Free party on the Parkway brings a taste of 'flexn' dance to Philly

The event will be hosted by the Barnes Foundation

Characterized by pausing, snapping, gliding, bone breaking, hat tricks, animation, and contortion, flex is a form of street dance that has evolved from the Jamaican bruk-up found in dance halls and reggae clubs in Brooklyn, NY.
Stephanie Berger/Park Avenue Armory
Update, Thursday, July 28: Due to weather all activities will take place inside the Barnes Foundation.


On July 30, the Barnes Foundation will host a free party both outside the museum on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and inside the building. The night begins on the Parkway at 6 p.m. with a live dance performance, before things move inside so guests can explore the new exhibit "Sun Splashed," join a discussion and sip on summer drinks.

The outdoor dance show will be performed by FLEXN, a group named after a high-energy Jamaican street dance style. Not sure what that means? The group explains what the audience should expect from the performance:


Once the free outdoor show ends around 7 p.m., those with tickets can enter the Barnes Foundation for the second half of the party. Tickets will be given out beginning at 4 p.m. on-site.

"Sun Splashed" will stay open to 9 p.m. for visitors, while a discussion on "Art as Activism" will kick off at 8 p.m. Attendees will have a chance to dive into how Jamaican-American artist Nari Ward explores power, politics and Caribbean diaspora through her work featured in the exhibit.

If weather doesn't cooperate, the entire party will take place indoors.


Party on the Parkway: Flex-N-Barnes

Saturday, July 30
6-9 p.m. | Free
20th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway