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Saturday, July 28, 2012: One Day. One City. Tons of Free Dance Workshops.

Mark your calendars for July 28, 2012, when we’ll be hosting the third annual National Dance Day right here in Philadelphia. A broad collection of premier local dance companies and studios will join together to offer a day packed full of free dance classes.  This is a wonderful opportunity to discover some of the best dance teachers and spaces in the city, and to do it for FREE!

We’ll be working on the schedule in the spring. For now, whet your appetite with videos from last year’s Dance Day or scroll through the rest of this page to see what we did in 2011.

Philly Dance Fitness partnered with the following dance groups in the city for Dance Day 2011:

Philly Dance FitnessEstilo Dance StudioMajor Moment StudioMaster J Moves
Messiah Dance WorksStudio 1831Christian Street YMCA

2011 Workshop Schedule & Locations

Workshop Name
Venue
Description
10:00 am – 10:30 amCreative Dance for Kids
(3-4 year olds)		Major Moment Studio
1624 South Street		Young children will explore the joy of movement with games, role play and stories in this class led by Beverly Holskin of Major Moment Studio
10:30 am – 11:00 amCreative Dance for Kids
(5-7 year olds)		Major Moment Studio
1624 South Street		An early introduction to dance for 5 to 7 year old children, encouraging expression through movement. Led by Beverly Holskin of Major Moment Studio
11:00 am – 11:45 amAbsolute Beginner
Adult BalletRSVP Required, Sold Out		Major Moment Studio
1624 South Street		Find out why ballet is the foundation of so many dance forms in this intro course which will cover basic positions, arm carriage and more. If you don’t have ballet slippers you may dance in socks. Led by former ballet corps dancer Beverly Holskin at Major Moment Studio. All spaces already reserved. 
11:00 am – 11:45 amBeginning Lindy HopThe Arts Parlor
1170 S. Broad St.		The music and the style first developed in the 1920s, but swing kids have kept it alive ever since. Learn the basics with Kerry from Philly Lindy Hop. No partner required.
12:00 pm – 12:45 amAbsolute Beginner
Adult BalletRSVP Required, Sold Out		Major Moment Studio
1624 South Street		A repeat session to accommodate demand, see description above. All spaces already reserved.
12:00 pm -12:45 pmSalsaMasterJay Moves
1807 Chestnut Street		If you love going out and dancing late, salsa is an essential. You have three teachers to guide you in this workshop: MasterJay, Todd and Michelle of MasterJay Moves.
1:00 pm – 1:45 pmCo-ed Pole Dance FitnessRSVP Required, Sold OutMasterJay Moves
1520 Sansom Street		Poles aren’t just for strippers. Coren at MasterJay Moves will show you how to use them as a tool to develop strength and flexibility. Bring a yoga mat for ab work if you have one. Please note that this is a different location than the salsa class. All spaces already reserved.
1:00 pm – 1:45 pmAfrican JazzMessiah Dance Works
1020 S. 10th St		Get lost in the rhythm of the drums in this full-body, high-impact workshop led by Corey of Messiah Dance Works. Note: Messiah has moved to a new location since last Dance Day.
2:30 pm – 3:15 pmBellydanceRSVP Required, Sold OutStudio 1831
1831 Brandywine St.		Tone your core as you learn to pop, undulate and shimmy muscles you never even knew you had. Taught by bellydance performer Valerie Rushmere of Studio 1831 All spaces already reserved.
3:00 pm – 3:45 pmBeginner/Intermediate Hip-HopChristian Street YMCA
1724 Christian St.		Learn the “So You Think You Can Dance” intermediate Dance Day routine (modified to be appropriate for an all-ages crowd) and more.  Adults must accompany children under age 12. Led by Deborah of Philly Dance Fitness
4:00 pm – 4:45 pmHip-Hop “Master Class”Christian Street YMCA
1724 Christian St.		Get down and funky with this faster-paced workshop, which includes the “So You Think You Can Dance” NappyTabs “master class” Dance Day routine. Led by Deborah of Philly Dance Fitness
4:30 pm – 5:15 pmSalsaMajor Moment Studio
1624 South St.		Oliver Hannah from Major Moment Studio teaches all the salsa basics you need to know to party at your favorite Latin club. No partner required. Bring smooth-soled dress shoes or heels if you have them.
5:30 pm – 7:00 pmZumba PartyThe Swing at McGuffin
(2nd floor of The Adrienne Theatre)
2030 Sansom St.		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. Led by Deborah Hirsch, Alicia DeBruhl, Janet Ford and other guest instructors. All ages. Suggested $5 donation to support this and future Dance Day events.
7:00 pm – 7:30 pmBeginner Samba RoutineThe Swing
2030 Sansom St.		The samba looks hard but it’s a piece of cake in this National Dance Day routine taught by Ukrainian native Ross Toporski. From folk dancing to salsa, Toporski has been dancing since age 6 and, for the past four years, teaching ballroom at Socialsport Dance Club in Abington.
7:30 pm – 8:15 pmBeginner Foxtrot
The Swing
2030 Sansom St.
Take a partner (no need to bring one, you’ll rotate around to dance with everyone at the workshop) to learn the classic Foxtrot with the guidance of Ross Toporski of Socialsport Dance Club in Abington.
8:30 pm – 9:15 pmBeginner/Intermediate Salsa
The Swing
2030 Sansom St.
Build on the salsa basics you learned earlier in the day and get ready for the evening social dance with teachers from Estilo Dance Studio
9:30 pm – MidnightEvening social dance
The Swing
2030 Sansom St.
Practice the moves you learned throughout the day at this social dance. Take a break in the middle to sit back and see performances from the pros including bellydancer Valerie Rushmere and the Estilo Dancers! Suggested $5 donation to support this and future Dance Day events.

Come for as many workshops as you like. No dance experience and no partner required. Wear sneakers if you don’t have dance shoes.

Center City too far for you?

There are National Dance Day events all over the place, check your local studios to see if they’re involved. Here’s another free one at the Twining Valley Golf and Fitness Center in Dresher, led by Jeffrey Brous.

Or, join Bowman Dance School & Company for a dance flash mob at the King of Prussia Mall. You can learn and practice the National Dance Day “NappyTabs” routine here.  Meet at the Plaza Food Court at 1 p.m. Those who don’t want to dance can just watch – the “performance” will take place on the first floor in front of Nordstrom. Contact Kimberly at kd-hess@hotmail.com if you have any questions.