West Chester Dance Works

West Chester Dance Works includes four performing companies, each with its own identity and audience: Signature/Training Company, D.M. Dance Machine, Junior Performers, Annointed Dance. In the development and training of the artists, we offer scholarships to those who would otherwise be unable to receive the many benefits of being a part of a dance organization. Our programs serve thousands of people per year including dancers and audiences.

RELEVATE YOUTH: How can we work together to overcome the obtrusive barriers to healthy and productive lifestyles that are threatening today’s youth? In partnership with local schools and community organizations, our “Relevate Youth” project seeks to address barriers in youth development while affirming and building feelings of self-worth through interactive dance programs.

SIGNATURE & TRAINING COMPANY: Signature and Training Company is a semi-professional modern dance company offering creative growth, performance experiences, lecture demonstrations, and residencies for artistic, cultural and educational outreach. The current focus for this group is helping our youth and communities overcome the obtrusive barriers to healthy and productive lifestyles through our “Relevate Youth” project.

DM DANCE MACHINE: Teamwork. Technique. Total performance.
Targeted for intermediate to advanced dancers aged 13 through 18, DM Dance Machine makes room on its team for every hard-working dancer looking to share their gifts in dance with audiences in a variety of theater and community-based settings. Our dance team combines technical strengthening in contemporary jazz and hip hop with team building, personal goals and performance enhancement.

JUNIOR PERFORMERS: Junior Performers is a performance group that gives children ages 9 through 12 an opportunity to dance in a professional atmosphere while expanding their performance experience. Annually, we continue to build this group of young dancers with those that have the desire to improve their performing skills and train in a more professional environment.

ANNOINTED DANCE MINISTRY: Adults who have a desire to praise the Lord through movement in a fellowship of Christian believers are welcome to join our spiritual performance group, Annointed. Members experience the joy of interpreting uplifting songs and sharing their talents and faith through community outreach in the name of Jesus Christ.

ANNOINTED TOO DANCE MINISTRY: Praising God through movement and music interpretation describes our youth dance ministry, Annointed Too. This ministry is open to anyone between the ages of 8 and 18 with the desire to praise the Lord through dance.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: Artist(s) teach the student body using examples of techniques as found in African American dance history in the United States including West African, Modern and Contemporary Dance with the purpose of exposing students to the culture, aesthetics and physicality of dance movement including African American contributions to music and dance. Members of West Chester Dance Works dance company and select student participants perform together in an assembly as a culmination of the residency.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW: Continuing a more than 30-year tradition, the company prepares an annual Christmas production in conjunction with “An Old-Fashioned Christmas In West Chester,” presented by the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce. It continues to provide as a festive December outing for all the young and young at heart. Dancers perform for their community at a local church every season, and then take the show on the road to nursing homes/senior centers, adult facilities, and schools.