urban movement arts philadelphia

Urban Movement Arts (UMA) welcomes adults of all ages and experience levels to explore Hip Hop, American folk dance, and African Diaspora movement genres.
Our programs and classes bring out the joy of discovering new ways of being and moving in the world.
*Artwork by Lynnea Holland Weiss and Dan Isaac Bortz

how to start dancing:

$40 = 30 Days, Try everything!

INTRO MONTH = $40 for 30 Days: try everything!

Come take class! We recommend the Intro Month so you can try all the classes and find your groove. Go here if you're feeling like a freaked out beginner. Go here for more info on classes. You can just show up to a class and pay us in person before class. We take cash and major credit cards.
Or you can use the Mind Body App on your phone to register and pay. The Mindy Body App a convenient way to sign up and pay for classes right from your smart phone. Not required, but some people are all about it.

class schedule

featured classes

Tai Chi
12 week series
New start Date Oct 16
running until Jan 15 (no class Dec 25 and Jan 1)

Sign up now. From October 16 - January 15 at 7:30 pm.
Tom Updegrove offers a 12 week Tai Chi series. Good for total beginners or folks looking to deepen their practice. $120 for the series. Sorry, no Drop Ins. Tom has been connected to our physical space for a long time, back since it was a dojo called Martial Posture. Maybe you can get him to tell you about it. But even if not, you'll come away with some deep, delicious Tai Chi knowledge.

popping workship with rashaad pearson
all levels! Saturday October 19th 5-7 pm

Rashaad is an internationally acclaimed Popper. He's often a judge at those battles you've watched on You Tube. For real, he is a master of his craft, soaked in history, and an expert teacher. This two hour workshop is open to total beginners and more advanced dancers. All are encouraged to POP! More about Rashaad and videos of his dancing here on our blog.

Beginner Lindy Hop | 5:30 - 6:30 pm | $65/6 WEEK SERIES REGISTER ONLINE !
Lindy Hop is danced with a partner to classic big band music, swampy New Orleans jazz , or even Motown. Ragtag encourages new dancers to choose to learn either leading or following (regardless of gender). No partner necessary for class; all our classes rotate partners constantly because learning happens more quickly and it's more fun!

swing Dance with ragtag empire!
6 WEEK SERIES STARTS OCTOBER 13

Sundays
4:30 - 5:30 pm Solo Jazz (ongoing weekly except 10/6)
5:30 - 6:30 pm Beginner Lindy Hop
5:30 - 6:30 pm Intermediate Lindy Hop

Every series includes:

2 free drop ins classes (try new things!)
6 weeks of instruction with lots of individual attention
Pizza party practice on last day of class.

Ragtag teaches the original Swing dance, otherwise known as Lindy Hop. Lindy Hop originated in Harlem in the 1930's as an Afro-American social dance.
Follow @ragtag_empire for teacher details! For more things Swing VISIT: ww.w.ragtagempire.com

Intermediate-ish Swing | 5:30 - 6:30 pm | : $65/6 WEEK SERIES REGISTER ONLINE !
Mary & Nick bring you the need to know skills and drills to keep advancing your dancing. Upcoming series is PARTNER CHARLESTON!

salsa & BAchata with laurel card
starts november 3 (No class 12/1, 12/8)

$75 INDIVIDUAL SIGN UP | $125 PARTNER SIGN UP. REGISTER ONLINE.

EVERY SERIES INCLUDES: 1 FREE DROP IN 1 DISCOUNTED PRIVATE LESSON $60 / 1 HOUR

Sundays
2:00 - 3:00 pm Beginner Salsa
This 8 week course is for the absolute beginner or those that improve their foundation. This course will give you all you need to know about the foundation of Salsa dancing: basic footwork patterns, timing, dance positions, leading and following, footwork and turns. Each week builds on the week previous. Each class we will take the time to really understand the steps and what the body is doing so we can build muscle memory. And it's fun!
3:00 - 4:00 pm Beginner Bachata
Bachata originated in the Dominican Republic but is danced world wide. Traditional Bachata is done with 3 steps and a tap on 4. This series teaches the Bachata foundation: basic footwork patterns, timing, dance positions, leading and following and footwork. Each week builds on the week previous.
4:00 - 5:00 pm Adv. Bed. Salsa
This class builds on the skills learned in the beginner series. It offers more challenging patterns and combinations. We will work on leading & following techniques, styling and how to add these into your Salsa turn patterns. To join this class, we ask that you have completed the 8 week beginner series (preferably a few times) and have a good foundation and understanding of timing, know how to lead/follow inside and outside turns, cross-body leads, as well as combinations using these tools.

parties & performances

SALSA PRACTICE PARTY: October 25th! details TBA.
8 pm class, 9 pm party and dancing!

Vince Johnson, Denzel Thompson, and Mark Wong doing...???...at a Philly Kerplop performance Summer 2018. photo: lily kind

featured practice playlist

Riot has compiled an epic list of funky tunes for practicing Locking. You can catch his class Sundays 2:30 - 3:30 pm. Check out his 'Lockness playlist on UMA's Spotify!