Author: Pittsburgh Dance Friends
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Should you learn both roles?
The central dynamic of all partner dancing styles is the communication between two people, a leader and a follower, on the dancefloor. This communication is non-verbal (most of the time!) and rooted in learned dance structures, as well as intuitive inferences. The traditional way this “division of labor” has been determined over the years is…
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Your mind learns before your feet
And before your arms, hands, legs, torso… THIS is the nature of muscle memory learning. It applies to dance and to EVERY muscle memory activity you have ever tackled in your life. Depending on the nature of the activity, this gap between mind and body learning can be long or short, but this gap ALWAYS…
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Does it look good, does it feel good, does it WORK?
It is natural in dance—as it is in life—to think of things as black and white, either-or, right and wrong; but things are seldom so clear cut. In our dance lessons and classes, we are always seeking guidance, and it can be tempting to enshrine the answers we receive as definitely RIGHT, casting everything else…
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The catalog and the gateways
Learning to lead and learning to follow are both challenging in their own ways. Anyone who is accustomed to doing one role and decides to switch usually has an eye-opening experience. Leaders realize that the delicate balance of RE-activity necessary for following is trickier than it appears, and followers gain an appreciation for how leaders…
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Fri APR 10: HUSTLE, WEST COAST Y MAS
I am excited to be teaching for a BRAND NEW event, hosted by Dance Friends members Rachel Sensi Booth and Vincent Jones, the proprietors of Crossbody Dance + Movement studios. This is a FUSION Social, bringing together a variety of popular nightclub dance styles like Hustle, West Coast, Salsa, Bachata and more! The evening will…
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Sat MAR 14: PITTSBURGH BALLROOM
I am excited to be teaching for Pittsburgh Ballroom again in March. My class will cover some basics in two dances, Fox Trot and Swing: PITTSBURGH BALLROOM: ROARING TWENTIESSat MAR 14, 2026https://www.facebook.com/events/4274699859485137/Edgeworth Club, 511 East Dr, Sewickley, PA 15143-1114Fox Trot & Swing Lesson @ 7:00pmSocial Ballroom Dancing @ 8:00pm (until 10:00pm)Admission $25 DANCE MORE WITH…
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Sat FEB 28: 412 DANCE CRANBERRY BALLROOM
Our next DANCE FRIENDS event in February will be the 412 BALLROOM DANCE IN CRANBERRY. Hosts Norrie and Paul Vladuchick always throw a great party, and this month is extra special because one of the very best dance teachers in Pittsburgh, the phenomenal Cris Sharpley, will be teaching a Fox Trot Lesson at 7:00pm, followed…
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Why partner dancing is EASIER than freestyle
Take a moment to remember the last time you went to a family or friend’s wedding. After the dinner and the toasts, when the bridal dance and the parent/child dances were over, the lights went down and the DJ cranked up pulsing and energetic dance tunes. A collection of brave souls made their way to…
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Sat FEB 7: AMORE BALLROOM
I am excited to be teaching at AMORE BALLROOM in February; AMORE BALLROOM is on Saturday FEB 7. I will be teaching a BOLERO lesson at 7:00pm, followed by a social ballroom dance @ 8:00pm: AMORE BALLROOM DANCESat FEB 7, 2026https://www.facebook.com/events/1408622500800474/412 Mulberry St, Coraopolis, PA 15108-1634Bolero Lesson @ 7:00pmSocial Ballroom Dancing @ 8:00pm (until 10:30pm)Admission…
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VALENTINES DANCE EVENTS
I am compiling a list of all the Valentine’s dance parties I can find. If you have an event to add to the list, please reply to this post or message me (FB Messenger or text: 412-712-7131). To be included on the list, the event must: 1) Feature dancing (i.e. music, plus floor space for…
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