October 21, 2024 • 23 mins
Join us as we sit down with Claire O'Connor, founder of Baby Ballet, who has revolutionised how children experience dance.
Growing up around ballet, Claire often felt she didn’t measure up to the high standards around her. But her journey is all about overcoming challenges, and defying expectations.
With Baby Ballet now reaching over 22,000 children each week, Claire's story is a powerful reminder of the impact one person's vision can have.
Listen to learn:
How community and support networks can make all the difference
Why inclusivity matters in dance and the arts
How believing in your vision helps you overcome challenges
The power of education and representation in breaking ballet stereotypes
Claire's journey is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the power of staying true to one's mission.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Hello, hello, welcome to the we Are Power studio for
our we Are Power podcast.
We're delighted to be live onour comfy couches here where
each week, I'm having wonderfulconversations with inspirational
trailblazers and role modelsfrom all over the place, quite
frankly.
And this week I am delighted tobe joined by the wonderful
(00:32):
Claire O'Connor.
Claire is the founder,franchisor and CEO of Baby
Ballet.
Have to read all this becausethere's so much to you, claire.
She is a multi-award winningpreschool ballet franchise.
That it's all about.
I love this fun, inclusivityand education.
Claire, welcome to the pod.
Hi, thank you so much forhaving me.
(00:53):
Oh, it's long overdue.
I've been delighted to havebeen dying to have this natter.
The last time I think we caughtup was at the Female Advisory
Board launch in Harrogateprobably last year, something
like that?
Yeah, it was.
And how quick has that gone?
That the Female Advisory Boardlaunched in Harrogate?
Probably last year, somethinglike that?
Yeah, it was.
And how quick has that gone?
I don't know.
I think the time is super turbocharged.
But let's take this all the wayback to the beginning.
(01:14):
And how was your sort ofreflecting on your childhood and
looking at your experiencegrowing up with ballet?
How did that shape your view ofsort of traditional ballet
training?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
So I was born into a world of ballet because my mum's
had her own ballet school andshe had several schools and she
was very involved in the RAD,which is the Royal Academy of
Dance.
She was their youngest I thinkat the time their youngest
examiner globally for children'sexams, which was which was a
really big achievement.
So I was born into a world ofballet that's probably the best
(01:48):
way to describe it and my mum'swas a very friendly school.
But for me the challengesstarted to come.
The early years were quite.
I don't remember having anykind of negative memories or
anything.
I didn't go to my mum's schoolbecause she said I was
unteachable but I do think thatyou just can't teach your own
kids and um, so she, I went toone of her um well, friends
(02:15):
schools and it was a very strictschool and I just always
remember not feeling good enough, not feeling thin enough, not
feeling sensible enough, andthat feeling thin enough, not
feeling sensible enough, andthat's probably the best way to
explain my relationship withballet, probably in those sort
of formative and then growingyears.
And then I left my own balletjourney ended at that point at
(02:37):
14, because it just didn'treally suit my personality.
Probably that's's the bestthing.
But now, looking back, I reallyregret leaving, because ballet
can bring so many benefits andit's beautiful, but I think I
had a bit of a love-haterelationship to start with it.
I love the fact that you werereferred to as unteachable.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I know it's quite harsh and this obviously
inspired you to, to, to move onand create baby ballet with your
mum as well.
Your mum's been involved,hasn't she?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
She has.
Yeah, because I didn't followballet as a professional career,
I went down different routesand again with school I've
recently actually quiteimportant in the story this now
I've recently been diagnosedwith ADHD at 50.
So it kind of really helps menow explain what happened, what
was happening.
(03:28):
You know the way that I was.
I was never a naughty person ora naughty child, but I just
couldn't concentrate and focus.
So ballet, at that point itrequired a lot of concentration
and focus.
So I didn't take ballet as aprofessional career and scraped
through my education and then Iended up coming out of
(03:50):
university with my mum'sfavourite saying was that I went
to university to get a child,to get a degree, and I came out
with a child.
So it was the best degree Icould have ever asked for and I
sadly at that point struggledwith personal depression and
anxiety.
So I got a job with my mom ather school.
So I went back into the balletworld and then could see for me
(04:12):
that there was still such anemphasis on being the best,
being thin, and it made mereally feel sad, me really feel
sad.
So I think at that point it wasI just wanted to make a change
and I wanted to create andprovide something for children
that was about fun andinclusivity, and my mum has been
(04:32):
such an incredible help alongthe way because of her,
obviously, her high standardsand high you know um accolades
that she's really helped to makesure that the ballet base and
all the fundamentals of theteaching standards and what
we're delivering throughout theprogram and syllabus have been
(04:53):
adhered to.
