Philadelphia Dance Theatre

Halloween Theme Week!
Dance History, dress as your favorite character, historical figure, or role!
Follow on story for up close snaps.
❤️ourdancers

Trick or Treat!👻
‘It’s Halloween Week! 🎃
Theme days! We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Catch our quiz on story!

First position.
The journey begins. 🩰
It’s not too late! First class is free. See if PDT is the right fit for your aspiring dancer.

This Saturday our dancers have the opportunity to take class with Ailey II at PDT in partnership with Montgomery County Community College. Ailey II will be performing Saturday, October 19th at 7:30 pm at the beautiful Montco Cultural Center. Tickets are going fast.

Tickets:
https://ailey.org/events/ailey-ii-montgomery-county-community-college

Sarah Lane Master Classes ✨
Join Sarah Lane, former Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre, for an exclusive master class on Saturday, October 12th at Philadelphia Dance Theatre.✨
10:00-12:00 Intermediate Ballet Technique & Pointe ✨
12:00-12:30 Nutrition Seminar (both levels) ✨
12:30-2:30 Advanced Ballet Technique & Pointe.✨

Calling all Ballet 5/6 Dancers! Mark your calendar and reserve your spot now for a master class Saturday, October 19th, 10:00-11:30.
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This free master class is made possible through our partnership with Montco Cultural Center.
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To reserve your spot now, please register below. Space is limited!

https://www.philadancetheatre.org/specialevents/ailey2

Curious about PDT? Drop in and try a class for free. ✨
Drop in classes for teen/adults

When your ballet bestie is at the game and the Phightin Phil’s win to clinch a first round bye!
We got High Hopes! ♥️⚾️♥️

Happy National Dance Day!
Beyond the Breaking

A moment of silence for all the teachers. 🙌🏻
TGIF 😮‍💨😅
Carnival of the Animals

Today, we remember the lives lost on September 11th, 2001. We honor their memories.🕊️
🇺🇸

https://www.youtube.com/live/DPpgwkYXuto?si=_I6BLnvZ_ehIrGw8

Table of Silence Project 9/11 Lincoln Center in partnership with Buglisi Dance Theatre presents Table of Silence Project 9/11The Table of Silence Project 9/11 is an annual, free public pe...

The first day of school 🍎📝🚌
Let the countdown to the last day of the school begin!
‘Carnival of the Animals’

That time is almost here! As we approach our audition dates for PDT’s 25th Nutcracker, here are some FAQS we often answer.
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Q: Who may audition?
A: Any dancer ages 7 and up may audition as long as you fulfill class obligation and rehearsal requirement.

Q: Are there cuts?
A: No, all dancers will receive a role

Q: What should I wear?
A: A neat appearance will show up in your dancing!
Girls: Solid leotard and pink tights, hair in a bun
Boys: White shirt and black tights or shorts

Q: What should I know?
A: Be prepared to show your best dancing! The judges are looking for technical proficiency and the embodiment of character. You don’t need to be perfect, know the steps ahead of time, just do your very best.
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Please ask us any other questions you have in the comments or in the studio!
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Nutcracker Auditions: 🐭
Saturday, September 14th 1:00-5:00
Ages 11 & up or Ballet 4/4x/5/5x/6
Saturday September 21st
Ages 7 and up or Ballet 1/1x/2/2x
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We can't wait!

Welcome back to dance! A new season is upon us! Are you looking to enrich your dancers’ season with new opportunities, performances, and scholarships? Learn what Regional Dance America membership can do to empower your pre-professional dancers! Contact us today! 🔗📲📧

PC:
🩰: Collin County Ballet Theatre | RDA/Southwest
“Consumed” choreographed by Lauren Wisdom*
*previous National Choreography Recognition Award recipient
. .

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Tendus & tutus on Tuesday🩰💜
Nutcracker Auditions September 14th and 21st.
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“To find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth.”🇺🇸
Pearl S. Buck
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100%

If you build a house on sand, you expect it to sink into the earth and fall apart. Because there is no foundation to that house.

That’s what happens when we skip the foundations of dance, the fundamentals of technique.

