 Starting August 1st, join Sophiann Mahalia for Afro HIIT- a new class at UMA, Sundays from 2:00-3:00. Afro HIIT is a dance infused workout class, combining high intensity exercises with African influenced dance movement. The goal? Move and strengthen your body while having fun and learning about African culture. She comments on Afro HIIT’s origins “I wanted people to have fun working out. I know over quarantine that was a struggle for me- I didn’t want to work out. But once I created it, I was like- this is a fun way to keep your body going without even realizing you’re working out!”
Sophiann describes this class as a perfect entryway for those looking to start learning African dance forms, she comments: “I wanted a class that had African in it but wasn't strictly an African dance class. I know sometimes when people hear straight African dance they can get nervous or think they can’t do it. I want to be in an area that everyone is comfortable with.” Sophiann began studying African dance forms at the age of 9 and has been deeply immersed in the styles and culture since then. She brings a love and care for African dance to her Afro HIIT class. She says you can expect to “get more into African Culture. I do a lot of whining, but I also give new movements that you might not have seen before and I give students the names of the movement and let them know that it comes from Umfundalai or somewhere else. So you're working out but you're also gaining knowledge and cultural experience from the class.” She hopes that students will be able to take what they learn in Afro HIIT and “transfer over to more African infused dance classes and dance hall classes.” Sophiann hopes that people leave the class wanting more and surprised that the hour went by so fast. You can sign up for class through our schedule page! $15 drop ins. Free for members. Updated Mask Policy
Due to rising cases of COVID as the Delta variant spreads, the city of Philadelphia is now recommending that everyone wears a mask indoors in places where you do not know that everyone is vaccinated. See more information here. In order to stay in line with the city's recommendations and protect our communities we have edited our mask policy: -People who are vaccinated and wish to take class without a mask must show proof of vaccination every time they take class (this is different than the previous policy that allowed only showing proof of vaccination once). A picture is fine! -People who are unvaccinated must wear their mask at all times while in the building. Teachers will be reinforcing this expectation in class and if people are unable to keep their mask on they will be asked to leave. -We strongly encourage everyone, even those who are vaccinated, to wear a mask while indoors. However, if you still prefer to not wear a mask and can provide proof of vaccination this will be allowed. We know this isn't necessarily the direction we were all hoping this would go. But acting fast and staying vigilant against the spread of COVID is still a top priority. Help us keep the vulnerable people in our communities safe! We appreciate your attention to this matter. Jacintha an d marie's choreography Debut!Jacintha Kruc and Marie Manski both began their formal dance training at UMA in 2019, taking Laurel’s classes in the studio. They have taken almost all of her different style offerings, from Solo Salsa to partnering classes and Latin House. Jacintha comments on the beginning of her dance journey: “I always wanted to dance and loved watching people dance but didn’t get to try it formally until I was in my 20s when I moved to Philly. I danced at a local gym and then came to UMA in 2019 through my friendship with Vince. I love the way dancing allows me to express myself and use my body to pull out different energies.” The friends continued taking classes throughout the pandemic- online at home, and then, when they felt comfortable enough, at parks throughout the city. They would meet up at a designated outdoor location, set up the class by creating a wifi hotspot and stream the class via a laptop. Marie commented: “We’ve danced at a few different parks, playgrounds, parking lots, tennis courts. As long as it’s flat and has wifi!” They did this in the rain, snow and shine (they even showed me a park with a covered area they would sometimes take class under when it was raining). Throughout this time, the two friends have been more than just your typical class goers. Laurel reflects: “Through COVID we were a team, not only did they dance with me- they helped me co-host my virtual classes, and gave me feedback on virtual classes. They would edit and upload my videos. I seriously don’t know what I would have done without them this past year. They are not just my students- we are sisters/family, dancing and spreading the love of Latin dance.” When I pitched the idea for this project to them, I imagined they would just film a session of them taking a class at a park that I could pull some fun clips from and share with y’all. Instead, they took the request and ran with it, choreographing an almost 2 minute long dance featuring each of the styles they have taken with Laurel: Salsa, Bachata, Reggaeton, and they even have some socially-distanced Partnering. I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY with the rhythmically-complex choreography they came up with as well as the confidence they performed it with in front of random park- goers and passerby! Check out the video and get to know a little more about Jacintha and Marie below! Kayla: Tell me about yourselves! What do you do for work/ fun?