So, yeah, it's been veryinteresting.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
And how did you go to where you are now, sort of in
multiple countries over 22 000,isn't it, if I remember, of the
stat I remember encompassingbaby, but you launched baby
valley with absolutely zeroinvestment or funding yeah, I
didn't have anything.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
So at the beginning, um, ironically, my mum didn't
believe in it.
So I created this vision and Ijust wanted to bring this vision
which is pretty much what'salive and out there now of you
know, really fun, inclusive andhappy, safe space for children
to learn to do ballet and dance.
And so I set off very muchwithout any support, any
(05:38):
investment, with nothing otherthan armed with this absolutely
strong vision that I wanted tochange the world, and so I
didn't let it.
I just didn't let it stand inmy way.
So remortgaged, sold the car,got various different loans, and
I just didn't let any anythingstand in my way.
(05:59):
Really, I just wanted to makesure that, well, I was just
driven.
So I was like, you know, I'dfind a brick wall and you get
around it.
I just had to make it happen.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
And we talked about that.
You serve over 22,000 childrena week right now.
How have you ensured that you,your brand, retains those, those
values, and that the wholeethos about the fun, whilst also
remaining accessible to all?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
So number one has always been standards and
welcoming every single childthrough the door or whether
they're watching at home on theYouTube channel.
It's about inclusion and thestandards of the brand, because
I had no business knowledge so Ijust had to learn everything
along the way.
I just never defaulted fromthat standard and that, you know
(06:50):
, like I wanted it to be thevery best.
I've always kind of thoughtDisney and above, and then I
should be hitting somewhere near.
I've just got to haveeverything's got to be
exceptional standards and myrole, I suppose, as the business
has grown, has been very muchabout educating and passing on
that importance of the brand andthe values and the ethos and
(07:11):
the culture through all thepeople that have helped me to
grow.
The dream really and you knowthe dream was a dream.
It was nothing without thepeople that have believed in it
along the way.
So, yeah, maintaining thosestandards is my number one focus
, wow.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
And what would you say to any aspiring entrepreneur
out there who's thinking I wantto change the world, I've got
an idea, but I don't have thedollars and I don't have the
business knowledge?
What would you say to them?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
I suppose it's looking back now.
Hindsight is a wonderful thingand I would have done things
differently, but the one thingthat you've just got to keep in
your heart that keeps drivingyou is that belief in what
you're doing.
If you don't have the belief,then I don't think it's it's,
it's a, it's a kind of it'sworth exploring or taking any
(08:00):
further.
But if you're passionate aboutyour idea, you believe in it.
Of course, the financials areessential you've got to make
sure it works financially but Ithink it's more around the
determination and desire forwhatever you're doing and you
know what you've got to find outwhat you don't know.
And I didn't enjoy school forvarious reasons.
(08:22):
Well, I'd enjoyed school but Ididn't enjoy the education part.
I loved the social part but notthe education part, whereas now
I am just an absolute spongefor learning.
I've got books, I've gotpodcasts, I've got everything to
to help me along the way oflearning how to navigate this
business journey, which has been, you know, from day one to now,
insane, like the amount ofthings that I've had to learn.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
But yeah, I'd just say just have that belief and
never stop learning, and one ofyour passions has been really
about sort of challenging thestereotypes about body image and
the traditions of ballet, andthat's something baby ballet and
you have done like passionately, isn't?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
it is really challenging those stereotypes
yeah, I suppose challenge is theprobably the wrong word,
because I'm very accepting ofhow other people do things,
because that's how they feel itis right.
But what I wanted to achievethrough baby ballet was to offer
a really inclusive, safe, happyenvironment.
(09:27):
And I'm not saying that we'rethe only place that does that,
of course not.
But for me, really putting thatemphasis on fun and inclusivity
rather than on the morecompetitive side or the more you
know, really having to be acertain shape or a certain
ability or a certain gender or acertain ethnicity, it really
(09:48):
was just about opening thosebarriers and just saying
everybody is welcome, and youstarred in Channel 4's Big
Ballet, which I think was athree or four piece episodes
series, which is all aroundchallenging those stereotypes,
and you were, I think, one of 18dancers.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
is that what I remember?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Yeah, it was, and ironically in that I was the
smallest dancer, whereas all mylife I'd thought that I was the
biggest.
And why should it matter?
Speaker 1 (10:21):
And what part you talked about education earlier,
but what part of the arts and aparticular dance player role in
really sort of promoting genderequality and breaking some of
that down.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yeah, I think the arts is a wonderful way of
expressing and people love toexpress and they can express in
whatever way they want throughdance and that's their own, you
know, personal interpretationalso comes through, but
challenging the stereotypesthrough dance.
I think I kind of liken it tothe way now that football is
(10:58):
much more openly inclusive towomen and my dad passed away 13
years ago and I think if he cameback and watched the TV then
he'd be really surprised at hownow you know, women are really
featured in commentary in in thematches.
