About
Dance Conservatory of Charleston’s Creative Movers Preschool fosters your child's love of learning through an arts-integrated academic curriculum! Meeting tri-weekly (M/W/F) for three hours each session, our Creative Movers will learn through traditional lesson plans, creative expression & play with the goals of strengthening pre-reading and math skills; building confidence in independent & cooperative activities; refining fine & gross motor skills; encouraging social & emotional growth; and preparing each student for a successful transition to Kindergarten. Our unique curriculum also includes Beginner Level instruction in ballet & tap, and all enrolled Creative Movers are eligible to participate in DCC’s performances of The Nutcracker and Dance In Bloom Spring Showcase!
All enrolled students must be potty-trained and meet the minimum age requirement by September 1, 2025 to enroll. Priority Registration (for current DCC families) opens on Wednesday, January 8th, 2025. Regular Registration opens January 15, 2025 and the program will run from September 3, 2025- May 22, 2026.
Sample Daily Routine
- 8:50: Arrival Time Begins
- 9:00-9:15: Center Play or Fine Motor Activity
- 9:15-9:45: Circle Time & Group Lesson
- 9:45-10:15: Center Play
- 10:15-10:45: Snack & Craft Time
- 10:45-11:15: Center Play
- 11:15-11:45: Gross Motor Activity (Music & Movement, Ballet, or Tap)
- 11:45-12:00: Closing Circle Time & Dismissal
Each day provides a balance of opportunities for structured academic instruction, creativity, independent exploration and group play. While a general routine is followed to help foster trust and security for young children, we also leave freedom in our schedule to allow some transitions to be child-led.
Faculty
DCC’s Creative Movers Preschool is led by DCC Faculty, Susan Cram-Smith. In addition to over 20 years of experience in dance education, Susan previously spent the last 15 years serving as the Fine Arts Director at a local K2-12th grade private school, teaching children of all ages while creatively infusing arts lessons with academic standards. Prior to that, she worked as an early childhood interventionist, providing one-on-one support for preschool aged children with developmental delays in motor skills & language. Susan developed DCC’s Creative Movers Preschool curriculum based on her years of experience, education background, and in collaboration with other early childhood educators locally & abroad. Susan holds a BA from Carson Newman University. She and her husband, Matt, have two daughters, Jocelyn and Samantha.
Health & Safety
All Creative Movers Preschool teachers are trained in First Aid & CPR, as well as in Darkness to Light’s “Stewards of Children” program. Hand washing is part of our morning and snack routine, as well as frequent sanitization of surfaces and materials. Any student with signs of sickness must remain home; students showing signs of communicable sickness will be excluded from entry or asked to be picked up immediately. Symptoms include base temperature of over 100° F, coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain not related to injury, sore throat, excessive sneezing or runny nose, new loss of taste or smell, complaints of upset stomach or nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. For safety, visitors are not allowed in the studio during the morning program except on pre-announced dates.
Kindergarten Readiness
We are working towards achieving kindergarten readiness and a love of learning for each of our participants through traditional lesson plans, creative exploration of the arts & play. Kindergarten Readiness includes goals in fine & gross motor development, language and pre-reading, math (counting, number recognition, patterns, shapes), self-care, emotional regulation and social skills.