PRESIDENT’S LETTER, PITTSBURGH CHAPTER USA DANCE, SEPTEMBER 6, 2026
Hi! Hope you’ve survived the heat and the storms of summer and are looking forward to the fall! We’re looking for a full fall program of ballroom dancing. Come join us!
MEMBER APPRECIATION NIGHT. SEPTEMBER 19. WIGHTMAN SCHOOL COMMUNITY BUILDING
USA Dance Inc., our national organization, promotes excellence in ballroom dancing through 150 social chapters like Pittsburgh’s and competitions throughout the country. Membership is with the national organization. Once a year, USA Dance Pittsburgh shows our appreciation for USA Dance members by reducing the admission fee to $10.00. (Note: Dancers who sign up at a dance get in free.)
Member benefits include reduced admission to every local dance (i.e. $15 instead of $20); links to American Dancer, the online magazine with breaking news, inspiring stories and expert advice; insurance and health benefit options; a discounted Dance Vision subscription; PerkSpot discounts from companies including Apple, Verizon, Marriott, Disney; and eligibility to compete for national titles and represent the United States in international competitions.
Your admission fees help the chapter support local collegiate club activities and a Special Needs Adaptive Program.
Our September 19 dance coincides with National Ballroom Dance Week (September 14-20) and a USA Dance, Inc. Membership Challenge (July 30 to Sept. 30. Baseline is non-active members as of 7/30/26). Two winning Chapters will win $500 each one for the most new members and the second with the highest percentage increase in membership. We want to grow the number who love dancing! You can help:
Bring a friend and encourage them to become a new member.
AND/OR reach out to a former member and invite them back.
September 19 theme is Black and Gold. Sarah Slevinski is teaching Tango and Bobby D is the DJ. And be prepared to buy 50/50 raffle tickets to support the Carnegie Classic, a USA Dance sanctioned competition.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Dances
October 17. Wightman School. Halloween. Norrie Bastedo, DJ. Vincent Jones & Rachel Booth, CrossBody Dance & Movement, teaching Salsa.
November 21. Wightman School. Thanksgiving. Chris Drum, DJ and teaching Rumba.
December 19. Wightman School. Happy Holidays. Brian Lee, DJ and teaching Swing.
2027 NATIONALS
Organizing a Local Outreach Team
Nationals are coming back to Pittsburgh on April 2-4, 2027 and again in 2028. Planning at the national level is underway for 2027 with a target attendance of 1,500. This means we need to be more effective in our outreach efforts to increase local participation, particularly in volunteer recruitment, the social dance program, competitions and spectators. Pittsburgh has hosted Nationals four times (2022, 2024-2026) in part because of the assistance the local chapter provides. With a very tiny group of volunteers our local outreach has improved in four years, but only modestly. With increased activity, we need more help, starting now. I will schedule a Zoom meeting in the near future to start our planning. Please let me know if you’re interested.
Qualifying for Nationals
Except for collegiates, Pro/Am couples or Fun Dance participants, in order to qualify as amateurs to dance at any level (Pre-Bronze to Champion) in either American or International styles (or both) at Nationals, you must gain 6 participation points. Participation is the only qualifier, not whether you are among the top 3 or 6 winners. The most number of heats typically are at the Pre-Bronze and Bronze levels so you don’t need to be a life-long dancer to compete.
You can gain 6 points by participating in Regional DanceSport Competitions 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).
You can gain 2 points at the Carnegie Classic held at Carnegie Mellon University on October 10. Although the Classic attracts primarily college students, the competition is open to all ages and all levels. The weekend includes a Social Dance on Friday night, October 9 and dance workshops on Sunday, October 11.
Hope to see you on September 19!
Jane Downing, President USA Dance Pittsburgh #3007
Dancer008-@outlook.com or 412 508-1952