And then we've got, you know,tv matches.
(11:18):
My family will sit down andwatch a female football match,
which just wouldn't havehappened.
So I hope that you know, danceand ballet become a similar
level of acceptance before toolong, because that's happened
quite relatively well and it'sbeen a lot of work behind the
scenes, I'm sure, from afootball point of view, but it
has been accepted and it'slovely to see that.
(11:41):
You know we can see pubsshowing female football and I
hope that ballet becomes a muchmore accepting art form through
really through representationand and more people showing that
it's okay to do ballet whateveryou know, size, gender,
ethnicity, you are and what wasyour big takeaway from the TV
(12:04):
show Because it was with WayneSleep, who I think was was he
the shortest ever ballet dancerto perform at the Royal National
Ballet?
Yeah.
So Wayne was incredible I meanyou know what an incredible man
and Monica Loughman was theballet mistress.
So it threw me back into thatstudio and it was hardcore.
(12:27):
I mean, doing an audition infront of Wayne Sleep was
probably the most scary thingthat I've ever done in my life
and he was just really surprisedand sad that I felt too big for
ballet.
And you know I was size 12 atthe time.
I don't think I've ever beenmore than a size 12, but sadly
that's always been too big andit was.
It was just amazing being backin that studio and I think that
(12:50):
really helped me to overcomesome of my negative memories of
ballet and really, really loveballet for what it was all about
.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
But it was a really it was scary experience but I'm
so glad I did it and what parthas education got to play,
especially in early childhoodand early childhood development,
to again help sort of changesome of those perceptions?
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Well, I think education is key, isn't it?
And you know, we've got rolemodels, educators, not just in
the schooling system but at home, with our parents, with our
carers, with our friends, withour families, and you know,
people surrounding those youngchildren.
So it's about ensuring that themessages I suppose that those
(13:34):
children are receiving and thoserole models are well.
Ultimately, they're passingdown their own beliefs.
So it's kind of hopefully, asgenerations go on, then people
will challenge societal normsand you know, just like I am
with you know, wanting allchildren to enjoy ballet,
(13:57):
hopefully the acceptance andrepresentation and education
will all help to just change itand, you know, make everybody
feel, feel welcome.
But education is, it's, it'severywhere, isn't it?
It's huge and you know, I think, seeing just girls doing ballet
or only thin people doingballet, education's got to
(14:19):
change through representationand also the people around
everybody.
We've got a really interestingstory coming up, actually, that
we're going to cover through oursocials and on a blog, that my
husband works in rugby leagueand one of the players used to
come to baby ballet and he cameup to me and he said he said I
(14:40):
just wanted to say thank you forbaby ballet because it really
helped me with my coordination,my balance and I'm not ashamed
about it, you know, because Iknow that some people would be
and he's now, you know, playingfor Salford Red Devils and he's,
you know, strapping rugbyplayer, and that kind of thing
will hopefully help.
(15:01):
Dads in particular seem to havea little bit of an issue with
boys attending, and just to helptake away those fears and take
away those barriers and for mento think, god, of course, it's
no problem, my little boy goingto baby ballet, so yeah, so it's
interesting that then,educating through social media,
through, you know, variouschannels, is also um important
(15:26):
sort of introduce and explorechildren to the diverse
experiences and role modelsaround them.
And, you know, show, show moreof what goes on rather than just
what people think goes on.
Because, you know, ballet anddance now not just through baby
ballets is getting much betterrepresentation and a lot more
people are enjoying it becauseof the stigma attached is
(15:46):
hopefully starting to go away,and that's something about the
education in those early yearsand educating the parents as
well.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
To say this is inclusive and open for all, it's
not just for girls, right?
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Do you know what's really sad Even now?
So in the beginning, part ofthe reason for me to start baby
ballet was when we were doingthe initial preschool classes at
Brewster's, at a play gym in inErnie Top in near Halifax.
It really surprised me andagain it saddened me that so
many people bringing theirchildren in were sharing stories
of their own you know their ownballet story.
(16:20):
So maybe it was like oh, my mumdidn't let me do baby ballet.
Let me do ballet when I wasyounger, because I was a fairy
elephant or because I was thewrong shape or because I was,
you know, I had two left feetand it just added, I think, to
my desire to make a change.
And even to this day we getpeople saying the same thing.
So they go oh, you know, if Isay, you know, bring them to
(16:49):
baby ballet, or we can help with, you know, coordination, blah,
blah, blah, whatever it might be.
And still this belief is in thethe parents and carers of you
have to be a certain size to doballet.
So we've got a lot of work todo, but I'm quite determined
when it comes to this, as youknow.
So I'll continue the quest tojust help people alleviate those
fears that come along.
