A spirited night of 1990s nostalgia and community collaboration brought in more than $78,000 for arts education earlier this month, as the Yocum Institute for Arts Education hosted its annual Dancing with the Reading Stars: Battle of the Businesses event.
Held on May 2 at Stokesay Castle, the festive evening marked the Institute’s 90th anniversary and featured dance routines, live entertainment, and a packed lineup of local businesses competing for top honors—all in support of youth theater productions, outreach programs, and scholarships.
The top honors of the night went to Team Michael and The Blue Diamonds, who were crowned both Fundraising Grand Champion and Fan Favorite. Team Celtic Plaid earned second place overall and was also the fan-favorite runner-up, followed by Team Baja, which placed third. Team Queens’ rounded out the fan-favorite standings in third place.
Participating businesses included: Baja Beach Wellness, Circadia by Dr. Pugliese, New Castle Lawn and Landscape, Inc., Queens’ Café and Skin Solutions Med Spa.
The evening’s atmosphere was brought to life with music by DJ H Vidal and lighting and sound by Arethusa Designs. Other contributors included Blinck Studios (videography), Lauren Adele Little (photography), Executive Printing (programs), and live artist Theron Cook. Choreography was led by Ashley Proietto of Academy of Movement, and the event was hosted by emcees Jenn Caputo and Adam Void. The night’s festivities were organized by producer and event planner Jamie Lambert.
The Yocum Institute expressed its gratitude to the sponsors, businesses, and attendees who made the event a success.
For those interested in participating or sponsoring next year’s event, contact Jamie Lambert at jlambert@yocuminstitute.org.
Celebrating 90 years of service, the Yocum Institute for Arts Education continues to be a cornerstone of arts learning in Berks County. The organization is committed to providing accessible, high-quality arts education opportunities to children and families throughout the region.