Mark your calendars for a full day of dancing on July 28, 2018! The 2018 draft schedule will be posted in mid-May. In the meantime, we invite you to look through this 2017 line-up to get a feel for this amazing community event!
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In an effort to encourage dancers to connect with each other, we’re consolidating locations this year. Daytime workshops will be held at just a handful of venues around the city, including the Ethical Society building on Rittenhouse Square, where the festivities will continue into the evening with more workshops and the most eclectic, exciting performance showcase you’ve ever seen!
As in past years, please join as many workshops as you like! No need to pre-register, just show up ready to dance. Daytime workshops are free and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Please arrive a few minutes early to ensure your spot.
A one-time $5 donation is requested for evening events and performances at the Ethical Society, which includes post-performance refreshments. This donation will be collected starting at 5 p.m. For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions.
*Schedule is subject to change, please refer to this site for the most up-to-date information*
Headlong Studios
1170 S Broad Street
| Time | Workshop | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. |
Lyrical Contemporary | Join Natalie Flynn in this contemporary class based in modern jazz with the influence of ballet. You'll focus on strong legwork, releasing the torso, floor work, musicality and grounded movements. |
| 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. |
Jazz Cardio Fusion | Dive into a progressive choreography infused with jazz, funk and a splash of hip-hop flavor in this nonstop cardio twist on contemporary jazz. Sharpen your coordination and isolation control as you learn each step, then repeat the sequences multiple times to get your heart rate up. Taught by Trina Lyons of Philly Dance Fitness. |
| 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. |
Mixxedfit® | This high-impact program combines boot camp-inspired exercises with explosive dance moves to create an effective, challenging workout. Expect big, exaggerated, full-out movements and lots of sweat! Taught by Chantel Thompson. |
| 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. |
BollyX | Rock out in this fitness class inspired by the music and dance of Bollywood, the film industry of India. Experience authentic and exhilarating choreography with upbeat music from around the world that will have you smiling and sweating at the same time. The easy-to-follow format cycles between higher and lower intensity dance sequences to give you an effective cardio interval workout. Taught by Deeksha Seth and Teena Varghese of Philly Dance Fitness. |
| 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. |
Contemporary Dance Fitness | Release your creativity as you spin, spiral and sweat. This liberating workout ups the pace on a traditional lyrical class, drawing on concepts from jazz, ballet and, of course, master modern dance technicians. Philly Dance Fitness instructor Kayla Babicki will lead you through a cardio warm-up, fast-paced progressions across the floor and a short combination. |
| 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. |
Cardio Bellydance | Tone your core as you pop, undulate and shimmy muscles you never even knew you had. You won't have time to worry about technique because you'll never stop moving in this modern twist on the Middle Eastern art form. Taught by Roberto Mejia. |
Major Moment Studio
1624 South St.
| Time | Workshop | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. |
NIA | Discover the joy of movement in this fusion class that combines movement from the dance arts, the martial arts, and the healing arts. Bring your mind, body and spirit to find joy in moving your body, your way. Led by licensed Nia instructor Rebecca Narva. |
| 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. |
Zumba for Kids* | Calling all 7 to 11-year-olds for this uptempo dance party featuring kid-friendly routines based on original Zumba choreography, games, activities and cultural exploration. Unlike a standard adult Zumba class, instructor Shannan Reese will break down some of the steps so that everyone can get comfortable with the movements. |
| 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. |
Praise Dance | Liturgical dance has experienced a revival of sorts in churches across the globe as a way to express outward praise to and for God. Most praise dancing is done to upbeat music with lyrics describing thankfulness or feelings of joy, but each culture brings its own flair to the movements. For example, American praise dancers tend to favor ballet, interpretive dance and hand motions while African dancers use more full-bodied movements. Explore a sampler of praise dance styles in this celebratory workshop led by Shannan Reese. |
| 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. |
Lunch Break | |
| 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. |
