What Age Should My Child Start Ballet?
What Age Should My Child Start Ballet?
Children can start ballet as early as 16 months if the program is designed for their developmental stage. At Tiny Tutus, our ballet curriculum begins from 16 months and focuses on coordination, confidence, and joy in a gentle, age-appropriate way.
This is a question we hear all the time:
“How young is too young to start ballet?”
The short answer?
If your child is walking, they’re ready to start dancing.
At Tiny Tutus, we welcome little ballerinas from just 16 months of age.
That might sound early, but the benefits of ballet begin long before a child can even say “plié.” The key isn’t the number on the birthday cake; it’s whether the program is designed for their stage of development.
It’s Not Just About Age - It’s About Readiness
Many dance schools begin at age 3 or 4, but that’s often because their classes aren’t designed for younger children. They don’t have the curriculum, training, or structure to support toddlers who are still learning how to listen, move, and socialise.
Tiny Tutus was created differently.
Our program starts at 16 months because it’s built by experts in both early childhood education and professional ballet. Every element, from the music to the language to the way our teachers lead class, is designed to gently support toddlers at their own pace while introducing the foundations of real ballet technique.
Why Starting Ballet Early Matters
Research shows that the early years are a critical time for developing:
- Gross motor skills
- Listening and focus
- Body awareness and coordination
- Emotional confidence and social connection
Ballet enhances all of these, while nurturing self-expression, musicality, and memory. And when taught through an age-appropriate lens, even the tiniest ballerinas can begin learning the building blocks of beautiful technique.
What Does Ballet Look Like at 16 Months?
It’s not strict drills or silent studios.
It’s joyful movement, guided by trained teachers who understand exactly what little bodies and minds need.
At this age, your child will:
- Learn to move to the beat of music
- Follow simple, repeated movement patterns
- Explore spatial awareness and balance
- Begin developing posture and coordination
- Share magical moments with you in the room
Our open-door policy means you’re part of the journey, not just a spectator in the waiting room.
A Program Designed for Real Growth (and Real Giggles)
Tiny Tutus isn’t “dance-themed daycare.”
It’s a purpose-built ballet curriculum written by:
- Bronwyn Helmore – RAD trained, former soloist with The Australian Ballet Company
- Simone Cadell – early childhood teacher and nationally recognised leader in preschool dance education
Our program is also endorsed by leading education expert Debbie Bradbery, who affirms that Tiny Tutus aligns with the Quality Teaching Framework and early learning best practices.
When we say we start from 16 months, it’s because we’ve done the work to make it meaningful.
So… What Age Should You Start?
Start when your child is ready to move.
Start when you want to support their development through dance.
At Tiny Tutus, we start at 16 months because that’s when magic begins.