Today we’d like to introduce you to Francine Garton.
Hi Francine, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Liverpool, England, one of six children in a loving, close-knit family. Dance began simply as a hobby when I was eight years old in a church hall in my village. Everything changed when my ballet teacher approached my mum and suggested I audition for a vocational ballet boarding school.
I was awarded a scholarship to a prestigious ballet school in London and left home at just fourteen years old to pursue my training. I was incredibly homesick, but I knew that if I truly wanted to follow my dream, I had to leave home and fully commit to my passion for dance and future career.
My journey later led me to Northern Ballet in Manchester, to then a professional career experiencing life on stage. While I loved performing, I soon discovered that my true gift was teaching.
Teaching and inspiring children, guiding their growth, and watching their confidence blossom brought me a sense of joy and fulfillment. Teaching became more than a profession—it became my purpose, and it became my mission to make a positive difference in the life of every child I teach.
In 2001, I moved from England to San Diego with two very small children ages one and two. Despite the uncertainty, I felt a deep sense of clarity. I knew I was going to open my own dance studio and create a place that would impact lives, provide exceptional training, and offer memories that would last a lifetime for every child who walked through my doors.
What began with a single student quickly grew into a thriving studio of over 800 dancers. I offered every style of dance, welcoming students of all ages and abilities, from recreational dancers to those pursuing professional careers.
During this time, I also had two more babies, and I won’t pretend it was easy. Juggling life as a business owner, teacher, entrepreneur, mother, and wife came with many challenges. I expanded the studio multiple times, faced obstacles at every turn, and kept going, driven by my love for teaching and my commitment to my students and families.
In 2020, I opened The Dance Academy Del Mar in the beautiful Del Mar Highlands Town Center, knowing instantly it was the perfect location. Shortly after signing the lease, the world shut down due to COVID-19. I had to quickly brainstorm and came up with an unconventional solution and built two full dance floors in the outdoor parking lot. I enrolled my first student and quickly grew to a few hundred. We danced outside for over a year and quickly became a beautiful new dance family.
That year changed everything. Dancing outdoors brought us closer together, strengthened our relationships, and reminded us why community matters. Through resilience and creativity, The Dance Academy Del Mar grew into the most special dance family I have ever experienced.
As we returned indoors, I made a conscious decision to keep the studio smaller and more personal, focusing on creating a healthy, joyful environment where people feel the positive energy the moment they walk through the door. That energy is magnetic. You can feel the passion, the connection, and the heart behind everything we do.
Today, I am deeply grateful to have created something that holds such meaning, not only for the children who dance here, but for families who travel from near and far to be part of an experience that truly makes a difference.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
While the journey has been deeply rewarding, it has also been marked by periods of profound challenge and heartbreak. Building a business while raising four children—often without a strong support system nearby—required constant balancing, sacrifice, and perseverance.
There were times when I was juggling motherhood, teaching, leadership, and entrepreneurship all at once, often putting everyone else’s needs before my own.
As an immigrant starting over in a new country, I also faced the uncertainty of building something from the ground up with limited resources and connections. Growth brought its own challenges, expanding studios, managing staff, navigating finances, and making difficult decisions while staying true to my values and vision.
One of the most painful chapters came when individuals I had mentored, supported, and helped grow professionally blindsided me. At the same time, competitors attempted to undermine and dismantle the business I had spent nearly two decades building. I had poured eighteen years into creating what I believed was the American dream only to see it unravel in ways I never anticipated.
That period was devastating. I was deeply hurt and, for a time, lost faith not only in the dance community, but also in the systems meant to protect small business owners. It was a moment that brought me to my knees and forced me to confront fear, grief, and uncertainty head-on.
Yet even in that darkness, I found resilience and tenacity I didn’t know I possessed. I chose to rebuild with integrity, clarity, and purpose—starting again despite immense fear. That decision ultimately led me to open The Dance Academy Del Mar in 2020, just as the world shut down due to COVID.
Every obstacle along the way has shaped me as a leader and reinforced why I do this work. The challenges taught me perseverance, adaptability, and the importance of community. While the road hasn’t been smooth, it has been meaningful and I wouldn’t change the journey for anything.
Teaching outdoors for an entire year required creativity and courage, but it also restored my faith in community, in connection, and in why I do this work. Every struggle has shaped me into a stronger leader and reaffirmed my belief that adversity, while painful, can also be transformative.
The road has not been smooth but it has been meaningful. And today, I stand grounded, grateful, and proud of what has been rebuilt with heart, honesty, and intention.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What truly sets me apart is the genuine connection I build with each child. I believe each child has a gift and their unique personality and it is our job to bring out the best in them and help them reach their true potential.
I don’t see teaching as simply teaching steps or technique, I see it as an opportunity to positively shape a young person’s confidence, self-belief, and sense of belonging. I strive every single day to make a meaningful, positive difference in the lives of the children I teach.
I specialize in Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) ballet training, a world-renowned and prestigious program recognized internationally for its excellence, structure, and standards.
What makes this unique is that we are the only studio in San Diego able to offer children the opportunity to train in the RAD syllabus and participate in annual Royal Academy ballet examinations. This gives our dancers a strong technical foundation, clear progression, and access to internationally respected credentials.
I take the time to truly know my students, their personalities, their strengths, and what they need to feel supported and challenged. That connection creates trust, and from that trust comes growth, not only as dancers, but as individuals. For me, success is not measured only by performance, but by the confidence, resilience, and joy children carry with them long after they leave the studio.
Not only do I ensure that our students are taught properly and to the highest standard, but I care deeply about the quality of every aspect of their experience. For me, dance education is not about simply supervising children, it’s about intentional teaching, thoughtful progression, and holding high standards while nurturing confidence and joy.
I am constantly pushing myself and my team to grow, refine, and improve. From the level of instruction in the classroom to communication with families, organization, and customer care, I strive to provide an experience that feels professional, supportive, and exceptional from start to finish.
What matters most to me is that families feel valued, children feel inspired, and every dancer leaves our studio knowing they were truly invested in and not just taught.
I believe in providing excellence while still making dance fun and joyful. Not every student wants to become a professional dancer, and that’s perfectly okay. What matters is that every child feels challenged, supported, and proud of their progress.
I am also incredibly proud of our productions, which have become known for their quality, professionalism, and entertainment value. Our annual Nutcracker, Spring Ballet, and June Recital are thoughtfully produced, highly polished, and widely regarded as some of the best in the area, offering our students the opportunity to perform on the big stage in professional theaters in productions that create unforgettable experiences for both dancers and audiences.
What I am most proud of is the culture we have built. The Dance Academy Del Mar is a place where children feel seen and valued, families feel supported, and excellence is delivered with heart. That balance of high standards, deep care, and joyful connection is what makes our studio truly special.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are many ways people can connect with and support the work we do at The Dance Academy Del Mar. Families can begin by joining our studio community whether through classes, workshops, or by supporting our dancers at performances throughout the year.
I also love collaborating with like-minded educators, artists, and community partners who share a passion for children’s development and the arts. In addition, teachers, artists, and office administrators who align with our values and standards are always welcome to reach out. Interested candidates are invited to submit a résumé through our website, email, or social media channels.
Support can also come in the form of encouragement by attending our productions, sharing our story, and championing arts education within the community. When people support local arts organizations, they are investing in creativity, confidence, and the next generation.
Above all, collaboration with me is rooted in integrity, shared values, and a genuine desire to make a positive difference. When those elements align, the impact can be truly powerful!
Pricing:
- $112 per month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thedanceacademydelmar.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedanceacademydelmar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missfrancinegarton
