At Twinkle Star Dance™ Academy of Plano, Texas, family is truly at the core of everything. For Elizabeth DeRusha, that begins at home. DeRusha operates the studio alongside her husband and daughter, working together to create an environment where children feel safe, encouraged and celebrated. By Shelby Green
Helping Every Child Shine
At Twinkle Star Dance™ Academy of Plano, Texas, family is truly at the core of everything. For Elizabeth DeRusha, that begins at home. DeRusha operates the studio alongside her husband and daughter, working together to create an environment where children feel safe, encouraged and celebrated.
“There’s something that happens when your husband is resetting the sound system, your daughter is warming up the littles in the lobby and a 4-year-old runs in and hugs all three of you before class even starts,” DeRusha said. “That moment is why we do this. It stopped being just a business a long time ago.”
Before opening her Twinkle Star Dance Academy franchise in 2022, DeRusha had operated her first dance studio and was looking for ways to improve the experience for her dancers and families. That search led her to the brand, and she immediately felt the difference.
“I’d been running my own studio for years, so I knew what good curriculum looked like, and I knew what it felt like to build everything from scratch alone,” DeRusha said. “The moment I saw how Twinkle Star actually structured its progressions, week by week, age by age, I didn’t need more research. I needed to stop waiting.”
DeRusha was impressed by the brand’s balance between professionalism and heart, something that closely mirrors her own approach to both business and family life. Twinkle Star Dance Academy has clear expectations and certifications for teachers while still prioritizing encouragement, creativity and life skills.
“We intentionally focus on building confidence, kindness, perseverance and creativity in every class,” DeRusha said. “Many of our families stay with us for years. Siblings enroll, friendships grow and we have the privilege of watching children develop not only as dancers but as confident young leaders.”
Behind the scenes, the academy provides franchise owners with tools and guidance to replicate this nurturing environment in every studio. The brand provides structured systems and support, helping teachers lead confidently and giving families assurance that every dancer is progressing in a meaningful way. As a result, franchisees can focus on leadership, team development and community connections instead of reinventing the curriculum.
“I love being able to lead within my own community, building relationships, developing my team and shaping the culture of our studio while also having the backing of a proven model and a strong franchise network,” DeRusha said.
The brand offers proven systems, training, and marketing support that allows franchise owners to focus on what really matters: leadership, team development and building strong relationships within their local communities. However, the biggest perk of the Twinkle Star Dance Academy family is its franchise network.
“Another powerful part of the brand is the network,” DeRusha said. “Being connected to other franchisees who share ideas, best practices and encouragement has been invaluable. It’s reassuring to know you’re building independently but not alone.”
DeRusha and her family are actively searching for space to open their next franchise location and are excited to expand Twinkle Star Dance Academy into a new community.
“At the heart of it all, Twinkle Star is about building something that lasts,” DeRusha said. “Dance is the vehicle, but the real impact is in the confidence, discipline and resilience our students carry with them long after they leave our studio. Being part of a brand that prioritizes both excellence and character development has been incredibly meaningful to me.”
Shelby Green