A Passion for Dance
Tutu School Arcadia and Scottsdale bring to life the magic of ballet.
Caroline Taylor’s most treasured memories are of watching her daughter twirl across the dance floor with pure glee. Watching the sparkle in her child’s eyes sparked Caroline’s own fond memories of a childhood spent practicing ballet and led her to open Tutu School Arcadia and Scottsdale.
A boutique ballet school offering weekly classes and birthday parties for children aged 18 months to 8 years, and camps for children ages 3 to 8, Caroline was first introduced to the franchise in the Bay Area. There, Caroline and her family fell in love with Tutu School and the experience of being immersed in classical music, imaginative dance, and magical ballet stories
“As a busy mother, attending class with my daughter was such a gift. I had the ability to entirely devote myself to being in the moment with her without distraction, to watch her and share in her learning and curiosity, to help her point and flex her little feet, and to feel the essence of childhood filling the room,” explains Caroline.
After relocating with her family to Phoenix, Caroline was unable to find a similar experience tailored specifically for the youngest of dancers, and the idea to bring Tutu School to Phoenix was born.
“We provide students with a magical introduction to ballet and believe in introducing students to it in a way that makes sense for their bodies and their development,” says Caroline. “We want to cultivate a love for the arts in them and to provide a solid technical foundation to study ballet more seriously later on if they choose, but more importantly to give them the kind of formative early enrichment experience that will serve them well in whatever dreams they follow.”
Tutu School class sizes are limited to keep instruction personalized and to allow for a boutique ballet education experience. The faculty is made up of carefully chosen teachers trained in Tutu School’s developmentally appropriate and differentiated curriculum. Tutu School’s Ballet Storytime curriculum has been specifically crafted to highlight classical ballets and their scores, and to promote positive messaging and values for students.
“We are committed to not only providing our dancers with an early arts education, but also to making sure we are impacting our students in a thoughtful, responsible way through the stories we tell them and the themes we chose to celebrate. Our studios are set up to be beautiful and inviting, with dance floors that are just the right size for little bodies, décor that is sweet but also sophisticated, and just enough sparkle,” explains Caroline, who believes every child should know what it feels like to dance to the strains of Tchaikovsky and Bach.
Teaching even the youngest of swans to soar is something Caroline holds dear. “Twirling should be a fundamental part of any childhood. We believe that the soft tulle layers of a tutu are beautiful, but so are the brave determined muscles that dance underneath it,” she says.
Camp experiences at Tutu School are unforgettable. Fun-filled camp days are spent exploring the enchanted and enriching world of ballet. On any given day at Tutu Camp, a child might take a ballet class, decorate costumes, learn the story of a famous ballet, or even take part in a production of their own creation. Each camp session focuses on a different ballet story from the classical repertoire.
Campers do not need to have prior ballet experience to participate, but they should be prepared for a lot of leaping, twirling, and imaginative adventures. To learn more, visit tutuschool.com/scottsdale
Summer 2022 Camp Schedule
The Firebird: July 5 – July 8 (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Swan Lake: July 11 – July 15 (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Cinderella: July 18 – July 22 (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
Sleeping Beauty: July 25 – July 29 (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Parent Testimonials
“This is the best place you can enroll your toddler. It is the only place my toddler has had a truly enjoyable experience. The lessons are fun and teach so many great skills in both dance as well as motor skills. My child is far more advanced than other children this age in motor skills and I have the tutu school to thank for that!–– Ri M.
“This is a great place! My daughter attended ballet classes at the Arcadia location last summer and loved them, and we had her 4th birthday party at Tutu School Scottsdale this spring. The studio manager was extremely helpful, professional, and responsive, and she ensured that all the details for the day were perfect.”–– Meg H.
“My daughter is 2, they make the class fun for her and easy to understand! And the space is absolutely beautiful. My daughter had such a good time she didn’t want to leave!” ––Porscha N.
