Pennsylvania's rich dance tradition goes back to the decades prior to the official founding of the United States, when Philadelphia was the largest city in the country. In 1748, local officials, including several future founding fathers, had a hand in creating the Dancing Assemblies of Philadelphia, a series of large dance gatherings held in the colonial city. These dances, attended by all of the city's wealthy and powerful, had strict rules of conduct and inspired the creation of a whole industry of dance instruction throughout the northeastern colonies. Today, the Dancing Assemblies of Philadelphia no longer exist, though they did remain popular well into the 19th century. Fortunately, however, Pennsylvania keeps the commonwealth's dance tradition alive, with countless dance companies, studios, schools and festivals.
Much of Pennsylvania's dance activity is centered in its two largest cities, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Philadelphia, in keeping with its tradition, has too many dance companies to name and hosts far more dance festivals than the average American city. Meanwhile, the commonwealth's towns and rural areas are equally bountiful with dance of all types. Many country arts and crafts festivals feature a dance element, and an unprecedented number of dance studios can be found in smaller towns such as State College, Johnstown, Altoona, New Castle, and Lebanon. In short, dance-loving visitors to Pennsylvania will find that the entire commonwealth, from the Pennsylvania Dutch region to the Allegheny Plateau, offers a rich variety of dance experiences.
Dancing in Philly
With an annual audience of more than 100,000, the Pennsylvania Ballet is an important Pennsylvania cultural institution. Since its founding in 1963, the ballet has continually grown, adding new shows to its repertoire, as well as an increasing number of dancers. Today, the company focuses on modern interpretations of ballet classics, which are performed by 43 of the most accomplished and acclaimed dancers in the country. The company's own theater, a modern facility devoted exclusively to dance, is located at the end of downtown Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts. With a season that runs from fall to spring, the ballet presents six different productions, including a holiday season run of The Nutcracker. Additionally, each year the company produces at least one original ballet from a contemporary choreographer, providing visitors a great opportunity to learn about contemporary developments in dance.
Philadelphia is also home to the Philadelphia Dance Company, an ensemble whose performers are proven experts in a range of dance genres and styles. Founded in 1970, the group celebrates the diversity of modern dance with thought-provoking performances of both classical and contemporary programs. Reflecting their focus on diversity, the company is a founder of the International Conference of Black Dance Companies and the International Association of Blacks in Dance. Though much of its time is spent touring around the country, the company performs at venues around Philadelphia about twice a month and hosts training programs, classes, and dance activities for kids. With a locally-oriented aesthetic that draws on global influences, the Philadelphia Dance Company provides visitors an opportunity to learn about current trends in both local and international dance.
While in Philadelphia, visitors can also take advantage of one of the city's numerous participatory dance studios. One example is the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center, where visitors can take classes or private lessons in all popular dance genres, including ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, and modern. With eight professional, full-time teachers, the center has daily classes for dancers at all levels, from beginner to professional. Visitors can check the schedule of walk-in classes online or make reservations for private lessons by phone. The center is located in the University City section of Philadelphia, close to the University of Pennsylvania campus.
Other Philadelphia-area locations to learn dance include the Society Hill Dance Academy, the Academy of Social Dancing, the Blue Bell Art and Dance Studio, La Luna Dance Studio, the Institute of Dance Artistry, the Diane Matthews School of Dance, and Dance Depot. Also, for visitors to the city looking to simply have a good time out on the town, the city offers numerous unique nightclubs, including Club 27, the Fluid Nightclub, the Shampoo Night Club, the Aqua Lounge, the Fox and Hound Bar, and the Monte Carlo Living Room.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, the commonwealth's second-largest city, also has its own ballet company, known as the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Founded in 1969 by acclaimed dancer Nicholas Petrov, the company has been benefited by a range of luminaries, including dancers, teachers, and choreographers. The company, known for the high quality of its productions and the athleticism of its dancers, is deeply involved in the local community, participating in many local educational programs. When not touring, the company performs mostly at Pittsburgh's Benedum Center, with other performances held at the Byham Theater. Productions specialize mostly in classic shows that are perfect for the whole family, including an annual Christmas season run of The Nutcracker.
Like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh also has many studios offering one-time or week-long classes for visitors. Such studios include the Janet Hays and Company Dance Studio, the Mary Ann and Company Dance Studio, the Arthur Murray Dance Studio, and the Umoja African Dance Company.
Despite the overwhelming abundance of dance events and activities in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, the commonwealth's mid-sized and small towns also have plenty to offer. Dance studios and performance companies can be found in Lancaster, Allentown, Bethlehem, State College, Harrisburg, Erie, and elsewhere. Also, for folk dance festivals throughout Pennsylvania, visitors need only to check local newspaper listings. With so many options, it's no wonder Pennsylvania has been a dance hot spot since 1748.
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