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Urban Movement Arts presents a series of events that honor the thriving legacy of Black American vernacular dance in Philadelphia, where the roots of club culture entwine with genre-defying exploration. Say Yes, Philly! is the cipher, battles, theater, interdisciplinary jams, and stories that express the boundless continuum of street dance culture, and will also feature Aidan Un and Vince Johnson’s film You Don’t Have to Go Home, But… In Philly’s street dance scene, the line between the freestyle cipher and the journey of artistic conceptualization has blurred beautifully. Say Yes, Philly! leans into this exchange in full, honoring the city’s extraordinary history of generating communal art and culture, while shining alight on the range of artistry that stems from Black American vernacular dance roots. You Don’t Have to Go Home, But... is an ode to dancing bodies, a grimy love letter to Philadelphia, and a story about what to do when the DJ has played the last song, the club’s lights have come on and you gotta go... somewhere. Following three dancers at different stages of their lives, with legendary Philly dance party Second Sundae as backdrop, this documentary film examines the possibility of spiritual fulfillment in a socioeconomic configuration that ultimately doesn’t value the practices that make us free.  Sunday, May 17th
@ First Unitarian Church 6-9pm Come for the party, come for the hang, come for the entertainment and fun! REGISTRATION FEE: $25* COMPLETE HERE: *(free for Battle Workshop participants) To register, fill out the form below and then pay the registration fee. Registration is only official when the fee is paid Loops of the Unseen feature works choreographed by Marcus Tucker and Rylee Locker performed by The Groove Collective and The UMAMI Collective. Each piece is unique to itself, but this show overall is meant to be more intimate, comedic, and offers themes of how advancements of technology can distort human life. On a lighter note, between pieces we will have dance party time in proper UMA fashion featuring DJ Rebel Foster. Sunday, May 3rd 5-9pm @ First Unitarian Church  FLOW STATE features physically daring and artistically adventurous dance works, fusing the worlds of street, contemporary theater and folkloric dance. Performance material is generated via workshops led by: Josh Culbreath, Chachi Perez and Tamar Gutherz. The choreographers share an aim of producing a dance experience that unites virtuosity, whimsy, the ethereal, surrealism and groove. Flow State is an immersive event, somewhere between a party and happening, set to the vibrations and sounds of DJs and live musicians inside an environment of projections and installations that stimulate the senses. FLOW STATE Sunday, April 26th 5-9pm @ First Unitarian Church Featuring choreography by Josh Culbreath, Chachi Perez and Tamar Gutherz, performed by UMA students!  Student focused battles, open to all Sunday, April 12th @ First Unitarian Church 5-8pm Judges: Rylee for Waacking Dru 'Riot' for Locking We invite all UMA students and beyond to battle or to join as spectacles and of course for the party.  UMA founder, Vince Johnson, interviews Chris Zeitz! A note from Vince: The cool thing about UMA is that there are interesting people grooving through the studios all of the time. Everyone has a remarkable story. It is particularly interesting and inspiring to learn what leads folks to dance. I had the unique opportunity of meeting Chris in the summer of 2024. He participated in the Dip, frequented classes and checked out events. He was in town, from San Antonio, Texas, for the summer, working at Penn. He is involved in coaching and preparing soccer athletes. In casual chit chat with Chris after class one evening, I discovered his passion for the science of skill development, learning movement and methods of teaching and coaching. Of course, this totally resonated with me. And since we were actively capturing UMA People Conversations, I thought a sit down with Chris would be wonderful for closing the 2024 series of conversations. Even though we are nearly two years removed from our talk, the general overview of the discussion is still pertinent. Chris stopped in just a few months ago. He is involved in both the street dance and salsa dance communities in San Antonio. It is always good to learn that folks are going deeper into the dance experience. Thanks so much for the chat Chris! UMA, hope you enjoy! UMA Shows Up is UMA's annual performance at Fringe Arts! Students register for a workshop series lead by a choreographer that leads to a culminating performance on the Fringe Arts Stage! You can see info on registration pricing, choreographers and rehearsal schedules below! You can sign up for one or multiple choreographers. Sign up using this form above. If we receive enough registrations, we will follow up with paylinks to finalize registration after the registration deadline of 4/6. Please only complete this form if you intend to follow through with registering. REGISTRATION DEADLINE APRIL 6th! We need a minimum of # of participants to run the event. If we reach the number of required participants by the registration deadline, we will contact you to complete the registration fee. Please only sign up if you are committed to attending Email [email protected] with questions or concerns. Some logistics:
