A Stir of Creativity: Dance Soup concert at Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts Serves up a Vibrant Blend of Student Choreography

"Dance Soup" has become a cherished annual fall tradition at Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts (Charter Arts), celebrating the artistry and innovation of student choreographers. Under the direction of Rebecca Moyer and Jennifer Weaver, this year’s concert offers a dynamic blend of senior solos and ensemble works, featuring a wide range of styles-from modern and contemporary to jazz and ballet.

“The program truly reflects the individuality of our dancers,” says Weaver. “Audiences can look forward to a performance that’s rich in variety-each piece tells a different story, yet together they create an exciting and cohesive evening of dance.”

The concert serves as a capstone for students enrolled in the Creative Process for the dancer course, providing an opportunity to apply their classroom learning to a live performance setting. Many students begin conceptualizing their choreography over the summer, refining ideas and submitting proposals for faculty feedback in the fall. The creative process involves auditioning peers, leading rehearsals, and working closely with mentors to shape and polish their final pieces.

“This experience pushes students to take on multiple roles-artist, collaborator, and leader,” Moyer explains. “They not only refine their technical and creative voices but also learn how to communicate vision and direction to others.”

Weaver adds, “Throughout the process, we encourage constructive feedback and experimentation. It’s exciting to see how students take risks, explore new movement vocabularies, and ultimately find their own choreographic identities.”

As for the show’s distinctive name, Weaver explains. “Like a great soup, this concert is made up of many ingredients-different styles, perspectives, and ideas-all coming together to create something warm, flavorful, and deeply satisfying for everyone involved.”

Evening performances Nov. 21 & 22 at 7 PM. Matinee performance Nov. 22 at 2 PM. Tickets are $8-$14 and available at CharterArts.org.

ABOUT THE LEHIGH VALLEY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS (Charter Arts):

Charter Arts is an audition-based public charter school, funded by Pennsylvania taxpayer dollars, that provides a comprehensive curriculum for high school students, grades 9-12, who have a dedicated passion for the creative or performing arts. Students major in one of seven artistic areas: Dance, Instrumental Music, Literary Arts, Production Arts, Theatre, Visual Arts, or Vocal Music.

Charter Arts' rigorous curriculum fosters both academic and artistic excellence for its students. The school’s impressive Advanced Placement (AP) exam statistics, Keystone Exam statistics, SAT scores, prestigious artistic accolades, and graduation rate, are testaments to the outstanding education that Charter Arts provides.

An award-winning, nationally recognized institution, Charter Arts is ranked #1 Best Charter High School in PA and #1 Best Public High School Teachers in PA on Niche's 2026 Best Schools in America Rankings. The school also placed among the Top 10 Charter Schools in PA on U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-26 Best Schools Rankings.

Prospective students and families interested in learning more about the dance program and the school are encouraged to attend the school's Open House event on December 6, 2025. Visit CharterArts.org for more information.

Charter Arts has been part of the Bethlehem community since its inception in 2003, and for the past decade, has been proudly rooted in the heart of Bethlehem’s Southside Arts District at 321 East 3rd Street.