PDA has created a wonderful environment for the tiniest dancers to the pre-professional in Old City. The faculty are kind, organized, fun, and creative. My child looks forward to class each week. They love the opportunity to perform for an audience in their Nutcracker and Spring Showcase productions. Their summer camps keep the children dancing all day and excited to come back the next!

The faculty, programs and diversity of class offerings at Philadelphia Dance Academy foster not only a love of dance among its students, but also a wonderful sense of community among the dancers and their families. The broad range of classes allows their students to gain experience in different disciplines in an inclusive, professional and nurturing environment with additional opportunities, like the Philadelphia Youth Ballet, to help broaden their knowledge and exposure to live performing. In addition to the amazing resident faculty, led by Lori Lahneman, PDA also leverages its relationships and partnerships within the dance community to provide students additional opportunities to learn from current and former professional dancers and choreographers from the Philadelphia Ballet, Drexel University, University of the Arts and other prestigious dance institutions. We have been a part of the Philadelphia Dance Academy community for ten plus years and look forward to many more.

The mutual love between PDA and its students has always been clear but witnessing it through the course of this past pandemic year brings this clarity to a whole new level. My daughter has been dancing at PDA since she was two and a half years old. Over the last decade, PDA has taught her the technical aspects of dance within the framework of a most supportive and nurturing environment. It is a unique balance that makes PDA such a special place. Over this last year and then some, PDA has gone above and beyond to re-imagine and magnificently implement ways to safely navigate the pandemic landscape, managing not only to keep its dancers safely dancing, but to do it in ways that have allowed the kids to continue thriving both in terms of dance skill and as whole human beings who have had a lot with which to deal during this time. The genuine care and concern that each member of PDA’s staff has demonstrated toward each child is unmatched and, as a result, endlessly appreciated by the student dancers. Though we have always felt grateful to be part of the PDA family, it has never been more so than during this past year.

Philadelphia Dance Academy (PDA) has been part of my daughter’s life for 9 years since she was 6 years old. She has grown up there now dancing 5 days per week. When COVID struck on Friday, March 13, 2020- PDA switched gears instantly and was up & running virtually by that Monday. Since then they have implemented procedures and policies that have kept their students and teachers safe with dancers able to join in person or virtually. PDA successfully auditioned, cast and rehearsed for this year’s annual Nutcracker show and created a lovely video for family, friends and all to enjoy. These times continue to be difficult but for my daughter to have her dance community has made it bearable. We are SO thankful to everyone at PDA especially Ms. Lori.