Education & Classes in Camden

The nonprofit Philadelphia Photo Arts Center spreads the good word, acting as cultural ambassadors on behalf of photography through educational programs, events, and exhibitions. A team of fine-art photographers, curators, and other arts professionals initiates the snapshot curious in five-week classes that demystify portraiture and editing programs such as Adobe Lightroom, among other subjects. Shorter workshops present much of the same material in three-hour spurts, and one-on-one or group tutorials give learners plenty of individualized instruction and encourage them to design their own curricula. The teen program nurtures artistic impulses during afterschool hours, handing students loaner supplies and foraying into the city during field trips. PPAC also cultivates sources of artistic inspiration, from visiting-artist lectures to a library that showcases salient work in the field.

Arthur Murray has been a leading name in franchise dance since 1912, when the entrepreneur began selling mail-order dance lessons. Expanding his reach, he enlisted teachers to spread his signature dance lessons on first-class steamships and skyrocketed to fame in the 1930s after introducing the public to such dances as the Lambeth Walk and The Big Apple. By the 1950s, Arthur and his wife, Kathryn, were hosting their own highly popular TV show on ABC, The Arthur Murray Party, which ran for 12 years. Today, Arthur Murray's team prepares students for rug cutting at special events and weekend nightclub jaunts. Throughout lessons, instructors teach the foundations of two to four dances from a long list of styles that range from latin to country-western, helping students to learn basic step patterns, timing, and the ability to lead or follow.

Dance instructors Brandi and Vuthy Ou performed and competed in dance competitions all over the world together before opening their own studio in 2006. They draw on their experience and chemistry to teach students of all experience levels how to tame skittish left feet through a robust schedule of ballroom-, social-, and Latin-style dance classes. Each 40-minute session begins with a brief warm-up before students learn how to synchronize steps. Students looking to hone skills in a specific dancing style may do so during American tango, swing, or rumba classes, and the social-dance program helps regular wedding crashers to feel comfortable while chicken dancing. Private lessons enhance rug-cutting skills with the advantage of one-on-one attention. Since partners are frequently switched during classes, both couples and singles are welcome.

As memory cards replaced film reels, many photographers—both professional and amateur—felt befuddled by the new technology. That's where Digital Photo Academy stepped in. Since 2007, the business has facilitated workshops that explore all aspects of digital imagery, from operating cameras and uploading digital files to editing images and airbrushing realistic mustaches. Seasoned professionals lead the courses, helping understudies hone their use of light, framing, and timing. Students furnish their own cameras, and can tote along any ancillary equipment such as tripods, laptops, and flashes that relate to the course at hand.

Many people think of acting as a mystical gift, but Bernard Glincosky knows better. Like any skill, acting requires practice, and that’s where The Philadelphia Acting Studio comes in. At the studio, aspiring thespians bulk up their skills through a variety of classes taught by seasoned actors, producers, and directors. Himself a Hollywood veteran, Glincosky employs a stable of experienced instructors including acting teachers who have worked with the likes of Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, Ron Pearlman, and Martin Scorcese. Classes are offered throughout the week, covering scene work, audition tactics, and how to cry on command when the maitre d' can’t find an empty table.

Mixology Wine Institute's oenophilic classes teach aspiring mixologists and mixonomists how to craft a diverse roster of libations while regaling students with the rich history and social function of the cocktail. The seasoned staff—which includes a resident sommelier and beer experts—dispense thoughtful nuggets of drink-dispensing wisdom, such as ways to add flair to a bartending routine, various wine-and-food pairings, and how to win a cocktail-sword duel. Each session takes place in the institute's well-equipped classroom, which simulates a real bar setting with working soda guns, sinks, and a full catalog of liquors. Pupils leave classes with the knowledge necessary to help bargoers make informed drink decisions.