The Pittsburgh Dance Friends project is run by professional dancer and dance teacher, Sarah Catherine Slevinski. Sarah is always happy to talk to you directly and answer your questions about dancing, dance lessons or dance events in Pittsburgh. Please reach out by text (412-712-7131) or email (PittsburghDance@gmail.com) anytime!
Sarah first learned ballroom dancing when she was twelve years old. At the time, her aunt and uncle—who were great fans of Big Band era music—had just started taking lessons. Sarah (being a nerdy pre-teen) thought Big Band dancing sounded like excellent fun, so they took her along to ballroom dance classes on Sunday nights at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. She loved it, and kept dancing as a hobby throughout high school, college and grad school. Meanwhile, she was hired by the University of Pittsburgh as a student Teaching Assistant and discovered that she loved being a teacher! When she graduated from Pitt, she felt driven to find a way to make a career out of teaching.
Her opportunity came when a local, big name dance studio was holding open try-outs. After a week-long try-out/interview process at the beginning of 2008, she was invited to continue training at the studio, and the rest is history! Sarah taught ballroom and social dancing as a full-time professional studio instructor for 15 years. During that time, 90% of her personal lesson students were complete beginners, with zero previous dance experience; she developed a specialty in teaching new students totally from scratch. The majority of her students were “empty-nester” couples learning for weddings, socials and seeking a new hobby they could enjoy together! She taught many single students, too, leaders and followers without a partner, looking for a renewed and active social life where they could meet new people. Sarah has also taught lots of brides and grooms preparing their First Dance, as well as parents, relatives and other wedding guests getting ready to dance on the big day. Even though most of her students (including couples, leaders and followers) were learning for social events, a few of her students over the years set their sights on more ambitious goals; she has coached and performed with students at national competitions and local exhibitions.
In early 2024, Sarah started the Pittsburgh Dance Friends project to help local social dancers discover the wealth of dance opportunities in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Every week, she pulls together and posts as many dance events as she can find, including social partner dancing events like ballroom, salsa, swing and tango, as well as club events with live bands and DJs. Check out the Events Feed to see the latest upcoming events. She also sends out a weekly newsletter with Dance Highlights for the coming week; text your email address to Sarah if you’d like to subscribe: 412-712-7131
Sarah is available to teach personalized lessons in all social partner dance styles. If you don’t know exactly what style you want to learn, she can help you discover which dances will work best for the types of events you want to attend and the styles of music you enjoy. She specializes in beginners, wedding prep, ballroom dances and social dances. Her personalized lessons move completely at your pace; if you need more time and attention on certain concepts, the lessons will take all the time you need; if you catch on quickly, she’ll move the curriculum forward to new topics. Her central passions in teaching are helping beginners get started, and helping avid social dancers branch out and learn new dance styles. If you’re already an active social dancer and want to have more opportunities to go dancing, Sarah can use your current dance skills as a spring-board to teaching you new material more quickly; you will learn faster than if you started with an ordinary beginner class or attended a studio with a rigid beginner curriculum. If the style of dancing you want to learn isn’t in her repertoire, she will help you find a teacher with the right specialty; through Dance Friends and the local dance scene, she knows a network of dance teachers with a variety of skills. Sarah teaches lessons out of multiple locations, including studios North, South and East of Pittsburgh, so there are flexible options for finding a place that’s convenient to where you live or work.
To get started with lessons, please reach out! Text the word DANCE to 412-712-7131, contact us online, or send an email to PittsburghDance@gmail.com.
Schedule your First Lesson
Ready to get started with dance lessons? Sarah is happy to help you! Please fill out the form below, or text the word “DANCE” to 412-712-7131
Sarah teaches personal lessons out of the following Dance Friends Partner Studios. She will work with your schedule to find a time and location that are convenient for you.
Ballroom Connection
743 Allegheny River Blvd
Verona, PA 15147
412-712-7131 – Contact Sarah to schedule at Ballroom Connection
Night & Day Dance Studio
3312 Babcock Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
412-712-7131 – Contact Sarah to schedule at Night & Day Studio
Ready to get started with dance lessons? We will be happy to help you! Please fill out the form below, or text the word “DANCE” to 412-712-7131
DANCE MORE WITH DANCE FRIENDS
Get Started with Lessons
Browse our Events Feed
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Follow us on FACEBOOK
Follow us on INSTAGRAM
TEXT us 412-712-7131
EMAIL us PittsburghDance@gmail.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.