Barre Fit | Redefine your body, improve your posture and push your muscles to the max in this invigorating combination of ballet-inspired movements and strength conditioning. Expect a mix of isometric barre exercises, cardio dance movements and Pilates targeting the glutes, quads, hamstrings, inner thighs, calves and abs. Please bring a mat if you have one. With Kayla Babicki of Philly Dance Fitness. |
| 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. |
Hip-Hop | Work up a sweat as you bust a move to the hottest hip-hop songs. After warming up with nonstop follow-the-leader movements, you'll begin building a combination. Bring your energy and whatever swag you've got! Taught by Ricky Evans of Philly Dance Fitness. |
| 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. |
Body Jam* | This addictive Les Mills cardio program fuses the latest dance styles and hottest new sounds, putting the emphasis as much on having fun as on breaking a sweat. Instructors Sharon Hughes and Sarah Paretti will teach you to move with attitude as you build a choreography, so grab a friend, get front and center, and get high on the feeling of dance! |
| 4 p.m. 4:45 p.m. |
JazzTech | From box steps to jazz walks, showcase your style as you build a foundation of traditional jazz movements. This class is designed for adults who want to learn technique, but just for the fun of it. Led by Beverly Holskin of Major Moment Studio and Philly Dance Fitness. Shoes with a smooth surface for turning such as jazz shoes or dance sneakers are ideal, but socks work, too. |
O’Connor Pool
2601 South Street
| Time | Workshop | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. |
Aqua Zumba | Dance party in the pool! Splash, sweat and groove through a series of easy-to-follow routines specially designed for aqua fitness. Thanks to the buoyancy of being in the pool, you'll have less impact on the joints, but you'll still get plenty of cardio plus a little toning from working against the natural resistance of the water. Meet instructor Shannan Reese in the shallow end, and don't forget your sunscreen! |
The Ethical Society of Philadelphia
1906 Rittenhouse Square
| Time | Workshop | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. |
Creative Dance for Kids* (first floor) | Children ages 2-5 are invited to explore individual expression as they learn the basics of movement and rhythm with Cristina Guzman, the executive director of CEG. |
| 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. |
Intro to Hip-Hop* (first floor) | Inspired by street dance styles, this class emphasizes isolations, stretching, rhythms and funky footwork. For kids ages 6 and up, teens and adults. Taught by Cristina Guzman of CEG. |
| 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. |
Beginner Tap (second floor) | Practice basic tap sounds, terminology, timing and rhythm in this introductory class. Please bring tap shoes if you have them. Led by Pam Hetherington of Sound Space Philly. |
| 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. |
Intermediate Tap (second floor) | If you've got some experience tap dancing, join this faster-paced workshop where you'll drill a few combinations before piecing a repertoire of steps into a short choreography. With Pam Hetherington of Sound Space Philly. |
| 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. |
Intro to Latin Dancing (first floor) | If you love Latin dancing in cardio programs like Zumba, now's your chance to translate those moves into social dancing. No prior partner dancing experience required. Taught by Cristina Guzman of CEG. |
| 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. |
Lunch & pop-up performances* (first floor or outside) | Meet other fellow dance-lovers as you break for lunch and enjoy a few "pop-up" performances. If weather permits, we may even bring the "show" to Rittenhouse Square. Feel free to bring in a bag lunch or take-out from a local restaurant. |
| 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. |
Sh'Bam* (first floor) | SH’BAM™ is the perfect way to shape up and let out your inner star – even if you’re dance challenged. Set to a soundtrack of chart-topping popular hits, nightclub dance music, familiar classics remixed and modernized Latin beats, this Les Mills program is the ultimate fun and sociable way to exercise. Led by Jacqui Sadashige. |
| 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. |
Tap Tonic (second floor) | Stomp, shuffle and spin into shape in this tap fitness program. The steps are basic enough for any beginner, yet fast enough to challenge even those with tap experience. Tap shoes are not necessary, but wear them if you have them! With Sherrilyn Billger of Philly Dance Fitness. |
| 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. |
Beginner Tap Technique (second floor) | Whether you’re newer to tap or you haven't dusted off your tap shoes for years, here's your chance to brush up on basic tap sounds, terminology, timing and rhythm. Instructor Sherrilyn Billger of Philly Dance Fitness will break down the steps, then lead a series of exercises and combinations to help you perfect each sound. No prior tap experience required, tap shoes recommended. |
| 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. |
American Tribal Style® Bellydance (first floor) | Experience this classical improvisational tribal bellydance program developed by FatChanceBellyDance®. Paula Phillips, who directs State Street Tribal, Philadelphia's own FatChanceBellyDance® "sister studio," will teach "level 1" steps as well as group formations and improvisational cuing. |
