Afterschool Dance & Drama

Movement, drama, fitness, dance technique, creativity and more for kids of all ages!

Whether your kid has an interest in dance & theater, or just lots of energy to burn, we’ve got a fantastic new afterschool program to keep their creative juices flowing long after the bell rings. And we promise to thoroughly wear them out. 😉

Every afternoon includes at least two classes (dance technique, drama and/or fitness), as well as supervised homework time and other fun activities. Along with learning dance & drama, kids will develop discipline, confidence, social skills and musicality in this structured, fun-filled program. We offer a wide selection of classes and each day brings something new for them to experience. Check out our schedule posted below to see what classes we’re offering for the fall semester!

At the end of the semester, the students will show off what they’ve been learning at an informal showcase (if they want to, no pressure!) Absolutely no prior experience required.

Registration Now Open for the 2023 Spring Semester!

After school programming is held from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. at our Center City studio (1923 Chestnut St, above the Trek bike store). To get the most out of our diverse offerings, we recommend signing up for 3-5 days per week, but you can choose whatever combination of days work best for you!

Students and staff will follow all COVID-19 safety protocols required per the school district of Philadelphia. We strongly recommend that all students be vaccinated due to everyone dancing, sweating, and breathing heavily together in a smaller indoor space.

Depending on interest, our staff is available to pick up kids from nearby schools such as: Albert Greenfield School, Independence Charter School, Friends Select, Bache Martin, Russell Byers Charter, The Philadelphia School and even potentially Stanton and Chester Arthur. Walking groups from any neighborhood location can be arranged with a minimum of four participants.

Secure your spot today with just a $100 deposit.

Schedule & Class Descriptions

3 – 3:30 p.m. — Arrival, snack and games

3:30 – 4:15 p.m. — Class I — Dance or Drama

4:15 – 5 p.m. — Class II — Dance or Drama

5 – 5:30 p.m. — Fitness Games, Cardio Dance, Improv Games or free time (*with periodic options for parents to join in!)

5:30 – 6 p.m. – Homework time and pick up

Read on for the detailed line-up, which is subject to change depending on the ages/interests of the kids who sign up.

Dance offerings include:

Ballet
Jazz & Musical Theater Jazz
Lyrical
Tap
Cardio Dance (Hip Hop Cardio, Zumba, Dance Party Mix, etc.)

Drama classes include:

Act Out — Learn what it takes to be an actor: Work on stage presence, character development and more while rehearsing short scenes and plays.
Improv — No worries if you’re not into performing, this class is for anyone who likes to be spontaneous and a little silly! Let the imagination flow through dramatic exercises, improvised skits and all sorts of games.
Musical Theater — It’s our own off-Broadway stage! Sing AND dance while rehearsing a variety of showtunes.
Playwriting — Bring stories to life on stage! Kids will get the chance to write and act in their own original creations.
Star Search — Anyone can post videos online, but only some get thousands of followers. Explore what it takes to stand out and work on creating your own unique on-camera personna. Finished clips may be posted on our official youtube page (with parent permission, of course!)

After School FAQ

If your question isn’t here, find even more studio info on our Policies page or drop us a line and we’ll be happy to help!

Click on a question below to show the answer.

What should the students wear?

School attire is fine for most classes. For dance fitness classes, the goal is to get sweaty, so you may want to send an extra t-shirt and shorts. For students taking ballet, we recommend bringing tights or leggings and a tank top or leotard. There are plenty of changing rooms at the studio.

Can my child register for specific classes instead of the full afterschool program?

Absolutely. You would be responsible for dropping your child off to the studio, but otherwise s/he can join in any of our kids classes. Billing is auto-renewed monthly until you opt to cancel: 1 class/week for $120/month; 3 classes/week for $175/month or unlimited classes for $225/month (the best deal by far!). These rates include additional supervised play/homework time before and/or after class, so you can drop off your child and then pick them up anytime before 6 p.m.

More details and registration links here. Once you sign up online, just be sure to drop us a note so we know what classes your child plans to take.

Are there make-up classes if my child has to miss a day?

Yes! If you need to miss a day for a special circumstance, you can come in on another day that week. Just be sure to notify us in advance so we’re clear on exactly which kids are getting picked up from school each day. Make-up days cannot be accumulated from week to week.

When schools close for professional development you can sign up for “School’s Out” camps or drop your child off for their normally scheduled program in the afternoon. If you choose to keep them home you can not make up this day. Holidays where we are closed are not eligible for make-ups, either.

For students rehearsing pieces for our end of semester showcases, we may be able to record practice videos or use livestream technology to help them catch up on any missed material.

What’s the COVID policy?

To keep our everyone safe, we have implemented the following policies:

All instructors/staff are vaccinated against COVID. We strongly recommend that all kids be vaccinated as well and will keep note of vaccine records during registration.
We are planning to follow whatever protocols the school district requires unless there are rising case numbers or other circumstances (such as a teacher or student at extremely high risk) that would prompt us to require extra precautions such as proof of vaccination or masks worn by those who are not vaccinated.
Kids will be asked to regularly wash hands thoroughly, and will not be allowed to share food. Our staff will disinfect all tables and high-touch surfaces on a daily basis.
If a student tests positive for COVID-19, they will not be able to come to the studio for the required quarantine period (currently 5 days per CDC guidelines) or until a negative test.
If a student tests positive after coming to class, contact us immediately. This way, we can help trace and contain any potential outbreaks. Since all of our school age and adult programs require proof of vaccination, other participants will not need to quarantine per federal health department protocol. But we will still keep everyone informed so that everyone can be on the lookout for break-through cases. Any communication about cases will always be kept anonymous.
We ask everyone – parents, students and teachers – to help us reduce the spread of illness by staying home if you’re not feeling well, especially if you have symptoms that could be indicative of COVID-19.

How does billing work?

$100 registration fee is paid at time of enrollment to guarantee your spot in our program.
Payment are in 10 even installments for the year, due on the 20th of each month beginning in August (8/20, 9/20, 10/20, 11/20, 12/20, 1/20, 2/20, 3/20, 4/20, 5/20).
Early dismissal pickups from ICS on Wednesdays available for an additional $25/week, also billed in monthly installments.
If joining midway through the year, the first payment will be prorated, and subsequent payments will be processed on the 20th of each month.
No returns; students who miss regularly scheduled days may come another day as a make-up.
To help us set our schedules, prep for end of season shows and build consistency, after school participants must commit to participating in full semester or academic year increments. However, if a family is moving or some other extenuating circumstance arises, early cancellations may be requested in writing to info@phillydancefitness.com. If approved, the cancelation will be made effective 30 days from the date of the request and your child will be entitled to attend the program through the end of the last payment period.