Sponsored by
Ballet good idea!
A mum-of-two who teaches under-fives movement to music has opened new studios in a converted mill in Halifax.
And support from Yorkshire Forward has helped grow the business.
Claire O’Connor, who runs Babyballet, has renovated the ground floor of Greenwoods Mill, Square Road, and built new dance floors and a coffee shop.
Claire is now in the process of rolling out her business as a franchise to launch Babyballet classes across the UK. She has already sold two – in Huddersfield and Stoke-on-Trent.
In 1999, Claire began teaching children aged between 18 months and five years how to move to music and express themselves through dance.
The dance classes proved such a success with children in Halifax and Huddersfield that Claire decided to start her own company called Babyballet in September 2005.
Claire then applied for the Calderdale business grant, which is supported by Yorkshire Forward and Calderdale Council, so she could expand her business and hold all classes at one main site at Greenwoods Mill.
Following Babyballet’s expansion, more than 250 children now attend the 25 dance classes and Claire has employed two extra staff.
Claire said: “We’ve now been able to start a proper ballet academy that’s proving a huge success with youngsters, thanks to Yorkshire Forward support.
“Moving to the new premises has allowed us to host all our classes at one site rather than hiring individual venues. The two new studios have plenty of room and we’ve been able to increase the number of classes we run by more than 30 per cent.
“The grant allowed us to create fully-equipped dance studios with office space, a reception area, caf, new toilets, and play area. We’ve also made the studios accessible for people in wheelchairs.”
Andrew Wallhead, head of strategy at Yorkshire Forward’s West Yorkshire office, said: “Babyballet is a fast-growing business that has found a real niche teaching movement to music to under-fives in the Calderdale area.
“I’m delighted the new premises have boosted Babyballet’s expansion and allowed Claire to hold more classes and employ extra staff.”
The Calderdale business grant is supported by Yorkshire Forward and delivered and promoted by Calderdale Council.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Halifax
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
