Top Upcoming Dance Performances In Philadelphia

Whether you love the ballet or are more into the rhythm of Irish folk dancing and tap, Philly has numerous opportunities for you to enjoy dance. The summertime is typically more of an "off time" for dancers, as most shows and traveling troupes finish up in late May or early June. However, there are locally grown dancers and varied types of dance performances around the city that will shimmy into your minds and hearts throughout the dog days of summer.

Alchemy Dance Company
The Performance Garage
1515 Brandywine St.
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 569-4060
www.danceboxoffice.com

Date: June 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Celebrate the summer solstice for this one-night-only event. The Roger Lee Dance company and other local dancers are bringing together a dynamic evening of contemporary dance. Some of the artists featured include Melissa Chisena and Danse4Nia. The Performance Garage is also the home for Jeanne Ruddy Dance.

Honey Bee Cabaret
Plays & Players Theater
1714 Delancy Place
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 735-0630
www.playsandplayers.org

Date: June 22 at 7 p.m.

This is the second annual event for the Honey Bee Cabaret, and it marks the end of its fundraising season. This event features numerous local Philadelphia celebrities, dancers and puppetry masters. The Honey Bee Cabaret is suitable for all ages and is raising money for the Melisa Lynch Memorial Library. Drinks and a reception are offered afterwards at the neighboring pub, Quib's.

Summer Wonder: Native Nations Dance Theater
Rainey Auditorium in the Penn Museum
3260 South St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 898-4000
www.penn.museum

Date: July 3 at 11 a.m.

This dance performance is family-friendly and interactive. The audience is encouraged to not only learn about Native American culture through storytelling, but get up and dance to the Native American rhythms. If you enjoy the Native Nations Dancer Theater, you can come back on additional Wednesdays to enjoy the full Summer Wonder program. Summer Wonder consists of cultural programs by the Penn Museum that will occur on Wednesday mornings throughout July alongside various events.

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Merge Open House and Dancing
Merge Dance Studio
4047 Cressson St., 2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19127
(215) 266-1311
www.mergedancestudio.com

Date: Aug. 24 at 1 p.m.

Merge Dance is opening its studio to the public late in August. Not only can you view dancers in action, but try a class yourself. Merge offers all types of dance classes, including mommy (or daddy) and me, hip-hop, funk, ballet, jazz, musical theater and Zumba. Merge Dance studio is in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia and its classes are reasonably priced.

Philadelphia Fringe Arts
Race St. & Columbus Blvd.
(215) 413-9006
www.livearts-fringe.org

Date: Sept. 5-22

The Philly Fringe Festival has been around for years, bringing cutting-edge performance art to the city during a 17-day festival in the fall of each year. Philly Fringe marks the end of the summer and kicks off the official beginning of the fall arts events. The festival, which is still in the planning stages at this point, is going on in September. Not only will you have access to hundreds of performances and all types of dance, but the Fringe Festival features numerous other arts categories as well. Last year, over 30,000 people enjoyed the festival, and this year will be its first in a new permanent home, the former pumping station across from the Race Street Pier.

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Christina Dagnelli is a freelance writer in Philadelphia and the author of Little Squares with Colors: A Different way to look at autism. Her work on examiner can be found here Examiner.com.