Enjoy.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
And that's what it's all about, isn't it?
And one of the things that Isaw on your showreel around Baby
Valley was actually listeningto some of the teachers and some
of the franchisee, because it'sa huge franchisee model.
So it's not just you'recreating and shifting the
stereotypes, you're creatingthis amazing world for amazing
individuals to develop theircareers, careers and their
(17:30):
franchise experience.
So, from Claire theentrepreneur, what you're
enabling him is is so powerfulyeah, and initially I was.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
I was just I remember studying that play gym in in an
only top and thinking I need toget this out everywhere, but I
didn't know how to do it.
So part of the journey was tolearn which model was going to
be best to roll it out.
So if I got a teacher inBrickhouse, I'd be able to cover
that class, but then maybe finda replacement teacher If it was
(18:00):
in London or somewhere else inthe world.
How could I do that?
So franchising was a reallybrilliant model to use to grow
the network to, to grow the, togrow the network.
And so, meeting the franchiseeswho then believed in what I was
trying to achieve, and then seethat that gave them their own
(18:22):
business, their own, it's theirown business, but, you know,
within the standards and visionand ethos of baby ballet, it's
just, yeah, it's reallyrewarding and I am so fortunate
to work with the most incredible, credible bunch of franchisees,
both here and then on the otherside of the world as well.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
So, yeah, it's crazy really how it's, how it's
happened, but it's a it's areally good model because it
allows me then to keep thestandards and the you know, both
of the teaching and of the, thebrand, and I think that point
about that standards are welcome, which you said, that's the
teaching, and of the, the brand,and I think that point about
that standards of welcome, whichyou said, that's the, if you
like, the non-negotiable, what'sthe best piece of advice you've
(19:00):
had over the years of babyvalley?
Speaker 2 (19:03):
surround yourself with people who want to lift you
up, not pull you down, and I'mabsolutely like I.
I love seeing other peoplesucceed.
So it gives me the most amountof joy to see other people
succeed along the way.
And I really feel that if youhelp each other in an industry,
the industry lifts, theattitudes change, things shift
(19:25):
and that is powerful stuff andthe impact is positive for
everybody around you don't haveto be too Well, yeah, I've
always wanted to help otherpeople.
Well, yeah, kind of like I'vealways always wanted to help
other people.
It's kind of what I do.
But yeah, really having thatreally solid network around me,
people who really do not justbelieve in you and the vision
(19:45):
but they want to help youthrough those ups and downs,
because there are a lot of downs.
People tend to just see the upsand they see the celebrations
and they see the celebrationsand they see the successes, but
you know the 95% that goes onbehind the scenes is when you
need that.
You know real strong networkbehind you of friends, families
and supporters and what are youexcited for looking forward?
(20:08):
oh, I'm so excited I can't beginto tell you.
I'm so excited I've comethrough.
Like the last three and a halfyears I've been on a bit of a
personal development journeybecause the impact of the
business raising my four goddesschildren and just the stress
and the you know, not puttingmyself first, all that I've
(20:30):
really hit a brick wall withthat.
So I've been on a big personaljourney to kind of understand
myself better, untangle all thespaghetti in my head and do so
much personal development with acoach and a therapist and
changing my lifestyle.
To now I feel really ready andexcited to put my own
(20:52):
professional and personallearnings to play, to now go to
that next stage and scale up.
So we're going to work on theglobal development.
We're working on the children'scharacters that we've got.
Um, one of my big dreams is tomake them into an animation
series, work on the youtubechannel so that we can have
Babybelly can really beaccessible to all.
(21:13):
And you know, through, noteverybody can attend a class,
not everybody can get to a class.
So to really really grow, thestage shows the everything.
So yeah, so I am ready, excitedand so so willing for this next
stage.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Oh, claire, thank you so, so much.
I cannot wait to meet up again,wherever we may be, maybe
Harrogate again, where we cancatch up on your amazing
successes, because it'sfantastic what you've done and
the whole ethos of why and whatyou do, and to have done this
from zero to now being able tomake this accessible globally is
(21:52):
absolutely fantastic.
We'll put all of your detailsin the show notes as well.
So if you don't know about babyballet, then you got it right.
But please do keep going, keepgoing to smash those stereotypes
and get ready for maybe, seasontwo of the ballet show.
Who knows?
Well, you never know.
Thank you so much, simone.
Thanks for all your support.
Oh, thank you, claire.
(22:13):
Thank you so much, simone.
Thanks for all your support.
Oh, thank you, claire.
Thank you so much, and thankyou for all of you for joining
us on the we Are Power podcastfrom our fabulous studio here.
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(22:35):
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(22:56):
things that we're on on ourdigital hub, wearepowernet,
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Europe.
Thank you so much for joiningme today.
This is the we Are Powerpodcast.