| 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. |
Zumba* (first floor) | Ditch the workout, join the party! Zumba fuses Latin and international rhythms with easy-to-follow steps into a fitness class that feels more like a dance party than a workout. All ages welcome. Led by certified Zumba instructors Vonda Pearson, Dyann Paoline, Glorida Yiming, Marsha Fletcher, Myrna Dominique and Yvonne Leung. |
| 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. |
Experimenting with Improvisation (second floor) | Explore how your body seeks to express itself naturally in this introduction to dance improvisation. You'll start with smaller movements, then gradually move more broadly with varied prompts (traveling, level-change, speed, etc). The workshop will finish with a look into partnered improvisation and a brief "jam" to experiment with the performance aspect of improv. Led by Sean Thomas Boyt. |
| 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. |
Beginner Salsa (first floor) | If you love going out and dancing late, salsa is an essential. Learn the basic step, cross-body lead and more in this intro course led by Mike Andino of Estilo. |
| 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. |
Striptease (second floor) | Leave your inhibitions behind during this racy striptease aerobics class. Warm-up with isolations and follow-the-leader routines to get the heart pumping, then piece together a series of sexy moves to build a hotter-than-hot combination. Ages 18 and up. With Deborah Hirsch of Philly Dance Fitness. |
| 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. |
Intro to Lindy Hop (second floor) | From triple steps to swing-outs, learn the fundamentals of this evolving social dance style that first appeared in the late 1920s. Taught by Marc Longhenry and Genevieve Senechal of the volunteer-run Philadelphia Lindy and Blues. No partner required. |
| 5:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. |
National Dance Day Hip-Hop & Cardio Pop Master Class* (first floor) | Warm up with easy-to-follow cardio pop and hip-hop routines, then learn the official National Dance Day choreography plus more progressive combinations if time permits. Open to all ages. Adults must accompany children under age 14. With Michelle Krichilsky, Brittany Almquist and Ricky Evans of Philly Dance Fitness. |
| 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. |
Argentine Tango (second floor) | Learn the essentials of this sensual, improvisational partner dance: traveling steps, leading/following techniques, the dance "embrace" and more. Sarah Chung and Damian Lobato teach this fun and intriguing introductory class. No partner or prior experience required. |
| 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. |
East Coast Swing (first floor) | Cover the basics of six-count swing plus spins and several other steps in this beginner-friendly session. This upbeat style fits well with Motown, jazz and many pop songs, making it an extremely useful tool for dancing at wedding receptions or other social functions. No need to bring a partner, you'll rotate during class. Taught by Kira Stein of Ballroom Bliss. |
| 7:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. |
Beginner Blues (second floor) | With a myriad of sub-styles and a storied culture, this improvisational dance is a glimpse of artistic expression through periods of slavery, minstrelsy and early jazz. Building from a step-touch basic through complex rhythms, isolations and body shapes, Marc Longhenry and Genevieve Senechal of the volunteer-run Lindy and Blues will give you a foundation to explore this piece of American history on the dance floor. |
| 7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. |
Rueda de Casino (first floor) | Learn the basics of this dynamic Cuban dance! Couples will join together in a circle to dance in formation and perform exciting group moves. No need to bring a partner, you can pair up with others in class. Taught by Leilani Chirino and Michael Huang. |
| 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. |
Dance Day Performance Showcase (first floor) | From ballet to hip-hop to Bollywood, you'll be treated to a kaleidoscope of dance at this hallmark showcase. In addition to instructors and students from participating studios, you'll also see a few pieces from semi-professional dancers. Please note that this is an informal event and we do not have theater seating — there will be a limited number of chairs reserved for those who need them the most; everyone else is invited to find seats on the floor. Refreshments will be served in the lobby following the show. |
| 10:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. |
Social Dance (first floor) | Practice what you've learned throughout the day as we close out the night with open dancing. Expect a mix of swing and Latin music with a sprinkling of line dances so that everyone can join in. |
Note: For all of the above social dancing workshops, no need to bring a partner because you’ll rotate around to practice with everyone.
*Suitable for kids. Dancers under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult.