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As she prepares to teach and interact with participants during Saturday’s fourth annual Philadelphia Dance Day festivities, mastermind Deborah Hirsch desires to see hundreds of smiling faces, but glistening will matter more to her than glimpsing.
“I want to see people sweating,” the 31-year said Tuesday of a hope she holds for the celebration. “That’s always proof of how much focus and tenacity they have and how diligently their instructors are working.”
If one yearns to pour out perspiration, strengthen talent or begin a hobby, the resident of 19th Street and Washington Avenue promises a day designed to affirm dance’s benefits, notably offering a creative outlet and promoting physical well-being. For Hirsch, the affair also will enlist camaraderie as a theme, as it will feature dance companies that normally compete for patrons acting as artistic allies and attendees bonding to commend the diverse nature of dance.
“It’s very gratifying to see people getting joy from the workshops,” the president of Philly Dance Fitness said. “It’s a labor of love to put everything together, and the real point behind it is knowing they are willing to explore what dance can do for them.”
Having established her brainchild, for which she serves as a choreographer and instructor, in 2010, the Wisconsin native, whose local connections include the Marian Anderson Recreation Center, 744 S. 17th St., and Programs Employing People, 1170 S. Broad St., that same year crafted an offshoot of National Dance Day, an initiative by “So You Think You Can Dance” co-creator Nigel Lythgoe. As her version has grown, she has accumulated equally ecstatic friends, with 10 venues, including The Arts Parlor, 1170 S. Broad St., The Christian Street YMCA, 1724 Christian St., and Major Moment Studio, 1624 South St., set to offer nearly 30 workshops, most of which will be free.
“We’ve had increases in the number of sites, too,” Hirsch, who instructs at Newbold’s Arts Parlor and South of South’s Major Moment, said. “It’s encouraging that community members are responding to our inclusive approach to sustaining or restoring their health.”
The trio of South Philly spots will offer 13 of the 20 daytime workshops, with Major Moment set to handle seven courses and the Arts Parlor and the YMCA halfing six lessons. On account of their being free, interested parties can attend as many morning and afternoon sessions as they wish, with a one-time $5 admission fee covering the evening action at The Ethical Society in Center City.
“I went to a couple events two years ago and felt so good about myself that I encouraged my husband to have us take salsa lessons,” Gabriella Falla said of honoring her Colombian roots. “I wouldn’t say we’re masters, but we get along pretty well because of the inspiration I felt from my introductory class.”
The resident of the 1900 block of South 18th Street intends to have her 6-year-old daughter Mariana experience her initial ballet steps with the inaugural kids’ course at Major Moment, which director and owner Beverly Holskin, also a Philly Dance Fitness instructor, will present.
“So many people are putting the focus on giving children exposure to [the] arts, and I often think they don’t put enough emphasis on dance in those discussions,” Falla said. “It’s great to be a musician, for example, but you need people who are willing to move to their songs.”
In addition to the day’s 10 a.m. premier performance, Holskin will handle Major Moment’s adult-geared jazz tech presentation and ballet extreme offering, afternoon occasions she will use to build enthusiasm and pay tribute to her opportunity to teach.
“I have the utmost respect for Deborah and what she’s trying to accomplish,” the Center City resident said. “I’m looking to accentuate that through helping people to experience dance and fitness forms that they might never have known about or thought to attempt.”
Major Moment held its first-ever event in conjunction with the inaugural dance day and has become a steadfast supporter of the rollicking pageant, with this year’s other workshops consisting of a family jam, modern dance fitness, Argentine tango and striptease aerobics, which Hirsch will lead for ladies 18 and older. The Arts Parlor will combine dance, Pilates, tai chi and yoga through its slow jam stretch, present a “non-stop cardio workout” through an impact jazz workshop and fuse Charleston, jive, Lindy Hop and swing drills for a swing fit course.
Also a veteran of the dance day revelry, the YMCA last year staged the most successful presentation with its all ages hip-hop tutelage, through which 63 attendees loosened their limbs. The facility will repeat it, test durability with a cardio pop session and cap its involvement with a hip-hop master class, which will feature at least one routine from “So You Think You Can Dance.” Mike Andino, founder of Estilo Dance Studio, 714 Reed St., will oversee a salsa presentation at The Ethical Society, too, with a few of his dancers to conclude the evening with a social dance collaboration with other foot stompers and body swayers.
“The fitness aspect is undeniable,” Holskin said. “What’s equally special is the self-belief we witness from everyone.”
“Some people will have dancing backgrounds, but that’s not necessary,” Hirsch added. “Just come ready to have fun and sweat, too.”
For more information, visit philadelphiadanceday.com.
The Arts Parlor
1170 S. Broad St.
Slow Jam Stretch: 10-10:45 a.m.
Impact Jazz: 11-11:45 a.m.
SwingFit: noon-12:45 p.m.
Christian Street YMCA
1724 Christian St.
All Ages Hip-Hop: 2-2:30 p.m.
Cardio Pop: 2:45 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Hip-Hop Master class: 3:45- 4:30 p.m.
Major Moment Studio
1624 South St.
Kids’ Ballet for ages 5 to 7: 10-10:30 a.m.
Family Jam for ages 7 to 11 and guardians: 10:45-11:15 a.m.
Modern Dance Fitness: 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Striptease Aerobics: 12:30-1:15 p.m.
Jazz Tech: 2-2:45 p.m.
Ballet Extreme: 3-3:45 p.m.
Argentine Tango: 4:15-5 p.m.
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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