We look forward to seeing younext week.
Hello, hello, welcome to the we Are Power studio for
our we Are Power podcast.
We're delighted to be live onour comfy couches here where
each week, I'm having wonderfulconversations with inspirational
trailblazers and role modelsfrom all over the place, quite
frankly.
And this week I am delighted tobe joined by the wonderful
(00:32):
Claire O'Connor.
Claire is the founder,franchisor and CEO of Baby
Ballet.
Have to read all this becausethere's so much to you, claire.
She is a multi-award winningpreschool ballet franchise.
That it's all about.
I love this fun, inclusivityand education.
Claire, welcome to the pod.
Hi, thank you so much forhaving me.
(00:53):
Oh, it's long overdue.
I've been delighted to havebeen dying to have this natter.
The last time I think we caughtup was at the Female Advisory
Board launch in Harrogateprobably last year, something
like that?
Yeah, it was.
And how quick has that gone?
That the Female Advisory Boardlaunched in Harrogate?
Probably last year, somethinglike that?
Yeah, it was.
And how quick has that gone?
I don't know.
I think the time is super turbocharged.
But let's take this all the wayback to the beginning.
(01:14):
And how was your sort ofreflecting on your childhood and
looking at your experiencegrowing up with ballet?
How did that shape your view ofsort of traditional ballet
training?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
So I was born into a world of ballet because my mum's
had her own ballet school andshe had several schools and she
was very involved in the RAD,which is the Royal Academy of
Dance.
She was their youngest I thinkat the time their youngest
examiner globally for children'sexams, which was which was a
really big achievement.
So I was born into a world ofballet that's probably the best
(01:48):
way to describe it and my mum'swas a very friendly school.
But for me the challengesstarted to come.
The early years were quite.
I don't remember having anykind of negative memories or
anything.
I didn't go to my mum's schoolbecause she said I was
unteachable but I do think thatyou just can't teach your own
kids and um, so she, I went toone of her um well, friends
(02:15):
schools and it was a very strictschool and I just always
remember not feeling good enough, not feeling thin enough, not
feeling sensible enough, andthat feeling thin enough, not
feeling sensible enough, andthat's probably the best way to
explain my relationship withballet, probably in those sort
of formative and then growingyears.
And then I left my own balletjourney ended at that point at
(02:37):
14, because it just didn'treally suit my personality.
Probably that's's the bestthing.
But now, looking back, I reallyregret leaving, because ballet
can bring so many benefits andit's beautiful, but I think I
had a bit of a love-haterelationship to start with it.
I love the fact that you werereferred to as unteachable.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I know it's quite harsh and this obviously
inspired you to, to, to move onand create baby ballet with your
mum as well.
Your mum's been involved,hasn't she?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
She has.
Yeah, because I didn't followballet as a professional career,
I went down different routesand again with school I've
recently actually quiteimportant in the story this now
I've recently been diagnosedwith ADHD at 50.
So it kind of really helps menow explain what happened, what
was happening.
(03:28):
You know the way that I was.
I was never a naughty person ora naughty child, but I just
couldn't concentrate and focus.
So ballet, at that point itrequired a lot of concentration
and focus.
So I didn't take ballet as aprofessional career and scraped
through my education and then Iended up coming out of
(03:50):
university with my mum'sfavourite saying was that I went
to university to get a child,to get a degree, and I came out
with a child.
So it was the best degree Icould have ever asked for and I
sadly at that point struggledwith personal depression and
anxiety.
So I got a job with my mom ather school.
So I went back into the balletworld and then could see for me
(04:12):
that there was still such anemphasis on being the best,
being thin, and it made mereally feel sad, me really feel
sad.
So I think at that point it wasI just wanted to make a change
and I wanted to create andprovide something for children
that was about fun andinclusivity, and my mum has been
(04:32):
such an incredible help alongthe way because of her,
obviously, her high standardsand high you know um accolades
that she's really helped to makesure that the ballet base and
all the fundamentals of theteaching standards and what
we're delivering throughout theprogram and syllabus have been
(04:53):
adhered to.
So, yeah, it's been veryinteresting.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
And how did you go to where you are now, sort of in
multiple countries over 22 000,isn't it, if I remember, of the
stat I remember encompassingbaby, but you launched baby
valley with absolutely zeroinvestment or funding yeah, I
didn't have anything.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
So at the beginning, um, ironically, my mum didn't
believe in it.
So I created this vision and Ijust wanted to bring this vision
which is pretty much what'salive and out there now of you
know, really fun, inclusive andhappy, safe space for children
to learn to do ballet and dance.
And so I set off very muchwithout any support, any
(05:38):
investment, with nothing otherthan armed with this absolutely
strong vision that I wanted tochange the world, and so I
didn't let it.
I just didn't let it stand inmy way.
