By Jessica Warchal-King
Photo courtesy of Don Carrick
JCWK Dance Lab celebrates 10 years of creating joy, connection, and wellness through kinesthetic (body) stories. To mark the milestone, the Berks County-based contemporary dance company is expanding its commitment to community.
“For the past few years, we’ve been dedicated to uplifting the Reading community through dance,” director and founder Jessica Warchal-King said. “This year, we’re continuing the programs we started and increasing the ways we connect with our communities.”
JCWK Dance Lab programming includes:
- Greater Reading Area Dance Exchange (GRADE) on BCTV: A regular program that airs on Thursdays at 7 p.m. and on BCTV’s YouTube channel. GRADE highlights opportunities for adults who are interested in dance.
- Dance for Wellness classes: Customized dance classes that incorporate neuroscience, dance technique, and creativity. Designed for adults, seniors, and people with movement challenges such as Parkinson’s disease, classes currently occur at Celebration Villa of Exeter and The Heritage of Green Hills.
- Cultural Exchange: A choreographic workshop where JCWK Dance Lab artists engage with participants in story sharing and movement. JCWK Dance Lab has an ongoing Cultural Exchange with The Heritage of Green Hills.
- Performances: Upcoming performances include local and national tours, placemaking collaborations (most recently with Reading Theater Project and the Reading Public Museum), and the GRADE Festival at Alvernia University.
“We’re leaning into our cornerstones of joy and connection,” said Warchal-King. “Our theme for this year is ‘Joy Train,’ and we’re partnering with the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum and Reading Company Technical & Historical Society for a new performance series. We’re also hosting The Greater Reading Area Dance Exchange Festival in March 2027 at Alvernia University.”
JCWK Dance Lab will celebrate its 10th anniversary with several other local and national milestones. For more information on JCWK Dance Lab’s season, visit jcwkdancelab.org.
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