Marie: I work at the University of Pennsylvania as a Graduate Program Coordinator for the Department of Anthropology. I get to work alongside brilliant activists who are paving the way to a new future. They truly inspire me! For fun, I like to cook, bake, and make ice cream. My creative outlet is formulating new recipes and creating themed meals. Jacintha: ...and I love eating the food Manski makes so that makes us a great team! I am a Jane of all trades and have many jobs,but for the past nine years have worked in historic preservation and conservation. I am currently restoring all the hand-carved woodwork in the governor’s office in the PA State Capital. I like to do anything that involves problem solving and using my hands and body for work. I enjoy painting murals and making art installations and seriously... eating anything Manski makes (especially her ice cream!) Kayla: What’s something that you think is unique about Laurel’s classes that you might not find at a different dance studio? Jacintha: Laurel really focuses on inclusivity and personal growth. Everyone enters the class with various skill levels and experiences, despite that, each individual dancer can still feel challenged. Laurel and all of the UMA teachers bring various physical languages to experiment with while sharing the histories of those forms and how they influence each other. Her classes encourage me to be more confident, access my femine side, and socialize through dance. Her laughter and light hearted nature also brings something to look forward to with each class. She is a wonder woman for sure! Marie: I think the thing that is most unique about Laurel’s classes is her. She herself has a diverse dance background and story that encompasses hip hop, ballroom dance, and salsa. Because of this experience, she is able to articulate style and range of movement as well as its history. On top of that, Laurel is simply an excellent teacher. She delivers concepts and ideas in a way that is easy for any level of dancer to understand and her positivity is contagious. Kayla: Any words on your dance journey- coming in as people who don’t identify as dancers to now making your own dance influenced by Laurel’s classes? Marie: I want to encourage anyone who doesn’t identify as a dancer to consider dance as a means to get to know a part of yourself, as a means to be creative, expand your mind, and develop community. There’s something about pushing yourself to your limits, physically and creatively, that allows for growth and humility. You don’t have to identify as a dancer to enjoy dancing. But practicing the art of dance has allowed me to express myself in ways that I couldn't before. Jacintha: I feel dance helps me articulate the feeling of music and rhythm running through my body. I don’t identify as a dancer either but I can’t help but dance through my house and wherever I am! I believe anyone can dance and learn these skills. Dancing has allowed me to grow and push myself. Laurel’s classes opened a new way to think creatively using my body by accessing new spaces in my body and pathways...thinking about the way I press my foot down into the floor that then sends energy up into my leg, flows through my hips, winds up my spine, glides up my arm and out my fingers...it has been amazing to learn from her. I think my dance journey has been one filled with community connection and plenty of fun and laughter! Rent Studio space for rehearsals, classes, events and more!Our beautiful, light-filled studios are located right in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia. We have 3 different studios available for rent for your class, rehearsal, meeting, party or other event! Studio A Studio B Studio C Finding his own voiceAt Urban Movement Arts Kemuel Bendeyaduh has been able to express himself through dance. By: Bibiana Correa Intern  If there’s something Kemuel Benyehudah loves to do, it’s dance. “To me, it’s about rebellion, it’s about do it yourself, it’s about making things more equitable for Black and brown kids who were like left out, and they created their own ingenuity with their bodies because that’s all they had,” Kem said. “I’m going to get creative with my body, I’m going to get out and put graffiti on all these trains because you don’t see me so I’ll make myself visible.” Kem grew up in New York City with a house filled with martial arts, thanks to his father’s love of the fighting style. In college, Kem was introduced to the drum and bass scene by his friend Johnny Fajardo. That then sparked his interest in techno and the New York City club scene. “The music just made sense to me, I connected with it,” Kem said. About seven years ago, Kem moved to Philadelphia to start his doctoral program at the University of Pennsylvania. New to the city, he started immersing himself in the city’s club scene but also wanted to get involved in a dance community. He first started taking classes at the Koresh Dance Academy in Rittenhouse. Then, a friend of his suggested he take classes at Urban Movement Arts. He first took the free salsa classes for students with Ken, then he took the partner salsa classes with Laurel. Soon one class a week turned into six classes a week, even taking 14 classes in a row, ranging from hip hop and street dancing to salsa and bachata Kem loves UMA for a variety of reasons, but mainly because of the bond the instructors have. “The instructors are a community in that they practice together and dance together, and that wasn’t always the case at other schools,” Kem said. “A lot of times there wasn’t overlap and I think students lose out when that’s the case.” Throughout his time at UMA Kem learned a lot about listening to his body and its limitations. During classes he realized his body may not move in the exact same way as his instructors, it moves in his own way. “There's little things, little feedback and things that helped me understand that I can't move like Vince, or I can't move like Ricky or I can't move like Ron, or I can't move like Laurel, so don't put that pressure on yourself,” Kem said. “That kind of put me in this other space where I don't make it into a competition and don't turn it into like, you're trying to be, you know, like the teacher or someone else in the class, I’m finding my own voice.” Kem loves how dance, specifically at UMA, has given him and countless others the space to express themselves, discover themselves and give them a space to be confident. “The space brings people together who probably normally would not be in the same space, you know, people from all different walks of life come into that space and leave with the feeling of joy and euphoria of learning that they can push their body in a way they never thought possible,” Kem said. Thanks Kem!
