At Creative Fellowship, we believe that supporting young talents goes hand in hand with fostering creative and forward-thinking approaches to teaching. Our mission extends beyond individual artistic careers: we are committed to exploring new ways to nurture education, mentorship, and the transmission of artistic passion to future generations.
In 2021–2022, we furthered this commitment by participating in the EU Erasmus+ funded project Teachers for SwanZ, together with cultural institutions from Greece, Romania, Austria, and Bulgaria. The project was dedicated to supporting the continuous professional development of dance educators and general subject teachers working in dance schools. Among its main achievements were the creation of a Training Manual tailored to the learning styles of Generation Z students, a Mini-Guide of Movement to help non-dance teachers integrate movement into their teaching, and the launch of a Virtual Learning Laboratory offering online resources and interactive training modules. Through this initiative, Teachers for SwanZ aimed to modernize dance education, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, and expand access to high-quality teacher training across Europe.
Currently, we are also working on the Virtual Nutcracker research project, which focuses on developing a practical toolkit and an online training program specifically designed for teachers and students in remote areas and small-town studios, where exposure to major dance companies and live performances is limited. These efforts reflect our ongoing dedication to making high-quality arts education more accessible for all.
We also encourage our fellows not only to dream of stage careers but to consider creative teaching as an equally vital and fulfilling path.
One of our fellows who has embraced this path is Olha Liubchenko. Selected in 2018 for our Rural Opera Project, Olha participated in an eight-month journey through English, Art History, and the world of opera. At the end of the program, six top students from North Macedonia, Ukraine, and Guatemala were awarded the opportunity to attend the Opera Camps in Salzburg.
Today, Olha teaches 16 students at the Pobuzke Music School — the very institution where she herself studied piano for nine years.
Here is Olha’s story, in her own words:
In 2018, I had the extraordinary honor of winning the Creative Fellowship project competition and traveling to the Opera Camp in Salzburg. It was an unforgettable period in my life, which I recall with special warmth and gratitude. The atmosphere of art, the connections with talented people from around the world, the professional masterclasses, and the excursions through historic sites in the heart of Salzburg — all of it felt like being transported into another world, where music resonated not only on stage but also deep within my soul.
Each day was filled with new discoveries. We worked on developing our vocal and stage skills, refined our technique, and learned to feel music on a deeper level.
Beyond my artistic development, this trip helped me significantly improve my English skills. Communicating daily with fellow participants and mentors, I learned to express my thoughts freely. Since then, I have enthusiastically read my favorite literature in the original language, opening up new depths of understanding. It was a true revelation — realizing how multifaceted a language can be and how profoundly one can grasp an author’s intent by reading their work without translation.
Today, I am a third-year student at the Faculty of Arts of Pavlo Tychyna Uman State Pedagogical University. At the same time, I work as a piano teacher at Pobuzke Music School — the very school where I studied for nine years in the piano department. I am endlessly grateful to my teachers and to everyone who believed in me, supported me, and inspired me. I now teach 16 students, and I strive not only to develop their musical skills but also to instill in them a love for creativity and a drive for self-development. Watching young hearts open up to the world of art is one of the greatest joys of my life.
Last summer, I also had the wonderful experience of working as a mentor at a summer camp. It was another important milestone that gave me many new skills, insights, and vivid emotions. Working with children, organizing creative activities, and building a friendly team atmosphere gave me invaluable experience that I now actively apply in my teaching practice.
I am sincerely grateful to the Creative Fellowship team for believing in me and for the incredible opportunity that became a true springboard for my artistic and professional journey. Thanks to this experience, I not only fulfilled a dream but also found the strength and inspiration to move forward in the profession I deeply love.
