Local mum to run national ballet franchise

Alex Dunlop is a mother of two children – Henry, aged one, and Billie, 3. The principal of ADA Dance and babyballet Helensburgh, Alex was recently appointed master licensee of babyballet Australia.

Tell us about babyballet, your new title and what this means for ADA Dance.

Founded in the UK in 2005, babyballet’s early years dance and ballet syllabus offers four stages of ballet dance classes for children aged from six months to six years, plus a tap-dancing class for children over three years. Globally, babyballet operates over 100 licensed sites with 25,000 children attending each week. Brand growth has also included parties, branded uniform, merchandise, children’s characters and stage shows.

The company has now joined forces with me as 'the master licensee for Australia'. I will oversee the training and support of the existing licensees across the country, as well as the recruitment of dance teachers and studio owners as new babyballet licensees.

I’ll be working closely with my dad, Brad Saunders, a former chief financial officer for a large corporate and a chief operations officer for a fast-growing Australian company.

What age range does ADA Dance cater to?

ADA Dance caters to children as young as six months old all the way up to adult fitness classes. You are NEVER too old to come and join the ADA family.

What are the benefits of your child learning ballet?

By learning through play, our qualified and welcoming teachers allow each child to develop at their own pace. We believe that every child should have the opportunity to learn in their own unique way. Having fun and making friends is all part of the experience at babyballet.

For your added reassurance, all our preschool classes are linked to The Australian Early Years Learning Framework, ‘Belonging, Being and Becoming’. This makes our classes so much more than just a dance class. The educational, physical and social aspects of the classes make them the perfect preschool activity choice.

Ballet is the foundation of all dance styles and ensures that your dancer is learning the correct technique from the very beginning of their dance journey. Ballet will help with physical coordination, grace and posture. It will build focus, social skills and instil confidence!

What can children expect during a class?

babyballet teachers all undergo training, and with professional dance and teaching experience, they strive to create a fun, friendly and inclusive experience for everyone – no matter what your child’s age or ability.

Our classes are a great way for parents and carers to meet up and make new friends too!

What are the class fees?

Pricing between $14-$16 per lesson at babyballet Helensburgh.

ADA Dance is at 87 Parkes St, Helensburgh, visit the website for information on classes