Urban Movement Arts (UMA) welcomes adults of all ages and experience levels to explore Hip Hop, American folk dance, and African Diaspora movement genres. We guide movers and dancers to develop true connection to community and style. 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:

  1. What kind of dancing do you want to do? Class descriptions are HERE. Class schedule is HERE. Guess what? You don't have to choose. You can get an Intro Month and try out all the styles and levels. 
  2. Drop In! You can pay as you go online or in person.  Just come by. You do NOT need to register online ahead of time (but you can if you want to, if you like apps, we're on MindBody.) You can just show up. 
  3. Meet people. Our teachers and staff can help you find the right class, master the tricky step, or get you on the road to performing and stardom. We are a place to learn and practice for dancers of all levels, from total beginners to touring professionals. 
  4. Make connections. In your body, with other students, with other genres and styles. Check out a performance in our space, go out social dancing with other students, share something at a work in progress showing. 

featured class

Locking with Dru ​
Sundays 2:30 - 3:30 pm​
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Locking is a dance that was born out of the funk social dances of the late 60s and 70s like the funky chicken, the funky robot and the rock steady.  Like funk music, the dance has stood the test of time, influencing early New York pioneers of New Jack Swing and Hip Hop party dances. And in the hip hop dance competition circuits, it remains an upbeat category. Here's a clip of Dru in action against another world class dancer named Firelock. Dru is also a part of an amazing crew called the Hood lockers. Enjoy them here, performing at one of Movemakers' youth concerns.  Locking is a fun and expressive style. You'll certainly leave class happy and grooving. 
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The Hoodlockers: Dru is on the far right! You might also recognize Ricky next to him who teaches one of our House Classes!

other new classes:
Sundays |  3:30 - 4:30 | Bmore Afro House with Sanchel Brown
Saturdays |3 - 4 pm| Beginner House with Ricky
Thursdays | 8 - 9pm |Hip Hop, African, Dancehall Fusion with Majestique
Lindy Hop 6 Week Series Starts Jan 13
Sundays 5:30-6:30pm  
​The perfect holiday gift! 
Lindy Hop is a joyful, rebellious partner dance created by black teenagers in Harlem in the 1930's. It also fun to dance to soul music or early rock and roll. Ragtag Empire  is Lily Kind & Heather Houde's tribe of jazz and swing dance teachers and performers. 
For Total Beginners: Even those with two left feet can learn the Lindy Hop in this six week course. 
Intermediate-ish: is for those who can already swing out and are comfortable social dancing out in the wild. This class goes deeper into partner dance topics like musicality, improvisation, Charleston, and even Balboa. 
These classes occur simultanesouly in adjacent studios. 

parties & performances

Maddie & Kayla present: Yes, this is she
Winter Artist in Residence Showing
December 16| 7 pm & 9 pm
$10
yes, this is she is a duet created and performed by Maddie Hopfield and Kayla Bobalek, inspired by today’s increasing onslaught of scam phone calls and the minefield of navigating contemporary communication. Maddie has been receiving dubious tax fraud phone calls for a while now. Kayla’s grandpa lost a lot to telephone marketing schemes. Time and communication inside of relationships expands and contracts between phone calls and texting, as both of their families live far away (phone calls, voicemails, guilt), yet as collaborators they live and work together (texts, telepathy). Maddie and Kayla use speech and movement to investigate the intricately connected world of phones, family, and language. Check out our blog for features on M & K! 
Ragtag Empire's Swing Dance
December 15 | 8 pm lesson, 9 pm dance!
$5-$15 pay what you can.
No partner necessary! 
Lesson: Brand New Beginner Drop In 8-9! with Heather & Friends. 
💥Sampler Class is Back!💥Prepare to upgrade your Charleston 1,000% with Sanchel Brown's Bmore Afro class. This class will make you sweat so bring an extra shirt! 
🏆Friendly Competition: Solo Jazz & Charleston! 🏆Show off your fast feet and saucy solo moves. Our comps are goofy-spirited and beginner friendly. 
DJs 🎧: Marjorie Bartell and Steve Fox
​December Salsa Party
Dec 21
8:00 - 9:00 pm  Lesson with Laurel 
9:00-12:00am (or until we stop) 
$12.00 online |  $15.00 at door|
2100 Chestnut St. 2nd Flr
Warm up the winter equinox at our  warm and inviting social dance party. No experience necessary!

and also!

PictureUMA's in house dance and music ensemble, Philly Kerplop, performing in LOVE Park as part of the 2018 Philly Fringe
MASTER CLASS!
Jan 13 | 6:30-9 pm
with Virgil Gadson

WORKINONIT
Feb 21 | 9 pm | 2019
see what everyone is workin on...

Stay tuned for more events this spring:
+March 2-3 Spring Artist in Residence Showing
+Skate Classes on every first Sunday of the month

COMMUNITY:

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UMA is here for marginalized and oppressed populations of all races, genders, sexualities, ages, and body types. We apologize our space is not ADA accessible.

What Our Clients Are Saying

"This is the spot people! keep it up UMA." - Scott S
"TALK ABOUT GREAT VIBES AND ENERGY! " - Stylishly Fearless

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