The warm-up was familiar to the young dancers, who stretched and bended into pretzels across the floor of Dance Dynamic’s studio in Marmora on April 15 - just the normal routine. But what followed - an hour-long masters class with professional dancers, Mora-Amina Parker and Erin Barnett, of the Philadelphia-based company Philadanco - was anything but routine.

Some of the young dancers had seen Philadanco perform in the past, but they knew little about the techniques behind the unique choreography. For some, it was a first step beyond the basics of ballet, jazz and tap into the realm of contemporary dance.
“I really believe this will take you to the next level,” Dance Dynamics teacher, Mary Beth Clark, explained before taking her spot among the dancers. It was chance for everyone to learn something new.
The class was offered through Access to Art, a non-profit organization, who is bringing Philadanco to the Middle Township Performing Arts Center on May 17, as part of its mission to increase South Jersey’s exposure to all areas of art. And Philadanco’s founder, Joan Myers Brown, knows first-hand the importance and challenges of gaining access to the arts.
More than four decades ago, Brown established her dance school in West Philadelphia to train young African-American dancers who were not welcome in other schools. In 1970, she started Philadanco to showcase their talents, and since then the company has become a tour de force, attracting dancers from across the country and as far away as Germany and Serinam to audi-tion for spots. The Kimmel Center is their permanent home, but the company also tours extensively, garnering glow-ing praise for their skill and energy.
And they need energy. On the day of the masters class, the troupe arrived at the Middle Township Performing Arts Center for an assembly with school students from around the county at 10 a.m. before continuing on with a similar performance in Atlantic County after lunch. The eclectic program gave the young audience a peak at the world of Philadanco and featured powerful dances, set to music from Lauren Hill and Earth, Wind and Fire, as well as a ballet tribute to Rosa Parks. Then, be-fore heading back to Philadelphia for a late night rehearsal, Parker and Barnett headed up to Marmora to introduce some 30 young dancers to an hour of Philadanco’s powerful style.
It was one of many long days for a professional dancer, Parker admitted. “Sometimes it feels like time has given birth to itself,” she said, but there was no time to rest.
Barnett was the first to address the room. “Does anyone here know what we do?” she asked.
“I know it’s a lot of flat backs,” one dancer offered.
Within an hour, however each dancer would learn that the Philadanco style is so much more than any one iconic mo-tion. “It’s only an hour class, so try to keep up,” Barnett encouraged.
Dance magazine has called the company “a miracle of skill and energy,” and during the class, Parker and Barnett shared both with their young protégés. Soon the young dancers were swaying and stretching in new directions that they are unlikely to forget.
See the video of what the students learned during the class at capemaycountyherald.com.
To reserve tickets to the May 17 performance at the Middle Township PAC, call 609-465-3963 or 609-463-l924. Tickets are $25 and $30. Combination tickets to an art show reception and the performance are $60.