So remortgaged, sold the car,got various different loans, and
I just didn't let any anythingstand in my way.
(05:59):
Really, I just wanted to makesure that, well, I was just
driven.
So I was like, you know, I'dfind a brick wall and you get
around it.
I just had to make it happen.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
And we talked about that.
You serve over 22,000 childrena week right now.
How have you ensured that you,your brand, retains those, those
values, and that the wholeethos about the fun, whilst also
remaining accessible to all?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
So number one has always been standards and
welcoming every single childthrough the door or whether
they're watching at home on theYouTube channel.
It's about inclusion and thestandards of the brand, because
I had no business knowledge so Ijust had to learn everything
along the way.
I just never defaulted fromthat standard and that, you know
(06:50):
, like I wanted it to be thevery best.
I've always kind of thoughtDisney and above, and then I
should be hitting somewhere near.
I've just got to haveeverything's got to be
exceptional standards and myrole, I suppose, as the business
has grown, has been very muchabout educating and passing on
that importance of the brand andthe values and the ethos and
(07:11):
the culture through all thepeople that have helped me to
grow.
The dream really and you knowthe dream was a dream.
It was nothing without thepeople that have believed in it
along the way.
So, yeah, maintaining thosestandards is my number one focus
, wow.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
And what would you say to any aspiring entrepreneur
out there who's thinking I wantto change the world, I've got
an idea, but I don't have thedollars and I don't have the
business knowledge?
What would you say to them?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
I suppose it's looking back now.
Hindsight is a wonderful thingand I would have done things
differently, but the one thingthat you've just got to keep in
your heart that keeps drivingyou is that belief in what
you're doing.
If you don't have the belief,then I don't think it's it's,
it's a, it's a kind of it'sworth exploring or taking any
(08:00):
further.
But if you're passionate aboutyour idea, you believe in it.
Of course, the financials areessential you've got to make
sure it works financially but Ithink it's more around the
determination and desire forwhatever you're doing and you
know what you've got to find outwhat you don't know.
And I didn't enjoy school forvarious reasons.
(08:22):
Well, I'd enjoyed school but Ididn't enjoy the education part.
I loved the social part but notthe education part, whereas now
I am just an absolute spongefor learning.
I've got books, I've gotpodcasts, I've got everything to
to help me along the way oflearning how to navigate this
business journey, which has been, you know, from day one to now,
insane, like the amount ofthings that I've had to learn.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
But yeah, I'd just say just have that belief and
never stop learning, and one ofyour passions has been really
about sort of challenging thestereotypes about body image and
the traditions of ballet, andthat's something baby ballet and
you have done like passionately, isn't?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
it is really challenging those stereotypes
yeah, I suppose challenge is theprobably the wrong word,
because I'm very accepting ofhow other people do things,
because that's how they feel itis right.
But what I wanted to achievethrough baby ballet was to offer
a really inclusive, safe, happyenvironment.
(09:27):
And I'm not saying that we'rethe only place that does that,
of course not.
But for me, really putting thatemphasis on fun and inclusivity
rather than on the morecompetitive side or the more you
know, really having to be acertain shape or a certain
ability or a certain gender or acertain ethnicity, it really
(09:48):
was just about opening thosebarriers and just saying
everybody is welcome, and youstarred in Channel 4's Big
Ballet, which I think was athree or four piece episodes
series, which is all aroundchallenging those stereotypes,
and you were, I think, one of 18dancers.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
is that what I remember?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Yeah, it was, and ironically in that I was the
smallest dancer, whereas all mylife I'd thought that I was the
biggest.
And why should it matter?
Speaker 1 (10:21):
And what part you talked about education earlier,
but what part of the arts and aparticular dance player role in
really sort of promoting genderequality and breaking some of
that down.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yeah, I think the arts is a wonderful way of
expressing and people love toexpress and they can express in
whatever way they want throughdance and that's their own, you
know, personal interpretationalso comes through, but
challenging the stereotypesthrough dance.
I think I kind of liken it tothe way now that football is
(10:58):
much more openly inclusive towomen and my dad passed away 13
years ago and I think if he cameback and watched the TV then
he'd be really surprised at hownow you know, women are really
featured in commentary in in thematches.
And then we've got, you know,tv matches.
(11:18):
My family will sit down andwatch a female football match,
which just wouldn't havehappened.
So I hope that you know, danceand ballet become a similar
level of acceptance before toolong, because that's happened
quite relatively well and it'sbeen a lot of work behind the
scenes, I'm sure, from afootball point of view, but it
has been accepted and it'slovely to see that.
(11:41):
You know we can see pubsshowing female football and I
hope that ballet becomes a muchmore accepting art form through
really through representationand and more people showing that
it's okay to do ballet whateveryou know, size, gender,
ethnicity, you are and what wasyour big takeaway from the TV
(12:04):
show Because it was with WayneSleep, who I think was was he
the shortest ever ballet dancerto perform at the Royal National
Ballet?
