Dance Class Series (Memory Dance Floor – Steps and Stories)
March 8th
- 2:30-3:30 pm – Bop & Chacha class with Audrey & June
- 4:00-5:00 pm – Street Styles class with Julian Darden
March 15th
- 2:30-3:30 pm – Bop & Chacha class with Audrey & June
- 4:00-5:00 pm – Umfundalai class with Julian Darden
March 22nd
- 2:30-3:30 pm – Bop & Chacha class with Bernadette “B-Luv” Burnette
- 4:00-5:00 pm – Umfundalai class with Julian Darden
Memory Dance Floor – Steps and Stories is a community movement space for memories and community storytelling to emerge from the dances and rhythms that reflect the people, artistic culture and monuments of the West Philly communities past and present. This series is presented through the Painted Bride’s Voices of 52nd Street: Then & Now project, a community archive and celebration of the historic West Philadelphia corridor, and programmed by Voices of 52nd Street Lead Artist Pamela Hooks & Co-Curator angel shanel edwards.
Dance classes will include the “bop,” which has been around since the jazz swing era and thrived in jazz lounges like 52nd Street’s Mr. Silk’s Lounge. There will also be contemporary dance instruction in freestyle hip-hop and African influences that are popular in today’s dance hall spaces. Classes will be taught by some of the top dance instructors in Philadelphia’s contemporary dance community.
All classes also include the sharing of stories on how and where dance created community and joy throughout the 52nd Street corridor and the West Philadelphia Black community at large. The series will culminate in a dance showcase with an open dance floor and featured special guest performers.
Access Considerations
- High-quality masking and testing beforehand is strongly encouraged. Please stay home if you are feeling ill.
- Parking: Street parking available
- SEPTA: Located near Market-Frankford Line, 21, 52, 42 buses and more: www.septa.org
- Venue is wheelchair accessible
- Gendered bathrooms available
- For additional access questions and requests, please contact info@paintedbride.org
This project was made possible with support from the Paul Robeson West Philadelphia Creative grants program, an initiative of the Paul Robeson House & Museum and The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation, directed by the West Philadelphia Arts Council.
