Tutu School – Lincoln Park

Tutu School is a boutique-style ballet school designed specifically for young children ages 6 months through 8 years old, offering a whimsical and nurturing introduction to the world of ballet through its signature Ballet Storytime curriculum that weaves together classical ballet technique, storytelling, imaginative play, and classical music. Founded by Genevieve, who also serves as CEO of Tutu School Franchises, the brand has grown into an international franchise with locations across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In Illinois, Tutu School operates three studios: the Roscoe Village location at 2223 West Roscoe Street in Chicago, the Lincoln Park location at 1015 West Armitage Avenue in Chicago, and the Glenview location at 2660 Valor Drive, Unit D4, in Glenview.

The school’s mission is rooted in the belief that exposing children at the earliest possible age to creativity, movement, and classical music will serve them well in whatever they choose to do with their lives, and that twirling should be a fundamental part of any childhood. The Ballet Storytime curriculum has been specially crafted to highlight beautiful ballets and musical scores from the classical repertoire while simultaneously promoting positive, confidence-building messages for students. On the Ballet Storytime stage, kindness wins, love is celebrated, and courage often shows up in a tutu. Classes follow a consistent weekly structure that provides children with the security and ritual they need to thrive, while incorporating enough variation in activities, stories, and music to keep the experience fresh and engaging week after week.

Tutu School offers four progressive class levels that grow with each child’s development. The Baby Ballet class welcomes the youngest dancers from 6 to 18 months old with caregiver participation, introducing infants to music, movement, and the sensory experience of a ballet class in a gentle, supportive setting. The Tutu Toddlers class serves children 18 months through 3 years old, also with caregiver participation, building on the foundational exposure from Baby Ballet with more structured movement activities and the beginning of Ballet Storytime engagement. The Exploring Ballet class is designed for children ages 3 through 5, where young dancers begin attending class more independently and dive deeper into ballet technique, French terminology, and the stories of the great classical ballets. The Primary Ballet Prep class serves children ages 5 through 8, offering the most advanced level of instruction available at Tutu School with a focus on preparing dancers for more formal ballet study as they grow. The school emphasizes that ballet is for everybody and warmly welcomes children of all genders into its classes, celebrating strength, bravery, and kindness alongside the tutus, tiaras, and sparkles that define the Tutu School aesthetic.

The school operates on a membership model that includes each child’s weekly tuition, unlimited make-up classes for as long as the student remains enrolled, priority access to special events, and a flexible cancellation policy that simply requires notification during the current month of classes if a family will not be returning the following month. This approach eliminates the rigid semester commitments and large upfront payments common at many dance schools, making it easy for families to try the program and continue at their own pace. Free trial classes are available at all locations for new families to experience the curriculum and find the right class level before committing to membership.

Beyond weekly classes, Tutu School offers several additional programming options across its Illinois locations. Tutu Camp provides a seasonal camp experience where every plié and pirouette brings a story to life, offering young dancers an immersive multi-day experience during school breaks that extends the Ballet Storytime curriculum into a longer-format adventure. Ballet birthday parties transform celebrations into magical, tutu-filled events where children and their guests dance, twirl, and experience the enchantment of ballet in a private party setting. The Bravo Bash is Tutu School’s unique twist on the traditional ballet recital, designed as a magical and age-appropriate introduction to the stage for the school’s tiny dancers. Rather than the pressure of a formal performance, the Bravo Bash celebrates each child’s progress and gives them the thrill of performing in a supportive, joyful environment.