Hi and Happy Spring!
The USA Dance National Ballroom DanceSport Championships held on March 22-24 at the Wyndham Grand Hotel were a great success!
A total of 765 DanceSport members from more than 30 states competed in 340 events over three 17-hour days. Our local participation increased substantially from the 2022 Nationals with 87 registered dancers, most of 62 volunteers and many spectators, particularly on Friday during the Pro/Am competitions and the Night Club dances.
Many thanks to the participating studios- Arthur Murray Downtown and South Hills, Ballroom Connection, Demidov Dance, Nova Ballroom Company and their 9 instructors and 20 students; the collegiate teams from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh; and the adult amateur couples.
Our volunteers supported the national organizers by monitoring the ballroom floor, doors and on-deck areas and helped out in registration, ticket sales, awards, the consignment shop, anti-doping efforts, and YouTube live streaming. Susan Ryan, Youngstown USA Dance Chapter, helped secure a not-widely publicized inclusion of Night Club dances (Hustle, Merengue, West Coast Swing, Salsa, Bachata, Night Club 2-Step, Argentine Tango) for 18 amateur and Pro/Am couples, which attracted primarily social dancers.
Finally, a special thanks to Norrie Bastedo Vladuchick, developer of the electronic volunteer sign-up sheet for the national and Pittsburgh websites; John Siefken, Andy Orochena, Gloria Schohn and Mila McQuaide who stayed the entire weekend, and Megan Stanis for continuous publicity over the past six months.
USA Dance will be back in Pittsburgh on March 28 – 30, 2025 for the National Championships, again at the Wyndham Grand.
Belated thank you to Cris Sharpley, Arthur Murray South Hills and Penn Hills for teaching Salsa and John Siefken for his music at the January 20 dance at Wightman School Community Center; Jimmy Page, Night and Day Studio, teaching Viennese Waltz on February 24 at the Palisades and Brian Lee for his music; and Chris Drum DJ and instructor for Night Club 2-Step and the Tango Formation Team at the March 16 St. Patrick’s Day dance. We appreciate their artistry, enthusiasm and dedication to making our dances truly social.
The Winter Session of the Special Needs Adaptive Program ended on February 25 with a dozen intermediate dancers and their mentors, taught by Barb Johnson, and a small beginners’ class taught by April Fisher. The Spring Session started on April 7.
The final performance of the Woodland Hills’ Dickson Preparatory Steam Academy Dance Program will be held on May 17 at 7:00 pm in the Academy gymnasium, 7301 Schoyer Avenue in Swissvale. Organized by 6th grade teachers Ms. Nicole King and Ms. Stacy Estatico, with dance instruction and curriculum provided by Ms. Amanda Wolf, Studio 101. Approximately 30 six graders have been learning Waltz, Bachata and Merengue, dance etiquette, manners and music theory since mid-January. They will go “on tour” to perform for fifth graders in the District. Please plan to come!
The USA Dance Pittsburgh April 20 dance will be held at the Keith Holmes VFW Post in Coraopolis with Chris Roth, former Steel City Ballroom owner, teaching rumba and Mark Boucher providing the music.
On May 18, Jon and Stratton DeWitt, Nova Ballroom Company, will teach waltz and DJ at the Wightman School Community Center.
Hope to see you soon!
Jane Downing, President, USA Dance Pittsburgh