Yeah.
So Wayne was incredible I meanyou know what an incredible man
and Monica Loughman was theballet mistress.
So it threw me back into thatstudio and it was hardcore.
(12:27):
I mean, doing an audition infront of Wayne Sleep was
probably the most scary thingthat I've ever done in my life
and he was just really surprisedand sad that I felt too big for
ballet.
And you know I was size 12 atthe time.
I don't think I've ever beenmore than a size 12, but sadly
that's always been too big andit was.
It was just amazing being backin that studio and I think that
(12:50):
really helped me to overcomesome of my negative memories of
ballet and really, really loveballet for what it was all about
.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
But it was a really it was scary experience but I'm
so glad I did it and what parthas education got to play,
especially in early childhoodand early childhood development,
to again help sort of changesome of those perceptions?
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Well, I think education is key, isn't it?
And you know, we've got rolemodels, educators, not just in
the schooling system but at home, with our parents, with our
carers, with our friends, withour families, and you know,
people surrounding those youngchildren.
So it's about ensuring that themessages I suppose that those
(13:34):
children are receiving and thoserole models are well.
Ultimately, they're passingdown their own beliefs.
So it's kind of hopefully, asgenerations go on, then people
will challenge societal normsand you know, just like I am
with you know, wanting allchildren to enjoy ballet,
(13:57):
hopefully the acceptance andrepresentation and education
will all help to just change itand, you know, make everybody
feel, feel welcome.
But education is, it's, it'severywhere, isn't it?
It's huge and you know, I think, seeing just girls doing ballet
or only thin people doingballet, education's got to
(14:19):
change through representationand also the people around
everybody.
We've got a really interestingstory coming up, actually, that
we're going to cover through oursocials and on a blog, that my
husband works in rugby leagueand one of the players used to
come to baby ballet and he cameup to me and he said he said I
(14:40):
just wanted to say thank you forbaby ballet because it really
helped me with my coordination,my balance and I'm not ashamed
about it, you know, because Iknow that some people would be
and he's now, you know, playingfor Salford Red Devils and he's,
you know, strapping rugbyplayer, and that kind of thing
will hopefully help.
(15:01):
Dads in particular seem to havea little bit of an issue with
boys attending, and just to helptake away those fears and take
away those barriers and for mento think, god, of course, it's
no problem, my little boy goingto baby ballet, so yeah, so it's
interesting that then,educating through social media,
through, you know, variouschannels, is also um important
(15:26):
sort of introduce and explorechildren to the diverse
experiences and role modelsaround them.
And, you know, show, show moreof what goes on rather than just
what people think goes on.
Because, you know, ballet anddance now not just through baby
ballets is getting much betterrepresentation and a lot more
people are enjoying it becauseof the stigma attached is
(15:46):
hopefully starting to go away,and that's something about the
education in those early yearsand educating the parents as
well.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
To say this is inclusive and open for all, it's
not just for girls, right?
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Do you know what's really sad Even now?
So in the beginning, part ofthe reason for me to start baby
ballet was when we were doingthe initial preschool classes at
Brewster's, at a play gym in inErnie Top in near Halifax.
It really surprised me andagain it saddened me that so
many people bringing theirchildren in were sharing stories
of their own you know their ownballet story.
(16:20):
So maybe it was like oh, my mumdidn't let me do baby ballet.
Let me do ballet when I wasyounger, because I was a fairy
elephant or because I was thewrong shape or because I was,
you know, I had two left feetand it just added, I think, to
my desire to make a change.
And even to this day we getpeople saying the same thing.
So they go oh, you know, if Isay, you know, bring them to
(16:49):
baby ballet, or we can help with, you know, coordination, blah,
blah, blah, whatever it might be.
And still this belief is in thethe parents and carers of you
have to be a certain size to doballet.
So we've got a lot of work todo, but I'm quite determined
when it comes to this, as youknow.
So I'll continue the quest tojust help people alleviate those
fears that come along.
Enjoy.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
And that's what it's all about, isn't it?
And one of the things that Isaw on your showreel around Baby
Valley was actually listeningto some of the teachers and some
of the franchisee, because it'sa huge franchisee model.
So it's not just you'recreating and shifting the
stereotypes, you're creatingthis amazing world for amazing
individuals to develop theircareers, careers and their
(17:30):
franchise experience.
So, from Claire theentrepreneur, what you're
enabling him is is so powerfulyeah, and initially I was.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
I was just I remember studying that play gym in in an
only top and thinking I need toget this out everywhere, but I
didn't know how to do it.
So part of the journey was tolearn which model was going to
be best to roll it out.
