher will invite your dancer into the dance space to find a polka dot marked on the floor. They can pick any available polka dot and to sit down to begin. If your child is participating in Baby Ballet or Tutu Toddlers, you will join them on their polka dot and throughout the rest of class.

If your dancer is in the Exploring Ballet or Primary Ballet Prep divisions that don’t require caregiver participation, they will dance independently in class however you’ll still be right in the room with them to watch! They will always be able to see you, and you them during class. Your dancer is welcome to come to you for a hug or a water break, though we’ll gently encourage them to stay on the dance floor more and more as they get comfortable. If you prefer to step out, that’s totally okay—just please stay nearby in case your dancer needs you.

7. Let the Twirling Begin!
The Tutu Teacher will guide students (& caregivers if participating) entirely through the class. No previous experience or expectations are necessary. Newly joining students can leap right in without needing to “catch up.” In our thoughtfully designed curriculum, wherever your child is beginning is perfect.

Our classes begin with a special introduction and warm-up stretches on the floor. From there, we’ll stand and practice fundamental positions and movements on our feet before we begin moving around the room and traveling across the floor. Older divisions will even get to practice at the ballet barre! The class then shifts to a time for creativity and imagination, where your child’s personality can truly take flight.

Every class ends with our signature Ballet Storytime curriculum, where dancers listen to a classical ballet score and dance out a story. It’s a magical way to bring the world of ballet to life!

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A Few Pro-Tips for Parents for every class (1st & beyond!)

• A Quiet Audience is Magic. Your little dancer can focus and get the most out of class with a quiet audience and always ask for parents help in keeping conversations, siblings along, &/or devices at low decibels. Also while it’s tempting to direct your dancer from the side, please allow our amazing teachers to lead the class. They will signal you if they need your support.
• Take a Breath Outside. We know that new experiences can sometimes bring big (and sometimes loud) emotions. If your child becomes upset, it’s completely okay to step outside for a moment. You can take a step outside (a pas in ballet terms!) and return when your little one is ready to leap back into class or watch from the side.
• Twirl to the Potty. We always recommend a quick bathroom break before class begins to limit interruptions. However, we understand that many of our dancers are on a potty-training journey, and you are always welcome to help them to the bathroom during class if needed.
• Keep Laces Tied for Dancing Pride. To prevent tripping, please make sure your dancer’s ballet slipper laces are tied securely, preferably in double bows. Trimming and tucking in the bows is even better! (We also offer ballet slippers without drawstrings to help with this.)
• No Disappearing Acts, Please. Please stay close to the studio in case your little dancer needs you, and if you do need to step out, it’s best to let your dancer know your plans beforehand to avoid any anxiety.
• Capture the Memories, Respectfully. We of course want our audience members to be able to capture precious moments during class. We ask that video capturing remain short, 10-15 second clips. And that both videos and photos should focus on your dancer as much as possible to respect others’ privacy. 
• Sibling Dance Partners. Siblings are always welcome to be audience members! We offer books, limited toys, coloring sheets, and crayons to help keep them entertained in our waiting area. However, our classes are limited to enrolled members with a signed registration form and waiver on file. Thank you for understanding this policy as we work to make our space a welcoming gathering place for all families!

Beginning Your Own Tutu School Journey!

All of these tips—from preparing for class to embracing your child’s unique pace—are valuable for a dancer’s success, whether it’s their very first class or their fifth year in our program. And, we’ll always be along every step and milestone for support. You can also browse testimonials via our reviews from families here 🙂

At Tutu School Wilmington we love leading your children through enchanting adventures in ballet and the honor of watching them grow through our program.

Ready to leap in?

When you come to your child’s first class or trial class, right after Ballet Storytime, the Teacher will check in with you to answer any questions and go over the next steps for starting your membership. We also love to commemorate this special milestone with a photo of your little dancer with our “My First Tutu School Class” plaque. Plus, in some cases, you’ll receive a special gift from us for beginning your journey!

We care deeply about your child’s experience at Tutu School well beyond the beginning and will continue to check in as you start your membership and how to make the most of it. Plus, you’ll hear from us via email weekly with updates on all we have to offer throughout your time with us!

Now that you have all our tips to set your little dancer up for success, sign up for a Free Trial Class here to experience the Tutu School Wilmington difference!