Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindy Fabyanic.
Hi Lindy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I founded Dance Conservatory of Charleston (DCC) in the summer of 2017 with the goal of offering the highest caliber dance education in the Charleston area in a warm, inspiring and supportive environment. Fostering a love of dance in Pre-K-aged students has been a pillar of our program from the start, and after seeing significant growth in our Beginner Ballet and Tap classes for ages 3-5, I began looking for ways to expand our offerings.
In 2023, faculty member Susan Cram-Smith presented the idea of creating an arts-integrated Kindergarten readiness program featuring a creative & engaging curriculum bridging academics and the arts. With her 15 years of experience as the Fine Arts Director at a local K2-12th grade private school, Susan was the perfect fit to spearhead this new program that would include traditional lesson plans alongside our DCC dance curriculum for the same age group, creating a unique learning environment for Charleston students. After a year of research, planning and development, Creative Movers Preschool launched in Fall 2024, and since then we have been offering classes every M/W/F from 9am-12pm for 3K & 4K students, using creative play and exploration of the arts as gateways to spark academic curiosity and support a successful transition to Kindergarten.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We were already an established and trusted organization for dance education in our community when we launched Creative Movers, so we wanted to make sure we established the same strong foundation for our academic program. With the arts being a core part of our curriculum–not just a supplement or supporting element–we were also offering something new in early childhood education for Charleston families which presented its own set of challenges with so many well-established traditional preschools in our area, but ultimately was an exciting opportunity to redefine what it means to offer a well-rounded education for young students.
Our first year we kept our cohort small to ensure the program received the time and resources it needed to really thrive, and establish a successful, consistent routine in balance with our DCC classes that allowed for sustainable growth in the future. Now wrapping up our second academic year, we’re thrilled to see how that diligence and attention to detail has paid off: we continue to put the students first with our 1:6 student to teacher ratio, but our 2025-2026 enrollment more than doubled, with 100% retention rate of eligible students from our first year of operation and a standing waitlist. We know that the needs of the program will continue to evolve with time, but we’re very happy with our progress so far!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The unique, arts-integrated academic curriculum for 3K & 4K students at Creative Movers Preschool is the first of its kind in Charleston to utilize technical instruction in classical ballet & tap alongside other performing and visual arts as part of a holistic, child-first education. With nine hours of instruction over three days each week (M/W/F), each day consists of creative play, visual & performing arts instruction, along with traditional and arts-infused lessons, including daily lessons from Heggerty Phonemic Awareness & Learning Without Tears. An established morning routine and daily structure allow students to build confidence and independence, but flexibility is built in to allow for child-led transitions that encourage intellectual curiosity and discovery. Creative Movers are also invited to participate in DCC’s productions of The Nutcracker (December) and Dance In Bloom (April), offering them the opportunity to shine on stage in our student-focused performances with dancers in our after school and Pre-Professional programs.
Our small class sizes ensure each student receives the individualized support they need to thrive academically and emotionally; allows for differentiation of goals and activities based on each child’s readiness; and forges tight-knit social bonds between students and their families. Staggered ages within the same classroom also allows our younger students to watch and learn from their older peers, and gives older students the opportunity to build confidence stepping into leadership roles. We aim to meet each child where they are and use the arts as a catalyst for fostering their own personal growth and development. Following completion of the Creative Movers Preschool curriculum, students are academically prepared to transition in a variety of educational settings, including traditional public school or private schools, homeschooling or hybrid schooling options.
Fostering community & family involvement is an integral part of programs at Creative Movers Preschool and DCC. Families are involved in our program through volunteering as guest readers, joining us in the classroom for holiday parties, and attending family field trips together each semester. Advanced DCC students in middle & high school often join us as classroom volunteers and demonstrators, forging meaningful bonds with mentors and allowing for a strong sense of community that can continue into Kindergarten and beyond for students who transition into our full after school dance program with classes for ages 18-months through PreProfessional.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My collaboration with Creative Movers Preschool Director Susan Cram-Smith gave this program the wings it needed to take off: our combined expertise and dedication created not just the vision, but the follow-through necessary to make this unique curriculum and structure a reality. Outside of that, the biggest support system we’ve had in developing this new program has been the families we’ve been serving through our dance classes at DCC since 2017. They know the warmth of our DCC community and our faculty’s commitment to quality instruction, and have enthusiastically recommended us to friends, family & clients based on their own experience. We are tremendously thankful to each and every one and excited for all the growth yet to come at Creative Movers Preschool!
Pricing:
- $320/month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.danceconservatorychs.com/about-creative-movers-morning-program/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danceconservatorychs/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danceconservatorychs
