Is It Ballet… or Just Daycare in a Tutu?

Not all toddler dance classes teach real ballet. Many use time-filling activities like bean bags and parachutes. At Tiny Tutus, we teach genuine ballet technique from the start, with an early childhood curriculum designed by qualified experts, not daycare-style distraction.

Not all “ballet” programs are created equal.

We’re seeing more and more preschool activity providers toss on a tutu, play some music, and call it a dance class. It might look adorable on Instagram… but underneath all the parachutes, bean bags, balance beams, and parachutes, you have to ask:

Is this actually dance? Or is it just daycare activities with better branding?

At Tiny Tutus, we believe little ones deserve more. From their very first plié, our dancers are gently introduced to real ballet technique, not watered-down “movement time” or activity filler in a tutu-shaped costume.

What Real Ballet Looks Like for Preschoolers

Real ballet doesn’t need over-stimulation to be engaging. It doesn’t rely on a box of props to hold a child’s attention. And it definitely doesn’t require a balance beam to teach body awareness.

What it does require is:

• A qualified teacher who understands both ballet and early childhood development
• A thoughtfully structured class that introduces age-appropriate technique
• Music, movement, and muscle memory working together in harmony
• A safe, joyful space where children learn to listen, concentrate, and express

At Tiny Tutus, your child will learn ballet foundations like:

• First position and plié
• Musical timing and rhythm recognition
• Basic alignment, posture, and turnout
• Following class structure and sequencing movements
• Expression through movement and storytelling

And yes, we do it all in beautiful ballet attire. Remember, the tutu is the uniform, not the performance.

What Tiny Tutus Is Not

We don’t wave parachutes to fill in time.

We don’t do balance beams.

We don’t throw bean bags.

And we definitely don’t call it “dance” just because there’s music playing in the background.

Those activities belong in daycare, not in a ballet class.

Parents aren’t paying for playtime. They’re investing in an enriching extracurricular that builds focus, confidence, musicality, discipline, and self-expression.

If you want dance to be a meaningful part of your child’s development, then you need a program that honours both the art and the age group.

Why It Matters

There’s a growing trend of programs imitating the look of ballet with pink tutus, sparkly branding and familiar terminology but without any real dance foundations beneath the surface. Some even mimic Tiny Tutus, borrowing our colours, language, and aesthetic, but not our substance.

Here’s the difference: Tiny Tutus was developed by a qualified early childhood teacher and nationally recognised leader in preschool dance education, alongside an RAD-trained former soloist with The Australian Ballet Company.

Every class, every step, every part of our curriculum is intentionally designed to support your child’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development, all through the discipline of real ballet.

Because your child deserves more than 30 minutes of pink fluff, time-filling activities, and crowd control disguised as dance.

Tiny Tutus: Real Ballet. Real Teaching. Real Magic.

If you’re looking for a class where your child can wave a parachute and run around with some music, there are plenty of places for that.

But if you’re looking for:

• A real introduction to ballet
• A structured dance class that builds confidence, discipline and joy
• A teacher who knows the difference between entertainment and education
• A program that honours dance as an art form from the very beginning

Then come see why so many parents say Tiny Tutus is the most beautiful part of their week.

Book a trial class today and experience the difference for yourself.