Coronavirus: Babyballet runs classes online to ensure its toddlers are dancing during the disruption

A pre-school ballet class has moved online to ensure its toddlers can continue dancing during the disruption of the coronavirus outbreak.

Babyballet runs classes in Southwell and Edwinstowe and its owner, Leah Stead, said the usual face-to-face sessions would now be run on a private and secure online platform.

“It’s a worrying time as the UK deals with the outbreak of the coronavirus but we are remaining very positive,” said Leah.

She said as more families self-isolated and limited the amount of social contact, Babyballet’s primary focus was to ensure children in and around Southwell, Edwinstowe, Clipstone and Rainworth, could still enjoy their classes, despite not being there physically.

Leah said: “Our Babyballet pupils are aged from six months to four years old and most have no idea about the coronavirus and the effect it’s having in the world around them.

“It’s our responsibility to keep the Babyballet world as normal as possible for them. We will be delivering our online classes with as much passion and energy as ever, it’s just that instead of being in a dance studio, we will be on a screen in children’s living rooms.”

Babyballet’s founder and chief executive Claire O’Connor said going online would allow children to enjoy the fun and laughter of classes and keep active.

“There are going to be a lot of families trying to keep their children entertained over the coming weeks,” she said.

“As a company, we have had to adapt quickly to ensure business continuity and have worked closely with our entire network who have all been fantastically supportive over the past 48 hours to help take Babyballet online.

“The response we have had from parents and carers has also been really positive. They are pleased the children can keep attending classes and that, in addition, they can continue to support our franchisees, who are all small businesses.”

Babyballet said all its online classes would adhere to its strict and rigorous policies around safeguarding.

Parents of children already signed up will receive log-in information for the online platform and newcomers can join by visiting www.babyballet.co.uk.

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