Up Next
Back to Show
If Cities Could Dance
Philadelphia’s House Dancers Preserve the Soul of the Scene
Season 4
Episode 6
The infusion of soul helps make Philadelphia house so distinct from its harder-edged Chicago, Detroit and New York counterparts. More than three decades later, a tight-knit, intergenerational community of house dancers, DJs and event producers in Philadelphia are still working, amidst commercialization and club closures, to keep the original underground spirit of the scene alive.
Sign up now for inspiring and thought-provoking media delivered straight to your inbox.
Support Provided By
6:42
Hula instructor Snowbird Puananiopaokalani Bento teaches the story behind hula dance.
6:33
LA Black skaters push the culture forward amidst a pandemic and economic downturn.
8:33
Originators of Oakland's 1970s funk boogaloo reflect on the birth and impact of the dance
6:55
Dancer Amit Patel is reinventing Bollywood dance for queer expression
5:12
The Dance Champz of Atlanta want to take this underground LGBTQ+ dance to the next level.
5:58
Once known as La-la, Zydeco dance and music thrives in Houston
6:03
Albuquerque’s hip-hop & freestyle dance scene is influenced by various Indigenous tribes
4:02
Sixteen dancers from across the country, representing a range of dance styles, move as one
6:34
Sisters Mar and Maria Cruz are preserving the legacy of this dance of resistance.
5:59
The women of La Mezcla call on the history of percussive dance to create their own style.
6:56
Beat Ya Feet is the street dance empowering a new generation of Black D.C.
2:56
The contemporary dance company shapes feminist messages into sensual moves.