Philly Dance Fitness

Philly Dance Fitness is the best. Just the best. Are you looking for a welcoming atmosphere? A have fun but if you like to be perfect that’s ok too? An instructor (and owner!) who remembers your name after just a few classes? Fun array of classes with engaging instructors? This is for you. Nothing is as good as a dance workout class feels and this is as good as it gets. Ditch your gym zumba and shake it with Deb and her crew. I belong to a gym, and it’s still worth it to me to pay on top of it to access awesome classes. HELLOO– tap dancing to Beyonce? you had me at tap dancing! They rule. Everyone go.

I really wanted to love this place. I’m a fitness enthusiast and have been dancing most of my life. However, Philly Dance Fitness just wasn’t for me. First, the class was way too crowded. I’ve never been in such a crowded class, and that includes workshops with world renowned teachers in NYC, Cairo, Philly, Baltimore… Worrying about whacking the person beside me is just not something I want to do in a class. Second, the format just didn’t appeal to me. As a runner, when I want a fitness workout, I really want something that makes me feel like it was a good substitute for a run. When I want a dance class, I want something with a little more substance, like what is found at Koresh. I realize that this is a personal preference and that this format would appeal to many people. However, it just wasn’t for me.

If you’re into booty poppin’, intense workout, and the fact that your instructor wears silver spankies this may be the place for you. I attended Philly Dance Fitness for their Beyonce Twerkshop held in April. Make sure you bring water and comfortable clothing because you will move and you will sweat!
I will say that I’ve honestly never had so much fun in a dance class, especially one where I didn’t know what the hell I was doing 35% of the time. PDF really encourages a no pressure keep going type atmosphere which I think will make even a novice feel comfortable. The session was high energy and little to no breaks so it was essentially a full 1.5 hr workout. 3 different instructors participated in this workshop going through different routines. As most instructors have different teaching styles, some would go through the moves whereas others did a type of «crash and burn» style where everyone just went for it. Also, because this was a Beyonce twerkshop, popular Bey routines (i.e Single Ladies, Partition) were also incorporated into the class.
For the boring stuff: class was $ 25, completely worth it to me (especially for 1.5hrs) but may still be expensive for some. Class was COMPLETELY overcrowded which may also be bothersome for some but wasn’t really a huge deal for me. They did rotate rows so anyone who desired to be be in the front got equal opportunity to do so. They may want to look into offering several time options for a particular workshop so it doesn’t get so overly crowded. As mentioned before, it’s very high paced. You’re probably better off if you’ve had some type of previous dance training or catch onto routines quickly but once again, no big deal. Mess up? Just keep dancing.
I’m not sure how other classes with PDF are but if you’re into reppin for the ’99 and 2000 with booty shakin’ hits such as Juvenile’s «Back that ass up», Ludacris’ «How Low», the 2005 hit, «Ms. New Booty» and other anthems to get you moving a twerkshop should definitely be in your near future. Kudos to the attendees that really showed their skills Diplo-​esque and all of what else went on that day (if you wanna know go and see!). The dance tracklist was awesome for whoever came up with that as well. Totally an open and creative atmosphere that’s not for the faint of heart.

On Super Bowl Sunday, instead of the Puppy Bowl, a few friends and I attended the Taste of Philly Dance Fitness Workshop here and it was awesome! Totally justified all the mac and cheese and wings I ate later…
PROS
For $ 25 (it was $ 20 earlier than the week of) we got 2 hours of nonstop dance workout classes. We tried 8 different types of dance including hip hop, ballet, jazz, modern, zumba, and banghra blast!
We were greeted with a nice spread of healthy snacks-​fruit, hummus, bruschetta, etc. and a coat rack for our things (there are also lockers further in).
All the instructors were awesome, music was upbeat, and classes were fun!
CONS
The room was PACKED. They rotated rows every few songs, but I was seriously afraid of being punched/​kicked in the face for most of the hip hop routine.
The last session-​powerjam stretch– involved a lot of being on the floor, which was really hard and there were not mats.
It was hard to keep up with some of the instructors, and I know they tailored this to beginners, so I can only imagine (fear) what the regular class is like!
Definitely recommend attending similar events like this and checking this studio out.

Don’t fear the Zumba! I’m a short stocky lass and I do one fitness thing, kettle bells. But after my mates in Scotland convinced me I should try Zumba I found Philly Dance Fitness did a class on Saturday in my neighborhood. After trying it once I was hooked. It’s intense and you’ll sweat BUCKETS, but for someone as uncoordinated as myself, I felt comfortable with the group and the instructors and now it’s part of my Saturday routine. After being desk bound all week, it’s wonderfully freeing to dance like a freak wiithout a care in the world. I never thought fitness could be this freeing.