All classes except Creative Movement and Adult/Teen Ballet levels. Most classes are in one performance.  All five performances are required for Ballet 5/5X and 6/6X/7, Theater Dance 5/5X and 6/6X, and Contemporary 4/4X and 5/5X.  All ballet classes will perform excerpts from a chosen ballet. In the fall, we will post a list outlining in which show(s) classes are performing. 

Note: Due to the number of students enrolled in multiple genres across different levels and the number of class offerings, it is not possible for all students to have all dances in the same performance. We tried our best to minimize the number of dancers affected. Please note that Showcase is an optional opportunity and you are not required to participate in Showcase for all classes.

Towards the end of Spring Semester each year - typically the last weekend in May.  The 21st Annual Spring Showcase is tentatively scheduled for May 30-31, 2026.

The performances are held in a local theater. The 2026 venue is tentatively scheduled for the Gordon Theater at Rutgers – Camden on May 30 - 31, 2026. 

Mandatory In-Studio Dress Rehearsal:

Saturday, May 16 and/or Sunday, May 17, 2026 

On Saturday, May 16, the mandatory dress rehearsal is held at our Old City location – The Philadelphia Dance Academy, 219 Cuthbert St, 3rd Floor.  PHL - MANDATORY MAY 16 IN-STUDIO DRESS REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

On Sunday, May 17, the mandatory dress rehearsal is held at our Ardmore location - 116 Cricket Ave, Ardmore PA. ARD - MANDATORY MAY 17 IN-STUDIO DRESS REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

Showcase Weekend Technical Rehearsals:

May 28 - 29, 2026 

Walter K. Gordon Theater / Stedman Gallery and Fine Arts Complex

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-Camden Campus

314 Linden Street, Camden, NJ 08102-1403

(free parking in Lot 14)

Showcase Weekend Performances:

May 30 - May 31, 2026

Walter K. Gordon Theater / Stedman Gallery and Fine Arts Complex

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-Camden Campus

314 Linden Street, Camden, NJ 08102-1403

(free parking in Lot 14)

The Gordon Theater is a 7 minute drive from the Old City studio. Driving directions are available on Google Maps.

It is also accessible by NJ public transit. Take the PATCO line from Philadelphia to the Camden City Hall stop at Market and 5th Streets or the Riverline Lightrail to the Cooper St/Rutgers U stop at Cooper and 3rd Streets. Both stops are mere blocks from the campus. See the NJ Transit website for timetables.

There is a MANDATORY In-Studio Dress Rehearsal two weeks before the show AND a MANDATORY dress rehearsal(s) on stage during show week.  These are necessary for students to feel confident and prepared on stage.

For younger classes, the stage rehearsal is typically immediately before their performances. 

For older classes (Ballet 3/3X and higher) they may have a rehearsal on Thursday of performance week. 

All PHL and upper-level ARD Contemporary and Theater Dance classes will have a stage rehearsal at theater on the Friday before the shows.

Please see the Performance Week Schedule for specifics.

The 2026 in-studio dress rehearsal dates are Saturday, May 16 (Old City Studios) and Sunday, May 17 (Ardmore Studios).   Each class can anticipate approximately 15-30 minutes of rehearsal on either Saturday OR Sunday.  

There is also a MANDATORY In-Theater Technical/Dress Rehearsal at The Gordon Theater during Showcase Week for select upper-level classes.

Thursday, May  28 4:30-7:30p

PHL Ballet 3/3X, PHL Ballet 4/4X, PHL Ballet 5/5X, ARD Ballet 5/5X, ARD Ballet 6/6X, and PHL Ballet 6/6X/7 PHL

Friday, May 29 4:00-7:30

ALL PHL Theater and Contemporary, ARD Contemporary 4/4X/5, ARD Theater Dance 5/5X/6

All those performing must arrive at the theater early so that each class can practice onstage before the show.

Students who perform in only one show should arrive in costume with hair neatly in a bun (no bangs) for ladies and light stage make-up already done, as dressing room space is limited. If your dancers is in multiple dances, they should arrive in their ballet costume and bring the other costumes in a labeled garment bag.

Make sure your child has snacks/lunch and plenty of water to last the day. Drinks that could stain costumes are not permitted.

Drop off your child with a staff member in the theater lobby. That staff member will bring your child into the theater and make sure they are being chaperoned by their backstage class volunteer. At that time, you may leave the building and return 30 minutes before show time. Only staff and volunteers are allowed backstage.

If your child is in multiple, consecutive shows in one day, they must stay at the theater the entire day, so pack a lunch, and snacks with plenty of water.

Dancers are welcome to come to the lobby after each performance to visit with family before their next stage rehearsal. 

