President’s Letters

USA DANCE PITTSBURGH CHAPTER 3007 SOCIAL DANCE
SURVEY

USA Dance Inc. is considering the creation of a parallel social dance program during the National Ballroom DanceSport Championship to be held at the Wyndham Grand Hotel on March 27-29, 2026. If there is enough interest, the national planning committee will develop a pilot program. The initial audience is likely to be social dancers and students of the 20+ ballroom dance studios in Western Pennsylvania/Eastern Ohio. An embryonic plan includes using three rooms on the Mezzanine Floor, which in the past two years have been used for practice, social dance/workshops and volunteer/awards activities. WE WOULD LIKE YOUR FEEDBACK.

Would you sign up for the program if it included:

• Access to two social dances (Friday and Saturday night, one in the ballroom).
• Access to all three evening DanceSport Championship sessions.
• Access to 20+ workshops (actual number TBD) in both American and International styles for all levels, taught mainly by local instructors and national judges as well as chapter workshops from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning.
• Base fee of $160/day (actual amount TBD) might replace the competitor fee for those competing in the Pro/Am or Fun Dances on Friday.

1. I WOULD SIGN UP for this program on Friday, YES______, NO_____;
Saturday, YES______, NO_____;
Sunday morning, YES______, NO_____;
all three days, YES______, NO_____.

2. I MAY BE INTERESTED in signing up once there is more specific information about the schedule, workshop content and instructors. a. YES_________b. NO_________

3. I AM NOT INTERESTED in participating in this program because:
______I already attend other established dance camps.
______I am not interested in being a spectator at the Championships.
______The initial pricing seems high
______Other (Over)

​Please scan this survey and return it to Jane Downing, President, USA Dance Pittsburgh Chapter at dancer008-@outlook.com before June 28, 2025. Thanks.

Hope to see you soon!
Jane Downing, President, USA Dance Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH CHAPTER (3007) USA DANCE, INC. PRESIDENT’S LETTER APRIL 2025

Hi! Happy Spring! 

From all accounts, the 2025 USA Dance National Ballroom DanceSport Championships In Pittsburgh were a success. Seven hundred thirteen dancers, ages 8 to 80, including 16 college teams from all over the country, competed over three days for the love of dance and the privilege of going on to world competitions. A majority of the dancers were amateur couples, but there were also professional/amateurs, solo proficiencies, teacher-students and professionals dancing two styles – International Standard and Latin, and American Smooth and Rhythm, as well as competitions for 9-and 10-Dance, Show Dance and Night Club dances. Our Special Needs Adaptive Program (SNAP) performance team did a great routine on Friday evening to a standing ovation! Congratulations to Barb Johnson and April Fisher and the SNAP team!

Hats off to all the Pittsburgh area Amateur, Pro/Am and Professional couples and teams from CMU, Pitt and Point Park, who participated. And many thanks to the 40 individual volunteers from the Pittsburgh area who helped support the Championships by staffing the Volunteer Room, Consignment Shop and Ticket Booth; awarding medals; organizing dancers in the On Deck area to compete on the ballroom floor; keeping the ballroom safe and accessible to spectators; monitoring the doors of the Main Ballroom, the Social Dance and Workshops, Officials Meals area; and escorting winners for drug testing late at night.

Gloria Schohn and I were given Volunteers of the Year awards for promoting Nationals in a way that had never been tried before. Last fall, Gloria was asked by the now-President of USA Dance, Chuck Garrett, to find ways to increase the number of spectators to watch the Championships. While the final results haven’t been tallied yet, in addition to local outreach to the 17 ballroom dance studios, the four collegiate clubs and sale of $15.00 spectator tickets at the four social dances, and the on-going efforts provided by our board, our experiments included publications in the calendar of Sports Pittsburgh, a division of Visit Pittsburgh, the 55 Plus Magazine, the Murrysville  Star and Penn Franklin News; promotions for 2 for 1 tickets in two non-ballroom dance programs and Dancing With The Stars Tour; and appearances on KDKA’s Pittsburgh Today Live and Talk Pittsburgh. We think we contributed nearly $9,000 in ticket sales. Not bad for a first-time effort. Next year will be even better!

The next USA Dance Pittsburgh event is April 19 at Wightman School with Peter Suchy teaching Night Club Two Step and Brian Lee as DJ.

Hope to see you dancing, soon! Jane Downing, President, Pittsburgh Chapter (3007) USA Dance, Inc.

PITTSBURGH CHAPTER (3007) USA DANCE, INC. PRESIDENT’S LETTER, February 22, 2025

Hi!  Hope you’re keeping warm in this elongated winter season!

Preparations are well underway for the 2025 USA Dance National Ballroom DanceSport Championships at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh on March 28, 29 and 30.^th  Options to participate:

Volunteers: Need for 60-70 volunteers over 16 hours for each of 3 days. Perks include access to the ballroom (3+hours/session) and ballroom access all day, food and $35 for parking (8+ hours/day). Electronic sign-up form at www.usadancenationals.org/volunteers. Assistance available at Saturday night social dances until March15.

Competitors –There are no qualifications to register for ShowDance, Pro/Am, Teacher/Student, Mixed Proficiency or Professionals, or Amateur Couples for 8 Fun Dances. Deadline is March14. www.usadancenationals.org/competitors.

Spectators: Local tickets are available for $15.00 (cash or check)/session at Amore (3/1) and USAD Pittsburgh dance on March 15, credit cards also accepted.

Social Dance: Friday, March 28 from 5-7 pm. $10.00, dance only. Cost included in ticket for Friday Evening Session.

Consignment Shop: Sell or purchase gently used costumes or dancewear throughout Nationals. www.usadancenationals.org/vendors

USA Dance Inc. is celebrating its 60^th birthday this year. The $60x 60 campaign is to encourage individual contributions to support Nationals at www.usadancenationals.org/donate for online contributions or checks to USA Dance Inc., 2870 Kerrisdale Ridge Drive, Medford, OR 97504

The Special Needs Adaptive Program (SNAP) has started with general dance and Performance Team practices under the guidance of Barb Johnson, April Fisher and mentors. Come watch the Performance Team show at USA Dance Nationals on Friday afternoon.

Attendees at our January 18 Wightman School dance have inquired about the status of the Duquesne University student who was injured. She received a MCL sprain and bone bruise and is recovering. Although the accident seems to have been caused by too many dancers in one spot, luckily, it was not worse. We hope she will be dancing again soon. Many thanks to Christine Zona for “Preparing for Competitions” workshop and the Quick Step lesson, and Brian Lee for his music.

Housekeeping:  1) Non-member raffle winners will receive one free admission within three months; 2) Please sign up online for USA Dance New or Renewal memberships (where you can also print your membership card); 3) We will post a liability waiver at the registration table for injury or theft and a new photo release.  Non-members will continue to acknowledge the waiver by signing in each month.   

Our next dance is March 15 at the Coraopolis VFW Jimmy Page teaching Waltz and Mark Boucher, DJ.  Wear green and help us celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  

Hope to see you dancing,
Jane Downing, President, Pittsburgh Chapter (3007) USA Dance, Inc.