UMA’s line up of classes are primarily based in contemporary Black American folkloric dance, African folkloric dance, Latin American dance and contemporary somatic and movement culture practices. Some of you might be wondering what Black American folkloric dance is. Anything from Lindy Hop to Hip Hop to Breakdance are American folklore and were born in U.S.’s Black communities. UMA is a proud ambassador of many dance forms that fall into the category of Black American Folklore.
UMA invites you to explore the many benefits that come from a dance practice with us. We are a space where you can de-stress, make friends and grow- all the while, celebrating and commemorating the communities and cultures that have laid the foundations for the mediums that we express ourselves within. We believe everyone is meant to dance. All bodies, all ages, all genders, all racial identities, all experience levels. We welcome you to explore our many offerings. And never hesitate to contact us if you have questions or concerns. We are here to support you in your dance journey. |
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check out 6abc coverage of 'workinonit'! |
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UMA Updated Mask Policy- Effective 4/18/2022
MASKS OPTIONAL. The city of Philadelphia has lifted its indoor mask mandate. Masks will be OPTIONAL at UMA. We ask that you thoughtfully consider your personal situation and family circumstances in your mask-wearing decisions.
MASKS OPTIONAL. The city of Philadelphia has lifted its indoor mask mandate. Masks will be OPTIONAL at UMA. We ask that you thoughtfully consider your personal situation and family circumstances in your mask-wearing decisions.
Heatwave!
On Tuesday 8/9 and Thursday 8/11 you can purchase Drop In passes for ONLY $5 between the hours of 12 and 7pm
Heatwave passes expire after 1 week. Stock up on as many as you want!
You can purchase the passes through the button below, which will only be active during the time windows noted above.
Heatwave passes expire after 1 week. Stock up on as many as you want!
You can purchase the passes through the button below, which will only be active during the time windows noted above.
Noize Freak Happy hour concert series @ UMA
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Join us weekly in August for a happy hour concert series!Noize Freak is going to be an ongoing thing at UMA for the next few months, at least. We got it kicked off with our Noize Freak party, which was an evening of dance and music jamming and performances. It was stellar. Check the band and Marsell opening a portal to another dimension in the video above.
Upcoming Happy Hours:
4-6pm @ UMA Aug 3 Aug 10 Aug 18 |
Introducing....The UMA Dip:
The Ron Wood Universe UMA has you covered with an onboard class for dance classes that are more beginner than the classes billed as "beginner." But what about for the more athletic classes on our schedule, like Break Dance, House Dance Floor Moves, Movement Flow and Capoeira Movement? Well all of these classes reside in Ron Wood's Universe. Ron Wood is an aficionado of all things in movement that deal with level changes, inversions, flexibility, strength and agility. Even better than his impeccable personal skill, he is an excellent instructor to movers of all levels. If you are someone who wants to cartwheel, roll and move around in a squat position, but do not feel confident about jumping right into a beginners class, The Ron Wood Universe is the place for you to start.
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new to uma?
Check Out Our
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complete beginner?
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Latin dance Practice partiesJoin Laurel Card for Latin Dance Practice parties! Never latin danced before? Hop into a beginner lesson before an evening over social dancing in a welcoming club-like environment.
Friday, August 19th
8:30-9:30 Beginner Lesson 9:30-Midnight Social Dancing BYOB |
Upcoming series
Most classes on our weekly schedule you can drop into for $15 or sign up for using your monthly membership. Some, however, are special series that run for limited times and build off the previous week. Series require pre-registration to join. If you are looking to join our Salsa or Bachata Partnering, Lindy Hop, Capoeira Movement, or others, head to our Upcoming Series/ Events page!
help underserved youth attend dance classes!
MoveMakers Philly is our affiliated youth program. MoveMakers Philly and UMA are financially tied- so supporting one organization supports the other. Dope! We are launching our 2021/2022 fundraising campaign to help underserved youth attend MoveMakers programming.
It has been a year running for our I Am The Move program. Last summer we provided summer camp scholarships to 25 families living in Philadelphia neighborhoods. In the winter of 2022 we became a Philadelphia School District Strategic Partner, which has resulted in residencies at 3 different Philadelphia Schools in which we serve a total of 140 kids weekly. And we are currently on route to add a 4th before the year ends. The funds raised in our winter campaign have powered us to provide MoveMakers Philly programming weekly to nearly the same amount of children that attend our HQ weekly on a paid membership basis. The children that we are serving via our Strategic Partnership with the Philadelphia School District live in neighborhoods that are under resourced. In a relatively short period of time, MoveMakers Philly and Urban Movement Arts have made significant strides in our mission to support underserved communities. Our year of success is a result of your participation in our fundraising campaigns. We do not plan to stop anytime soon, so we invite you to stay involved in our upcoming projects.
The donation link is now live! Donate through the link below
*The hyperlink for donation will take you to our fiscal sponsor, ADHK’s PayPal page. You will initially receive a receipt that payment is complete. Soon after, you will receive an email notice that contains information for your tax filing.
For ballet training that is accessible for all visit:
stay in touch
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Kids Dance classes, martial arts, and music lessons!
Check out our community partners.
MoveMakers Philly, Hip Hop Fundamentals, Martial Posture, Philly Music Factory, Amy Novinski Ballet
MoveMakers Philly, Hip Hop Fundamentals, Martial Posture, Philly Music Factory, Amy Novinski Ballet
Urban Movement Arts (UMA) welcomes adults of all ages and experience levels to explore wellness, dance, and performance.
Our programs and classes bring out the joy of discovering new ways of being and moving in the world.
Mural Artwork by Lynnea Holland Weiss and Dan Isaac Bortz
Our programs and classes bring out the joy of discovering new ways of being and moving in the world.
Mural Artwork by Lynnea Holland Weiss and Dan Isaac Bortz