Non-member registrations: $220 standard -$25 add on for each piece after the first you register for Member registrations: $190 standard -$15 add on for each piece after the first you register for Special Discounts: If you are in the UMAMI Collective or UMA Groove Collective, then you can register for 40% off. If you are in BOTH UMAMI and UMA Groove, you can register for 50% off. Please make note on the form below to indicate your eligibility for this discount CHOREOGRAPHERS + SCHEDULES Emerald Sims April 10-June 12th Fridays 7:30-9:00pm @ 812 Chestnut @ 812 Chestnut NOTE: 5/22 and 5/30 are CANCELLED MAKE UP DATES: 5/23 from 7-9:30pm @ 2100 Chestnut 6/6 from 7-9:30pm @ 2100 Chestnut Alexis Curiel April 16-June 18th Thursdays 9:00-10:30pm @ 2100 Chestnut Aaminah AR April 11-June 13th Saturdays 5:30-7:00 @ 2100 Chestnut Emily Culbreath April 12-June 14th Sundays 10:30-12:00 @ 812 Chestnut NOTE: 5/10 and 5/17 are CANCELLED MAKE UP DATES: Friday 5/8 6-7:30 @ 812 Friday 5/29 6-7:30 @ 812 Chestnut Dylan Smythe April 12-June 14th Sundays 1:30-3:00 @ 812 Chestnut NOTE: Rehearsal on 6/7 will be at 2100 Chestnut from 2-5pm Dylan will be away 6/14. Rehearsal that day will likely just be participants rehearsing together.  The Hustle Series returns April 15th! This time instead of month- long series, it will be an ongoing special series! See below for class times and pricing info! ABOUT THE SERIES: Hustle, a partner dance originating in the Latino community of The Bronx, New York City, emerged in the early 1970’s. With its roots in Mambo and Salsa, it ignited the Disco scene of the 70’s and 80’s. Hustle has emerged today as a genre that speaks to a wide array of dancers. Hustle can be danced to music across the spectrum of classic disco, hip-hop, house, R&B, Afro, Cuban and more. Daniel is a master teacher, bringing his vast knowledge to dancers all over the US and abroad. A two-time World Hustle Champion, with over 25 years of Hustle experience, he is known for his extensive knowledge of the subject and for communicating that knowledge in a fun and relatable manner. In this series you will learn the timing, footwork, and basic figures of Hustle, coupled with the ability to dance comfortably at your next club night, party, or jam session. There will be no traditional gender-specific lead-and-follow roles. Anyone may lead and anyone may follow. Starting April 15th
Wednesdays @ 812 Chestnut 7-8pm Intro to Hustle 8-9pm Hustle Beyond Basics (Level 1) Pricing: $22 Drop In $120 6 Class Card (expires 3 months after purchase) We're back with another Floor Fundraiser! Come through to see performances by UMA staff, community members, and our youth performance team while supporting out efforts to replace the floors @ 2100 Chestnut! This upgrade is essential to ensure the long-term health and success of our dancers, the continued vibrancy of our events, and the overall improvement of the space that so many have come to rely on. Together, we can build the foundation for the next decade of dance, growth, and creative expression. The Floor is Yours: Volume 2 UMA Community Showcase & Floor Fundraiser Friday, March 27th 8-11pm @ First Unitarian Church  Why a New Floor Matters
A professional dance floor is not just a cosmetic improvement—it is a necessary investment in dancer safety and the quality of the studio experience. Our current flooring has seen ten years of use and hundreds of thousands of footsteps. It’s time to renew our foundation so we can continue to grow.
Our Broader Mission Urban Movement Arts is more than a dance studio. It is a cultural space rooted in inclusivity, artistry, and social connection. We are proud to:
How You Can Help We are raising funds to cover the cost of installing a professional-grade dance floor. Every contribution helps us reach our goal and ensures that our space remains safe, vibrant, and welcoming for years to come. Here’s how you can support:
Student focused battles, open to all House Battle March 1st, 5-9pm First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut REGISTRATION FEE: $25 per person *(free for Battle Workshop participants) Judges: Ricky 'Glytch' Evans, Jazmin Gilbert, + TBD We invite all UMA students and beyond to battle or to join as spectators and of course for the party. Let's bring the hype to close out UMA's Battle Crew House series!  |
ContributorsKayla Bobalek Archives
August 2026
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812 Chestnut StSearch 'Urban Movement Arts @ 812 Chestnut' on Google Maps
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2100 Chestnut St. 2nd Flr
*entrance is on 21st! between Rione Pizza & Monde Market*
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