Our story
Genevieve’s story
Tutu School was founded by Genevieve Custer Weeks, a former professional ballerina who believed ballet could—and should—feel welcoming from the very first step. Inspired by her own experience in classical dance and early childhood education, Genevieve envisioned a studio where young dancers could explore movement freely, build confidence gently, and fall in love with ballet without pressure or fear. That vision became Tutu School: a place where structure meets creativity, and where children are encouraged to fully exercise both their imaginations and their bodies. Over time, that same care and intention has shaped the way Tutu School grows—thoughtfully, collaboratively, and always with purpose.
Growth Over the Years
2008
First Tutu School opens
2014
First franchise location opens, Tutu School Redwood City
2020
Tutu School's first international location
2023
Tutu School signs its 100th location on the 10th anniversary of signing its first franchise location
2026
125 locations open
2008
First Tutu School opens
2014
First franchise location opens, Tutu School Redwood City
2020
Tutu School's first international location
2023
Tutu School signs its 100th location on the 10th anniversary of signing its first franchise location
2026
125 locations open
Our culture
At Tutu School, culture is everything.
We believe the most meaningful businesses are built on kindness, trust, and shared values. From studio owners and teachers to families and dancers, our community is defined by warmth, collaboration, and a genuine love for what we do.
As a franchise partner, you’re not joining a system—you’re joining a community that supports one another, celebrates growth, and leads with heart.
“That is what is so beautiful about Tutu School. They give you this package wrapped up in this beautiful bow. You are able to do the things, and think about the things that matter most for being a really wonderful company and a really wonderful addition to any town or city that you come to. And then bring the magic of ballet and creative movement and creativity to those neighborhoods.”
Christy, Multi-Unit Owner
our dream
Our dream is simple, but deeply intentional: to create beautiful, welcoming ballet studios where children feel confident, families feel connected, and owners feel proud of the community they’re building. Every Tutu School is rooted in care—care for early childhood development, care for creating meaningful experiences, and care for the people who walk through our doors each day.
A purpose-led business
We believe early childhood dance can change the way a child sees themselves—and that belief is the foundation of our business model. Every Tutu School is built around creating meaningful impact, not just transactions.
Beautiful by design
From the studio layout to the curriculum itself, Tutu School is intentionally designed to feel warm, thoughtful, and elevated. That consistency allows owners to open a studio that feels special from day one.
A joyful first step into ballet
Tutu School is often a child’s first introduction to dance, and for many, their very first class. We believe first experiences matter. Our program is carefully crafted to prioritize confidence, imagination, and joy, creating a foundation that keeps families engaged for years to come.
Built for long-term success
Our approach balances heart with structure. With a signature curriculum, centralized support, and recurring membership revenue, owners are equipped to build a business that grows steadily and thrives for the long term.
Community at the center
Each studio becomes part of its local community—serving families, celebrating milestones, and creating real relationships. At the same time, owners are supported by a national network that shares ideas, tools, and best practices.
Growth with intention
We’re expanding thoughtfully, partnering with owners who are aligned with our mission and excited to grow something meaningful. Our dream is not to be everywhere—it’s to build something lasting, together.
Frequently asked questions
We believe the magic of Tutu School deserves to be shared with children and families everywhere! Franchising allows us to grow our mission through passionate local business owners who are invested in their communities. By combining the heart of local ownership with the support, systems, and resources of an established brand, we’re able to bring the Tutu School experience to more young dancers while creating meaningful opportunities for entrepreneurs.
For franchise owners, Tutu School offers the opportunity to build something meaningful in their communities, build relationships with local families, lead a team, and grow a business centered around bringing more joy and beauty into childhood backed by an established brand, tailored systems, and an experienced support team.
Not at all! Our franchise owners come from a variety of professional backgrounds, and you don’t need to be a dancer or ballet teacher to own a Tutu School. While leadership, management, or business experience can be helpful, we’re most interested in individuals who believe in our mission, are excited about business ownership, and are committed to creating an exceptional experience for children and families. Our comprehensive training and ongoing support are designed to help prepare you for ownership.
We believe successful franchise relationships start with shared values, aligned expectations, and a genuine connection to our mission. Throughout the discovery process, we take time to understand your professional background, financial qualifications, ownership goals, leadership style, and vision for your business. Just as importantly, we want you to have the opportunity to determine whether Tutu School is the right fit for you. Our process is intentionally designed to support a thoughtful, informed decision on both sides.