Without learning to plié correctly, students will never be able to piqué onto the other leg, temps lié, relevé, or jump in any way correctly.
Without learning to use their feet and articulate metatarsals, students will never be able to relevé, point their foot, brush their foot and ALL the steps that begin with the brush, or pirouette well.
Without learning to count basic time signatures, students will never be able to execute a preparation, balancé, or waltz turn correctly.
Without learning to retiré—how to arrive there, students will never learn to pirouette correctly.
Without spending much time and executing many meticulous repetitions, students will never master any of these fundamental movements.

Of course, I could go on and on, but you get my point.

WE MUST TAKE THE TIME TO TEACH THE FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENT, LOGISTICS, AND PLACEMENT OF ALL THE BALLET STEPS!

Nobody learns to plié in one or two classes because plié is so much more than just bending your knees.

Take the time! Build exercises that break down all the parts. And exercises the teach how to master the fundamentals of all the fancy steps. Not a class, not a week, not a month; but, sometimes years. Repeat, repeat, repeat!

It’s ultimately faster than having to go back and fix it later. Breaking bad habits takes much longer than building good ones in the first place. And learning at the age of 14 that you’ve been doing assemblé or grand jeté wrong is terribly disheartening.

Plié, tendu, relevé, cou de pied, retiré, and more, etc… they are the building blocks of all the fancy steps. Give your students sturdy, brilliant building blocks!

Dancer: Sasha from Charm City Ballet

2024/25 Registration OPEN! 🩰
Join us for our 25th Season! 🩶
🔗 ‘s in bio ⬆️

The Boys Ballet Tuition-Free Program✨
Established in 2007, it was created to make ballet accessible to boys in the Philadelphia and suburban areas. ✨
The program is designed to enhance athletic skills, increase flexibility, build muscle strength and develop coordination.✨
Ballet teaches discipline and appeals to a child’s natural sense of beauty and love of music and movement. ✨
The unique and athletic energy of boys is given proper attention throughout their training at PDT. When they advance sufficiently, boys will learn partnering skills, which will be necessary for them to forge a career in dance or any college level classes. ✨
Learning how to use their larger muscle groups to attain male technique, including jumps and turns.✨
Participants in the program have the opportunity to perform by audition for PDT’s A Philadelphia Nutcracker, spring production, and The June Showcase.✨

PDT’s Adult Division (ages 15 & up)✨
PDT’s Adult Division offers classes that are fashioned for adult students of all levels of training. ✨
We serve older teens, college aged dancer, former dance professionals, and the absolute beginner. We aim to provide you with the dance training for this stage in your life in a light and supportive environment. ✨
Attention is given to correct body alignment/placement, strength and flexibility, and providing the foundations in all disciplines offered.✨
Adults have the option to try out their first class for free to see if PDT is the right fit for them.✨
No commitment! We understand you are busy and may not be able to commit to a monthly tuition plan. At PDT you can register by the class each week.✨
Beginning Ballet, Intermediate Ballet, Advanced Professional Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Jazz are offered and conditioning. ✨

PDT’s Pre-Professional Division Level 4 and up (Ages 12 and up)✨
Mastery of classical ballet technique continues with daily ballet classes, additional specialty classes of pointe for ladies, men’s class, partnering, Progressing Ballet Technique, and Pilates. ✨
Contemporary dance forms of Modern and Jazz round out the training to prepare the dancer for a professional career. ✨
As the repertory becomes more diverse, strength gained through daily training allows for fluidity of movement. Sensitivity to musicality and quality of movement are continually emphasized. While each dancer progresses, they are encouraged to master their own individual movement expression. ✨
Additional master classes, specialty workshops, summer programs, and a rigorous performance schedule complete this distinctive program.✨
Dancers who choose to take part in PDT’s Performing Company have the privilege of participating in a rigorous performing schedule throughout the year. ✨
These experiences provide dancers invaluable insight to what a professional performing career would hold. Performances include, A Philadelphia Nutcracker, Breaking Ground, annual PDT Spring show, Philadelphia Youth Dance Fest, and Regional Dance America Northeast Festivals. As a member company of Regional Dance America annual Festival, dancers are granted to access scholarships to summer programs, universities, and network professional opportunities.✨
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