So if I got a teacher inBrickhouse, I'd be able to cover
that class, but then maybe finda replacement teacher If it was
(18:00):
in London or somewhere else inthe world.
How could I do that?
So franchising was a reallybrilliant model to use to grow
the network to, to grow the, togrow the network.
And so, meeting the franchiseeswho then believed in what I was
trying to achieve, and then seethat that gave them their own
(18:22):
business, their own, it's theirown business, but, you know,
within the standards and visionand ethos of baby ballet, it's
just, yeah, it's reallyrewarding and I am so fortunate
to work with the most incredible, credible bunch of franchisees,
both here and then on the otherside of the world as well.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
So, yeah, it's crazy really how it's, how it's
happened, but it's a it's areally good model because it
allows me then to keep thestandards and the you know, both
of the teaching and of the, thebrand, and I think that point
about that standards are welcome, which you said, that's the
teaching, and of the, the brand,and I think that point about
that standards of welcome, whichyou said, that's the, if you
like, the non-negotiable, what'sthe best piece of advice you've
(19:00):
had over the years of babyvalley?
Speaker 2 (19:03):
surround yourself with people who want to lift you
up, not pull you down, and I'mabsolutely like I.
I love seeing other peoplesucceed.
So it gives me the most amountof joy to see other people
succeed along the way.
And I really feel that if youhelp each other in an industry,
the industry lifts, theattitudes change, things shift
(19:25):
and that is powerful stuff andthe impact is positive for
everybody around you don't haveto be too Well, yeah, I've
always wanted to help otherpeople.
Well, yeah, kind of like I'vealways always wanted to help
other people.
It's kind of what I do.
But yeah, really having thatreally solid network around me,
people who really do not justbelieve in you and the vision
(19:45):
but they want to help youthrough those ups and downs,
because there are a lot of downs.
People tend to just see the upsand they see the celebrations
and they see the celebrationsand they see the successes, but
you know the 95% that goes onbehind the scenes is when you
need that.
You know real strong networkbehind you of friends, families
and supporters and what are youexcited for looking forward?
(20:08):
oh, I'm so excited I can't beginto tell you.
I'm so excited I've comethrough.
Like the last three and a halfyears I've been on a bit of a
personal development journeybecause the impact of the
business raising my four goddesschildren and just the stress
and the you know, not puttingmyself first, all that I've
(20:30):
really hit a brick wall withthat.
So I've been on a big personaljourney to kind of understand
myself better, untangle all thespaghetti in my head and do so
much personal development with acoach and a therapist and
changing my lifestyle.
To now I feel really ready andexcited to put my own
(20:52):
professional and personallearnings to play, to now go to
that next stage and scale up.
So we're going to work on theglobal development.
We're working on the children'scharacters that we've got.
Um, one of my big dreams is tomake them into an animation
series, work on the youtubechannel so that we can have
Babybelly can really beaccessible to all.
(21:13):
And you know, through, noteverybody can attend a class,
not everybody can get to a class.
So to really really grow, thestage shows the everything.
So yeah, so I am ready, excitedand so so willing for this next
stage.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Oh, claire, thank you so, so much.
I cannot wait to meet up again,wherever we may be, maybe
Harrogate again, where we cancatch up on your amazing
successes, because it'sfantastic what you've done and
the whole ethos of why and whatyou do, and to have done this
from zero to now being able tomake this accessible globally is
(21:52):
absolutely fantastic.
We'll put all of your detailsin the show notes as well.
So if you don't know about babyballet, then you got it right.
But please do keep going, keepgoing to smash those stereotypes
and get ready for maybe, seasontwo of the ballet show.
Who knows?
Well, you never know.
Thank you so much, simone.
Thanks for all your support.
Oh, thank you, claire.
(22:13):
Thank you so much, simone.
Thanks for all your support.
Oh, thank you, claire.
Thank you so much, and thankyou for all of you for joining
us on the we Are Power podcastfrom our fabulous studio here.
Please do subscribe whereveryou get your podcasts.
Also, you can watch on YouTube,apple Music, spotify and do
leave a review.
We love to hear what you'rethinking and join the
conversation.
Join the conversation acrossall of our socials.
(22:35):
I know Claire will be happy tojoin in and have a gab online as
well and pass on her tips andknowledge as well.
So please follow us on all oursocials.
We are power underscore net onInsta, tiktok and X.
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And we are power underscore onYouTube.
And don't forget, you can alsostay connected for all of the
(22:56):
things that we're on on ourdigital hub, wearepowernet,
including save the date, 6th ofMarch, the 9th Northern Power
Women Awards, the largest eventcelebrating gender equality in
Europe.
Thank you so much for joiningme today.
This is the we Are Powerpodcast.
We look forward to seeing younext week.
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