Some prospective franchise owners choose to self-fund, while others explore financing options available through third-party providers.
We can help you understand the investment requirements for Tutu School so you can determine which funding options may be appropriate for your individual situation.
Business performance can vary significantly from one location to another, and no franchise can guarantee financial results.
Qualified candidates will receive our current FDD, including any financial performance representations provided in Item 19. We encourage candidates to review this information carefully and speak with existing franchise owners as part of their due diligence.
We take a thoughtful, market-specific approach to territory development.
Territories are generally evaluated using factors such as geography, drive times, demographics, population characteristics, competition, and other local market data. Our franchise development team will walk you through the specific territory opportunity for your market during discovery.
Territory availability changes as Tutu School grows.
The best way to determine availability is to connect with our franchise development team. We’ll learn more about the area you’re interested in and explore whether there may be an available territory that aligns with our development strategy.
Tutu Schools are typically located in convenient, family-friendly areas that make it easy for parents and caregivers to incorporate ballet into their routines.
Our team provides guidance around site criteria and works with franchise owners throughout the real estate process. Prospective owners should not represent themselves as a Tutu School franchisee or enter into a lease on behalf of the brand before receiving the appropriate approvals.
New franchise owners receive comprehensive training designed to prepare them to launch and operate their Tutu School.
Training covers key areas of the business, including operations, marketing, technology, the Tutu School brand and curriculum, team development, enrollment, customer experience, and preparation for opening.
Franchise owners have access to an experienced support team, established systems, ongoing education, marketing resources, technology, operational guidance, and a community of fellow Tutu School owners.
Our goal is to give owners the tools and resources they need while helping them continue to develop as business leaders.
Absolutely! Speaking with current Tutu School owners is an important part of our discovery process. We encourage candidates to connect with multiple franchise owners to hear firsthand about their experiences, daily responsibilities, challenges, successes, and the support they receive from our team. These conversations are an invaluable opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of what Tutu School ownership looks like.
There’s no need to rush an important decision like business ownership.
The timeline can vary by candidate, but our process is intentionally designed to give you the information, conversations, and due diligence opportunities you need to make an informed decision.
We may begin discussing what makes a strong Tutu School market and location during discovery, but prospective owners should not enter into leases or represent themselves to landlords, brokers, or other third parties as an approved Tutu School franchise owner before being authorized to do so.
Once you’ve reached the appropriate stage, our team will guide you through the real estate process.
Franchise ownership is a mutual selection process. Completing discovery or expressing interest in a territory does not guarantee that a franchise will be awarded.
Candidates move through our qualification and discovery process before a final decision is made. If we mutually determine that Tutu School is the right fit, we’ll walk you through the franchise award and agreement process.
That’s when the journey toward opening your Tutu School really begins!
You’ll move into our new franchise owner onboarding and opening process, including training, real estate and studio development, marketing preparation, technology setup, team building, and other milestones leading up to your opening.
You’ll have guidance from the Tutu School team throughout the process.
It starts with a conversation!
Complete our franchise inquiry form to tell us a little about yourself, your goals, and the market you’re interested in. A member of our franchise development team will connect with you to learn more and introduce you to the Tutu School franchise opportunity.
We can’t wait to learn more about you and what bringing Tutu School to your community could look like.
start your journey
Let’s see if Tutu School is the right franchising partner for you.
This website and the franchise sales information on this site do not constitute an offer to sell a franchise. The offer of a franchise can only be made through the delivery of a franchise disclosure document. Certain states require that we register the franchise disclosure document in those states. The communications on this website are not directed by us to the residents of any of those states. Moreover, we will not offer or sell franchises in those states until we have registered the franchise (or obtained an applicable exemption from registration) and delivered the franchise disclosure document to the prospective franchisee in compliance with applicable law.
© 2026 Tutu School Franchises LLC, all rights reserved
All Tutu School locations are independently owned and operated by third party franchisees. Franchisees are responsible for all hiring and personnel matters at their individual locations.
Let's start the conversation
Ready to inspire joy, creativity, and confidence through dance? Share a little about yourself below, and a member of Team Tutu will be in touch to learn more about your goals, answer your questions, and explore whether Tutu School is the right fit for your entrepreneurial journey.