The city gets moving with Philadelphia Dance Day

Get up and dance — maybe easier said than done, but not on the annual Philadelphia Dance Day, coming up Saturday, July 25. The nonprofit festival invites everyone (“regardless of experience or even coordination”) to participate in citywide performances and workshops. Dance studios and companies all over town will be open for workshops, including Headlong Studios, Koresh School of Dance, Christian Street YMCA, and more. These free workshops run at various times between 9am and about 4pm (click here for the full schedule and locations). Most are open to whoever arrives first, but a few of the smaller studios will be offering advance registration online because of their limited space. Many classes are open to all ages, though check the full roster for information on what ages should be accompanied by an adult. Then, in the evening, $5 gets you entrance to any of the classes held at the event's home base, the Ethical Society (1906 Rittenhouse Square).

A diverse roster of dance genres will be on offer in classes and workshops, including Indonesian Dance, “House Party Fitness,” Bhangra, striptease aerobics, tap, ballet, African jazz, belly dance, rumba, salsa, and many more. Events at the Ethical Society will kick off with a big Zumba party, then many different types of lessons from expert instructors and open social dancing. There will also be a performance showcase from the festival’s volunteer instructors and dance groups.

Philadelphia Dance Day launched three years ago thanks to Center City’s Philly Dance Fitness, organized in response to the reality TV sensation So You Think You Can Dance’s National Dance Day. Last year, organizers say Philly's dance festival hosted over 500 people, and it looks like this year is going to draw even more. For additional information on the July 25 event, from class descriptions to what to wear, visit the festival online.