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:

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 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

AFro Club with Sanchel Brown
sundays 3:30

SANCHEL IS BACK starting August 11. Come get some of this fast footwork that combines Senegalese dance styles with Baltimore party dances. A fun, feel good, WORK OUT. Sanchel spent most of this past summer in Senegal, upping her dance game. So it's gunna be fire.

photo: Katrina D'autrement

flying low with lily kind
Tuesday 8/13 & 8/20 | 7 -8 pm

Aug 13 is in STUDIO A. Aug 20 is in STUDIO B (squeeeeeze!)
Flying Low & Passing Through was created by David Zambrano and has become the dominant style of contemporary dance floorwork in South America and Europe. It's a swift, social, and athletic way of moving in and out of the floor FAST. It develops into a big group game called Passing Through. If you're into floorwork, whether it's lofting, breaking, or contemporary dance, this will sharpen your skills. Come play! *Attendance at both sessions is suggested, but just one is allowed* LONG PANTS for sliding on floor recommended.
From Lily: I'm by no means a master if Flying Low, but I love sharing what I've learned, especially because this method is so hard to find in the US. You don't need any classical western training to get good at this, and it builds to very wild dynamic movements! There is a lot of getting up and down from the floor, so take care of your knees.
Regular UMA drop in pricing applies: $15 regular/$10 student/artist. $8 special also applicable. Memberships and class cards.

This fall Lily will be studying various methods with Zambrano . Curious? Check it out this video.

PLUS: Lily is hosting a 'zine release party on Thurs Aug 15th 8:30 - 10 pm in the small studio. Informed in part by her experience running the Artist Residency program, Lily has written a 'zine about DIY dance making called How to Make a Dance in America. Come celebrate the occasion and support Lily's upcoming training by purchasing the 'zine and tipping her heavily to make you a *free* drink.

new! yoga fo r beginners with alex brazinski
mondays 7:10 - 8:10 pm

Starts 8/19! Chill out during your work out. Alex is offering a slow-paced yoga class for beginners seeking the calm, strength, and flexibility that comes from a yoga practice. This class also welcomes Alex's yoga regulars who want to get the extra hour of practice in after Solo Salsa or before Waacking. (It's okay to be 10 min late to Waacking, says Vince.) Alex will continue to teach his 6-7 pm class, now called Vinyasa Yoga.

swing Dance with ragtag empire!
6 Week Series starts August 25th

Sundays
4:30 - 5:30 pm Solo Jazz
5:30 - 6:30 pm Beginner Lindy Hop
5:30 - 6:30 pm Intermediate Lindy Hop
6:30 - 7:30 pm Balboa

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 was created by young black teenagers in Harlem in the 1930's.
Follow @ragtag_empire for teacher details! For more things Swing VISIT: ww.w.ragtagempire.com

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!

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.

Balboa | 6:30 - 7:30 pm | $65/6 WEEK SERIES REGISTER ONLINE!
'Bal' is a close embrace dance but with smaller, tighter footwork than Lindy. One of the most hot stepping, elegant forms of swing dance! Taught by the charming Saira & Mary
$110 for BOTH Lindy & Balboa (includes 2 solo jazz classes).

Afro Cuban with leilani chirino
thursdays 6 -7 pm

To get a feel for the beautiful music you'll be dancing to, enjoy one of Leilani's playlists (click bottom above). In class, you'll learn to isolate different parts of your body and create polyrhythms. ¿Hablas español? Leilani es bilingue!

Leilani's 'Oshun' Playlist on Spotify

salsa & BAchata with laurel card

Sundays
2:00 - 3:00 pm Beginner Salsa
3:00 - 4:00 pm Beginner Bachata
4:30 - 5:30 pm Adv. Bed. Salsa

$75 individual sign up | $125 partner sign up. REGISTER ONLINE.

Every series includes:

1 free drop in (laurel is this to any class or just Monday night? in past it was monday night)
1 free practice party, happens once per month at UMA
1 Discounted 45 minute private. $60

parties & performances

August 15 | 8:30 - 10 pm
Little Lillipalooza: a get together / 'zine release

September 7* & 8, 21 & 22 | 7 pm
You Are Not a Shining Star, Philadelphia Fringe Festival
Created by Mark "Metal" Wong and Vince Johnson

Sept 7
*In Da Uma DANCE PARTY. 9 pm til ???

September 13 & 14 | 9 pm
Fire in the Sky, Philadelphia Fringe Festival
A trio of performances: Created by Maddie & Kayla, Haylee Warner, Queenz Collective

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!