join melissa corpus for samba no pe workshops at uma!June 26, 2021, 5pm-6pm Beginner Samba no pe Workshop: Get ready to shake your hips! This class will give students a solid foundation in the fundamentals of samba while exploring its many expressions: folkloric samba de Roda, glittery, elegant Rio-style “passista” samba, playful, jazzy “malandro” samba, pop-style “pagode,” samba from Bahia, African “samba afro,” and more. This type of samba should not be confused with “ballroom samba,” so no partner is necessary. June 26, 2021, 6:15pm-7:45pm All-Levels Samba no pe workshop: Whether you are a seasoned Sambista or new to Samba, there is something for everyone in this class! We are going to focus on Rio Style Samba no pe and bringing the performance element to life! You can expect Samba drills, progressions, sequences with playful footwork, and lots and lots of Samba! This type of samba should not be confused with “ballroom samba,” so no partner is necessary. Join Acarajè, Philadelphia’s Afro-Brazilian Bloco for a summer Samba no pé Workshop taught by Mestranda Melissa Corpus. Melissa is a Professional Dancer, Teacher, and Choreographer in Austin, Texas. Since 2010, she has been teaching Samba No Pé focusing on footwork, technique, and the joy of the Brazilian spirit. She has traveled to Brazil and throughout the United States to study and train with mestres such as Patrick Carvalho and Rosangela Silvestre. She has paraded in Rio de Janeiro with the legendary Escola de Samba, Mangueira. Melissa has worked with Austin Samba, the largest samba school in the United States, as a choreographer, director, and principal dancer. In 2016, she founded MeliSamba, a group of professional Samba dancers in Austin, Texas. http://www.melisamba.com/ Join us Saturday, June 26th at Urban Movement Arts to expand your movement practice with an incredible instructor! All levels of movers are welcome! A Note From Vince (Owner/ Founder): Well folks, it seems as if we have come to a crucial turning point in Philly's reckoning with COVID-19. It is great that the city is experiencing good progress with getting numbers down. On June 11, the city announced significant lift on mask and capacity requirements. See here and here for more info. Although we are happy that the city is offering our community the opportunity to return to a mask free experience, we acknowledge that we have a diverse community representing different perspectives and needs surrounding health and wellbeing. Therefore, our response to the city's updates are in an effort to support and accommodate our clientele in a way that is inclusive, fair and mindful. The decisions below also reflect that we are a youth education facility and the new mandates present some incongruencies for an organization like ours that features youth and adult education. We will proceed with the following policy. UMA Updated Mask Policy Effective Now 1. Masks are optional for vaccinated individuals. We ask that individuals that are interested in participating without masks provide an official documentation that proves full vaccination. Proof of vaccination only needs to happen once and can be done via showing a photo of the certificate on your phone. People that are not able to provide proof of vaccination are asked to wears masks while participating at UMA. 2. Unvaccinated individuals are asked to wear masks during classes inside at UMA. This current formation of policy is temporary at UMA. Our current approach is designed to be a transition period. It is our goal to move towards full relaxation of mask mandates and other related COVID policies. So we hope that you will be patient in our effort to move collectively in this direction. Our hope is that we will reach yet another significant milestone between July and August. We appreciate all of the support you've given during the COVID dilemma. So many of you have stuck by us through these challenges. And if you've been with us, we are confident that you share in our sense of growth and resilience. Many thanks.  #uma has a whole stash of *free* online dance & Movement tutorials!In this video, Ron Wood breaks down the basics of the Dolphin Dive- a popular ground move in house dance. You can find a TON of other tutorials from Ron including: "How to do a Spin Down", "How to do a Stab", and even "Getting to the Floor"- to name only a few. Ron is not only dope at doing all this stuff- he's also dope at teaching it. We recommend Ron's class for anyone looking to work on coordination, flexibility, strength, balance, core strength, creativity, agility and overall confidence in moving in and out of the floor, holding weight in your hands, and going upside down. These skills are useful for ALL STYLES OF DANCE! If you want to get into class with him you can catch him the following times: Tuesday 7:00-8:00: Home Bodyweight Workout Thursday 7:30-8:30: Beginner Movement Flow Friday 7:30-8:30: Intermediate Movement Flow Sign up through our schedule page! enroll the youth in your life in movemakers Philly Summer camp!WHO? Youth ages 5 and up!
