We're thrilled to be highlighting Greater Art Museum Business Alliance Member,
Sound Space Performing Arts, this week!
About Us
I'm Pamela Hetherington, a Philadelphia dancer, choreographer, teacher, community leader in the arts and owner of Sound Space Performing Arts.
What Makes Us Stand Out
We are more than a dance studio at Sound Space Performing Arts. My spectacular faculty and I are committed to growing the next generation of dance artists. We have the only youth percussive dance conservatory program on the East Coast. My dance company, The Philadelphia Jazz Tap Ensemble, works on many concerts throughout the year and does a great deal of outreach in the neighborhood - including an internship program at Vaux High School and our annual National Tap Dance Day street festival.
Our Current Offerings
For adults: Our Absolute Beginner Tap Workshop with live accompaniment is the most popular adult series that we offer, and for good reason, it's the best way to learn how to tap dance. Bonus: fun people. It's only offered in January and September, so get on it.
For kids: our Spring session opens up on January 4 and runs through May 23. Besides having the best tap dance program in the city, we are extremely proud of our preschool dance program, our ballet, modern and acrobatics program and our hip hop program. Ages 3+!
Why We Love Working in the Art Museum District
I grew up in Northeast Philly, on a street where everyone was always outside, talking to their neighbors. I am the same way, now that my studio is right on Girard Avenue. I love being out and about, catching up with the neighbors and other business owners. My early Saturday morning weeding (and sweeping and trash picking-up) time, outside on the corner, is my favorite way to say hi to everyone!
Every year, during our summer dance camps, I organized an outdoor "Mister Rogers Neighborhood" tour of Girard Avenue with the camp kids. Unfortunately, we couldn't do it this past summer, but in the last three years, we visited Fulton Bank, Brewerytown Beats, State Rep. Bullock's office, Fairmount Bikes, Irie Jamaican Restaurant, Brewerytown Garden and more. The kids could ask questions, take tours and see how these businesses and people helped their neighborhood! It was always so much fun watching each adult talk about their business to a kid audience. Our Avenue has the best people! I look forward to doing this again in 2021.
Tune in Wednesday, December 9th when Sound Space Performing Arts takes over the @FairmountCDC page on Instagram!