If you and your other family members would like to leave, we recommend the Cherry Hill Mall for dining (Capital Grill, Seasons 52, food court, etc.) and shopping. It is about 15 minutes from the theater.

Let us know if you have any additional questions.

In addition to their costumes and headpieces, students need to wear the following:

Ballet- girls must wear footed pink tights and pink ballet slippers or flesh tone tights and matching flesh tone shoes (with a strap sewn, not tied, across the instep). Tights and shoes should be very close in color to create a continuous line (see example pictures below.)  Hair must be in a neat bun with no bangs.  Boys wear black or white shoes and tights, depending on the costume.  

Theater Dance- girls wear NON-shimmer footed tan tights and tan jazz shoes and boys wear black jazz shoes (tights color may vary by costume). For hair, please see class-specific emails that were sent before dress rehearsal.

Contemporary Dance -  Please refer to the class-specific email for tights and hair preferences.

Note:  Underwear is not worn under costumes but students may wear a flesh tone leotard or dance belt for boys as an undergarment.  These are available at most dancewear stores.  We also sell these and do a pre-order in the spring.

There will be a 4 TICKET LIMIT PER FAMILY (not per dancer) PER SHOW in which YOUR dancer is performing, for the first 72 hours. After the first 72 hours, you are welcome to purchase as many tickets as you would like.  Tickets purchased beyond the limit, will automatically be refunded.  

Note: Before you purchase tickets, confirm the show day and time in which your child is performing. We have five performances, and each has a slightly different cast. Please know the exact amount of tickets you need before purchasing, as seats are assigned.

Tickets are first come, first served and can be purchased online through the link on our website. Seats are assigned. No refunds or exchanges. They are $30-$45 each depending on section of the theater. 

You will ONLY be able to purchase tickets with a credit card via PurplePass, our ticketing service. If students are going to attend one of the performances in which they are not participating, they will need a ticket to ensure that there is adequate seating. A toddler who is sitting on your lap the entire show does not need a ticket.

Tickets go on sale April 15 at 6:00a and sell out very quickly. 

Yes. We always have shows professionally filmed. Every family participating in the Annual Spring Showcase will receive Digital Download links.

Each Digital Download link contains all of the five performances. DO NOT TAKE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY DURING THE SHOW OR HOLD UP PHONES/ELECTRONIC DEVICES DURING THE SHOW. The flash upsets and distracts the performers.  Your screen disrupts the view and experience for those around you.   You are not permitted to film during the performance since we have the performance professionally filmed.

The price of the digital download is included in the Showcase Participation Fee.

Sign up to volunteer backstage or as an usher by adding your name to our Google doc for volunteer sign-up.  We will send the sign-up sheet in early spring before tickets go on sale. 

We need 1 or 2 parent volunteers assigned to each class, depending on class size. 

Volunteers are required to attend In-Studio Dress Rehearsal day and arrive early BEFORE the dancers on performance day. Detailed volunteer procedures available HERE. 

Volunteers for PHL Theater Dance and PHL Contemporary Dance classes will be required to attend the In-Theater Dress Rehearsals.

The Showcase Participation Fee is $175.  Upon completion of the Showcase Participation Form, DUE NOV 15, the fee is charged automatically to the card on file on November 16 each year. This includes the cost of one costume and the digital download of all five performances.

If you have multiple children or your child is performing in more than one dance, the cost is $90 for each additional costume.

If payment is declined or not received by November 16, a $15 late fee will be added to accounts starting November 23.  If we do not receive your costume fee, we WILL NOT order your child a costume.  Due to global supply chain shortages, we cannot guarantee costumes will be available if ordered late.

Students learn dances during their regularly scheduled classes.  A small portion of each class is dedicated to teaching and rehearsing the choreography.  Students who are not participating in the show still participate in this process as learning choreography is a very important skill in dance training even if they are unable to participate in the show.  Excellent attendance is essential for a dancer to fell confident and prepared for Spring Showcase.

Usually no. Sometimes smaller classes are combined, but generally each class has a different costume and a different dance, so switching classes after costumes are ordered is not permitted. This is also why excellent attendance is necessary for dancers to feel prepared.

One parent/guardian will exit to the left of the theater to pick up their child in the hallway outside of the dressing room. Tell a staff member your child’s name, and they will bring your child to you. Only staff members and backstage volunteers are allowed in the dressing room. Dismissal typically takes about 20 minutes.  All other attendees will exit through the doors to the right of the theater.

YOU MAY NOT PICK UP YOUR CHILD DURING THE PERFORMANCE.  Dismissal will be done by staff members at the end of the show.