WHAT? A fun summer camp outside, in studio or online that gets kids moving through dance classes and games, as well as engaging their creativity through music and arts and technology classes WHEN? All summer 2021! See our summer camp page for weeks offered. Drop off is from 8:30-9am. Pickup at 3:00pm. Extended stay options are available! WHERE? MoveMakers Philly is located at 2100 Chestnut St. Philadelphia PA! WHY? After a year of zoom school kids need to be outside, moving and interacting with their peers more than ever before! MoveMakers counselors create a welcoming and engaging environment for ALL students to thrive this summer. MoveMakers Summer Dance Camp will get kids outside, dancing, playing games and participating in structured arts and technology classes! Participating Campers will work on developing: -Coordination and fitness -Musicality and creativity, and -Determination, focus and grit And most importantly of all campers will... HAVE FUN! Sign up now to reserve your spot for MoveMakers In-Person or online Summer Camp! In-person drop off is between 8:30 and 9:00. In person students will begin their days outside- taking hip hop and breaking classes and playing games. In the afternoon they will be at the studio for lunch break, more dancing and arts and technology classes! Online camp includes hip hop and breaking classes live streamed throughout the day as well as special arts and technology classes with incredible instructors! Sign up through MoveMakers Philly Summer Camp Page! Questions? Email kayla@urbanmovementarts.com sophiann mahalia teaches a heels dance workshop this sunday, April 11th!A current Philadelphia Artist, Sophiann Mahalia moved from Hartford, Connecticut to receive her BFA in Dance Choreography and Performance from Temple University. Sophiann graduated Summa Cum Laude and had the honor of being the recipient of the Rose Vernick Most Promising Performers Award. Sophiann’s dance credentials include Equilibrium Dance Theatre, D2D: Dare To Dance, and Kariamu and Company: Traditions. She has trained under Lee Aca Thompson, who has influenced artists such as Michael Peters choreographer for Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and Dr. Kariamu Welsh, creator of the Umfundalai technique. She has studied West African, Modern, Ballet, Hip hop, Waacking, and Umfundalai with AQiida Gilbert, Dara Stevens-Meredith, Dr. Kariamu Welsh, Jillian Harris, Jolet Creary, Kun Yang Lin, Laura Katz Rizzo, Lee Aca Thompson, and Stephen Hankey. Her recent works include music video Clarity for singing artist Saleka Night Shyamalan directed by Ishani Shyamalan and M. Night Shyamalan. Alongside this, she was one of the featured dancers for Ari Lennox’s Shea Butter Baby music video featuring J Cole. In the commercial world, Sophiann has had the opportunity to do work for companies such as BOMBAS, gone on tour with the Clothesline Muse starring six time nominated jazz singer Nnenna Freelon and performed in New Freedom Theatre’s Black Nativity directed by Rajendra Maroon Maharaj. She promotes body positivity and strongly uses dance to tell the story that can’t be understood with just words, but movement. Sophiann Mahalia explores dance through her own experiences of the black dancing body by using her fusion of african, hip hop, and waacking to promote the limitless and regal qualities of womanhood within the black dancing body. She aspires to inspire other artists to take their artistry to the next level as she does the same. I spoke with Sophiann to get a sense of what to expect from her workshop! Check it out!  What is a heels dance class? I don’t want to generalize because all classes are different- there are master teachers like Kiira Harper for instance, that really break down the essence of a heels class. For my class we are focusing more on our own sensuality- how you feel in your own body with these heels on. We pay attention to how the heels create beautiful lines and how you can start to play with these extensions to slay your own way! The heels help bring you up and keep you forward- they’re an extension of your own body. They are tools to help you expand your own movement and tap into your truest and most playful self. Heels help me find a way to fit into my own pocket when I dance. My advice is-don’t try to compare yourself to someone else when you are taking a heels class. What do you feel like taking a heels class has to offer in terms of empowerment and getting in touch with a more feminine and sensual side? From society we get a lot of messages about what is taboo- you shouldn’t wear that or you can’t touch here. But in a heels class you get to play with sensuality. You don’t have to feel like “oh I’m doing too much”- No! You can do more! And we’re gunna love it. In a heels class you can be whatever you want to be. It’s very empowering to be able to own your own body in that moment. Do you need heels to take this class? Nope! If you don’t have heels it’s ok! Come in sneakers and show them off! What type of heels are best for dancing in? I usually like heels that hold your ankle. I wouldn’t use pumps in this class- sometimes you move quickly so you want something that's more secure. What are you looking forward to in teaching this workshop? I’m so excited to get back into the studio since the pandemic. I’m excited to play with some choreo and dance with people! This piece, choreographed by Sophiann, features dancers: Ama Gora (@sheabutta_mami and Surya Swilley (@swilley_). Music: Ja Ara E by Burna Boy (@burnaboygram) Videography: Kai (@rbkvisuals) MUA: Kymmie (@kingkymmie
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ContributorsKayla Bobalek Archives
July 2021
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