CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Storytelling is proving to be a useful tool with helping children develop early literacy skills.

A North Carolina dance studio owner is using this approach to foster kids' love for reading. 

Lauren DiFrank used to be a school teacher. She later left the teaching profession, transitioning into a more artistic career path. 

DiFrank now serves as studio owner for Bella Ballerina, a boutique storybook and fairy tale dance studio in the Highland Creek community.

The studio uses a literacy-based approach for kids ages 18 months to 10 years old to strengthen their dance and reading abilities. 

"I was able to bring all my teaching skills to a much more fun and engaging environment," DiFrank said. 

At Bella Ballerina, every dance class starts with a read-aloud storybook session. 

"Our teachers then use the elements from the storybook to teach tap, jazz and ballet," DiFrank said. "At the very end we dress up as the princess we read about in class."

DiFrank said the studio offers an unique and life-changing opportunity for kids to improve literacy skills. 

"When we're reading storybooks, we're helping students form the visualization of that book, increasing their imagination," DiFrank said. "We're working on sensory and our listening skills. Literacy is so important, and it's never too early to pull literacy into everyday life."

Parent Kaylyn Collier witnessed how the dance classes are making a positive impact on her 5-year-old daughter in the classroom environment. 

"It's helping her with school, because that's one of the curriculum goals for kindergarten is to be able to retell stories," Collier said. "We're seeing it develop in school because of what she's getting when she's here in dance class."

Bella Ballerina also has locations in Fort Mill and Rock Hill, South Carolina.