PRESIDENT’S LETTER, PITTSBURGH CHAPTER USA DANCE. JULY 14, 2026
Hi! I’m back. My apologies for the gap in communications. Between activities related to the first ever USA Dance National Dance Festival in March, a variety of computer hacks and general re-entry issues, I’ve been more than negligent in my direct communications. You deserve better!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIRST SIX MONTHS
As of July 1, 2026, USA Dance Pittsburgh has 185 members: 107 are DanceSport athletes/competitors, and 78 are social dancers. On March 27-29, Pittsburgh hosted USA Dance Inc.’s national ballroom competitions for the 4th time and added a social dance program and a summit for professionals. My profound gratitude and thanks to everyone -volunteers, competitors, social dancers, professionals and spectators- who participated. So – how did we do?
2026 USA DANCE NATIONAL BALLROOM DANCE FESTIVAL (NATIONALS)
Competitions
Nearly 800 individuals including collegiates from 45 colleges and universities competed. Amateur competitors included 88 local USA Dance members – 20 adults and 68 collegiates from the four local clubs, and an estimated dozen more collegiate partners. The number of local Pre-Bronze and Bronze dancers in both styles was impressive!
The Point Park DanceSport Team won first in the Collegiate Team Match and the Latin Formation Team event. Lincoln Kosyla and Elizabeth Woodberry, the Team president, won the Amateur Collegiate Latin Open Championship.
The Special Needs Adaptive Program (SNAP) Performance Team danced a Cha Cha to “Golden” (K-Pop Demon Hunters’ signature song) as a formation on Friday evening.
The 8 Fun Dances attracted 30 competitors from Maryland, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania including 14 USA Dance Pittsburgh members and an equal number from the Youngstown Chapter. Local winners included Joe Aiken and April Fisher, Night Club Two Step and William Comer and Kyr Brenneman, Bachata.
Social Dance Weekend
An estimated 200 dancers signed up for the dinner, two themed social dances and 41 dance workshops. They also watched the competitions or attended Chapter and professional workshops. Twenty one of 41 dance workshops were taught by local instructors: Christine Zona and Jim Page, Night & Day; Chris Drum; Ivan Sovetov & Valeria Mkrtchian, Fred Astaire; David Geidel, Cris Sharpley, Tunisia El, Eva Dobesch, Arthur Murray; and Nicolette & Agustin Garcia-Pawlowski, Los Sabrosos.
Local Marketing and Volunteer Recruitment
Gloria Schohn and I were joined by two marketing professionals, Shuhuei Lee and Cathy Bowen, who produced sophisticated images of ballroom athletes which were used in a variety of media (post cards, print and social media, a bill board) and a 30 second video which aired on the national website to encourage spectators to watch the competitions. Thanks to Gloria, Mayor Corey O’Connor welcomed participants via video and proclaimed Friday to be USA Dance Day. WTAE aired a conversation Gloria and I had with Talk Pittsburgh hosts in 2025. Regular updates on the Festival were sent to nearly 30 ballroom dance and social dance organizations in the Pittsburgh area.
We recruited 43 volunteers, 26 of them local, to help keep everything moving. Our overall efforts were rewarded by being named Chapter of the Year for USA Dance District 3.
PITTSBURGH CHAPTER EVENTS
We’ve had five monthly dances, four at Wightman School and one at Winchester Thurston School We greatly appreciate the support of Matias Jonsson & Irene Yarovoi (Apasionado Studio), Dmitry Demidov (Demidov Dance), Jimmy Page (Night & Day), Cris Sharpley (Arthur Murray Penn Hills and McMurray) and Jonathan & Stratton DeWitt (Nova Ballroom) for teaching both International and American patterns, and DJ’s Matias Jonsson, Brittany Demidov, Marc Boucher, Bobby D and Brian Lee for their music. Thanks to both Barb Johnson and April Fisher, both components of the Spring Session of the Special Needs Adaptive Program (SNAP) was held.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Dances
July 18, 2026 Wightman School. Happy Birthday, USA. Norrie Bastedo, DJ. Frank Blakemore & Victoria Andromalos-Dale, West Coast Swing. Wear red, white and blue.
New membership drive begins. Save $35.00 membership fee. Join tonight, and come to the next two dances, i.e. savings of $20.00, 7/18; $5.00, 8/15 & $10.00, 9/19.
August 15, Wightman School. A Night in the Caribbean. Brian Lee, DJ. Augustin Garcia-Pawlowski, Bachata.
September 19. Wightman School. Member Appreciation Night. Member admission fee is $10.00. Bobby D, DJ. Sarah Slevinski, Tango.
2027 Nationals
Planning Assistance Needed
Nationals are coming back on April 2-4, 2027 and again in 2028. Planning is underway for 2027 and will include changes to the four elements. Target attendance is 1,500 which means a greater number of volunteers and more effective outreach. If you’re interested in joining an advisory committee to brainstorm outreach and marketing, please contact me.
Qualifying for Nationals
Except for collegiates and those participating in the Fun Dance competitions, in order to qualify to dance at Nationals, you must gain 6 participation points. You can gain 2 points at a College Challenge, 4 points at a Local Challenge or 6 points at a Regional Competition.
The Carnegie Classic (2 points) will be held at Carnegie Mellon University on October 10. Early registration is underway. The weekend also includes a 10/9 social dance and 10/11 dance workshops.
Two additional collegiate challenges will be held in Rochester NY, October 17 and at Ohio State University on October 24.
Regional DanceSport Championships (6 points) will be held at Chicago Marriott SW on October 30/Nov. 1 (Midwest); Newark, NJ on 1/15 -1/7, 2027 (The MAC); and Atlanta, February 19-21, 2027 (Southeastern).
Hope to see you on the dance floor soon!
Jane Downing, President
USA Dance Pittsburgh #3007
Dancer008-@outlook.com