Movement Laboratory
School of Performing Arts
Faculty
2023 Movement Laboratory Faculty
Judy Williams Henry -Founding Artistic Director
Ballet/ Pointe, Modern, Character, Stage Jazz, Tap, Movement for Actors
Dancer, actor, choreographer, director and mentor has inspired young people to dance since 1970, taking students to perform and study different cultures around the world. Her strong vision and mission o "Goodwill Through Dance" has enriched the lives of innumerable young people, particularly in Boston and Central Pennsylvania, and as far as Russia.
Cultural exchange has always been part of Movement Laboratory's philosophy and purpose. For Judy, movement is the universal language, as well as a vehicle for peace and understanding. This is why her foreign exchange programs have been so ambitious and far reaching, including before the fall of the Berlin Wall and the re-emergence of Russia. A number of "Goodwill Through Dance" tours over the years have given Movement Laboratory students international performance opportunities in countries as diverse as the former Soviet Union, Poland, Romania, Austria, Bulgaria, Bratislava, Slovakia, and Spain, France, Portugal, Italy and Hungary.
Perhaps the defining characteristic that has made Movement Laboratory a success over the past 50 years is Judy's focus on education and responsibility. It is here that Judy shines above the rest. Judy's undergraduate degree in dance/ theater (BFA) from the Boston Conservatory of music affords her a unique perspective as a teacher and counselor. She also holds a Master of Science degree from Wheelock College in Management and Educational Administration. She is not only an artist, but an educator as well. She believes in shaping the whole person to build self-esteem and personal acceptance in each of her students.
Jason Reed
Ballet (Mens), Partnering, Modern, Contemporary, Hip-hop, Jazz, World Dance
Jason began taking his first dance class when he was 18. By the time he was 21, he was attending his first year at The Juilliard School, enrolling in a four-year program, where he graduated in 2000 receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance. In addition to teaching ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop, contact improve and partnering; he also produces, directs and choreographs. Jason is excited to to engage in another year at ML with so many talented artists and colleagues.
Jodi Hill
Tap, Musical Theater, Leaps & Turns
Jodi Lynn Hill grew up and trained in Long Island, New York. She competed both nationally and internationally as a young dancer. She was trained in all forms of dance, but made an immediate connection with tap. Jodi performed for the Half Time show for the Orange Bowl in 2004. As a teenager, Jodi tapped at the Duke Theatre on 42nd Street for Broadway Dance Center’s Fall Showcase and was an active member of Tap Kids with Lisa Hopkins for 4 years. Jodi trained in the city under Shea Sullivan and took multiple intensives, including having the opportunity to meet and tap with Savion Glover and the late, Gregory Hines. Jodi went on to coach and choreograph for the Bloomsburg University Dance Team and teach local classes while in college. She holds a Bachelors degree in Elementary and Special Education from Bloomsburg University, a Masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from The University of Turabo and a second Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University. Jodi currently teaches first grade for the Lebanon School District. When Jodi is not teaching, she loves to spend time with her family, especially her daughter, Harper Rose. This is Jodi’s fifth year teaching at Movement Laboratory and she truly loves passing on the love of tap to her students.
Joyce Peterson
Ballet/ Pointe, Tap
Miss Joyce's start in dance, at the age of six, was a very humble one. One of her first dance teachers was a former Radio City Rockette, who ran a dance school out of her garage in Miss Joyce's hometown in central New Jersey. From there, she studied with many different teachers, some from as far away as Russia. Miss Joyce began studying at Movement Laboratory in 2006 and performed for some time with the Youth Ensemble. As a member of the Ensemble, she had the very exciting experiences of performing at the United Nations and as a part of Movement Lab's Goodwill Through Dance tour in France. Miss Judy first approached Miss Joyce about assisting with dance classes in 2009, and she has been helping with and teaching classes ever since. Since becoming a teacher, Miss Joyce has found that she has developed an even greater appetite to learn more as a teacher and a forever student of dance. She has gone to New York City to learn from other teachers through such programs as American Ballet Theater's National Training Curriculum. Outside of the studio, she has also studied Yoga and Pilates and has experienced firsthand how complementary these other forms of exercise can be to dance training. She hopes to incorporate what she has learned in more of her classes as well as work her choreographic muscles more in the future. She would like to congratulate the students of Movement Lab on another successful year and thank them for their hard work and for being an inspiration to her. She would also like to thank all of Movement Lab's parents for sharing their children with her every year. It's an honor and a privilege to watch them grow as dancers and as people and to play even just a small part in their journey.
Jill Lazorcik
Ballet/Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Tap
Jill was very excited to come home to Movement Laboratory this year as a dance instructor. After dancing under the instruction of Miss Judy for 15 years it was exciting to step into this new role. Part of the Class of 2013, she continued her education at The Pennsylvania State University, where she continued her love of dance with Volé the Penn State Ballet Club. She quickly took on leadership roles, including Artistic Director and Performance Company Choreographer, and choreographed numerous dances for the company. After graduating from Penn State in 2018, she plans to continue her education and earn her nursing degree with her ultimate goal of working in pediatrics.
Felicia Nelson
Musical Theater/Commercial Dance
Felicia began dancing at the age of 5 and throughout her youth was trained in all forms of dance. She attended Kutztown University and received her Bachelor's Degree in Sports Management, with a Minor in Dance in 2013. She has been a member of the Lenhart Dance Company as a performer and choreographer. She had the opportunity to choreograph for the Kutztown University Dance team. The dance team performed her choreography for a Philadelphia Sixers basketball game, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade and Philadelphia St. Patty's Day Parade. She was highly praised for her work as the choreographer for Lebanon Catholic High School's musicals. She continued her education at Kutztown University and received her Master's Degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education in 2016. Since graduating, Felicia currently serves as the Student Activities Coordinator at Penn State Berks in Reading, PA. We welcome her to our Movement Laboratory faculty.