Dancing is a wonderful experience for people of all ages. The art of dancing boasts creativity and allows dancers to stay active in a new way. Whether you’re new to dance or have years of experience, you can find a class to enjoy and learn something new. A number of professional studios can be found across Pittsburgh, enhancing the love of dance through meaningful and inclusive instruction.
Flamenco Pittsburgh
Flamenco isn’t just found in Spain; it’s here in Pittsburgh too! Flamenco is known for its elegant moves and intricate footwork, showcasing an emotional expression of art through dance, singing, and guitar. Carolina Loyola-Garcia and Rocio Nogales are the founders of the nonprofit dance studio, Flamenco Pittsburgh. Since 2002, their goal has been to create awareness for flamenco music, song, and dance without leaving Pittsburgh. Flamenco Pittsburgh’s programming celebrates the roots of this art in Hispanic culture and history (it is a Heritage Treasure, according to UNESCO) and engages audiences from within and outside the Hispanic community.
Loyola-Garcia has taught classes in flamenco dance and culture at community and dance centers, in addition to her studio in Pittsburgh. Classes at the studio are offered for beginners through advanced students, including both children and adults. “The school draws a mix of those seeking to deepen their knowledge of their Hispanic heritage and those with no ethnic connection to the art form,” said Loyola-Garcia. “I have been on stage since I was nine years old and fell in love with performance. It brings a sense of connection to my cultural heritage and has allowed me to build a community and sense of belonging in Pittsburgh.”
Flamenco Pittsburgh produces evening-length shows in various venues such as the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, Greer Cabaret Theater, and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Arts Education Center, as well as community festivals. Their shows around the city feature dance students performing to flamenco music in its traditional live form.
The organization also brings live flamenco performances to local schools. The group aims to deepen knowledge about flamenco’s history, political, and social roots through lecture demonstrations at grade schools and universities. They engage students, faculty, and administrators at each performance to partake in the joy of movement.
“We are an inclusive organization, and we’ve had students from all over the world and all walks of life,” said Loyola-Garcia. “We are driven by our passion for the art form and our desire to find cultural connections and shared experiences.”
Art in Motion Pittsburgh
Art in Motion first started out offering adults and children international dance forms, such as samba, belly dancing, and more. The Sharpsburg-based studio has grown over the years to offer even more dance forms, including ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern, and more. Jen Gallagher, owner of Art in Motion, stated, “We firmly believe that everybody deserves to dance, regardless of age, skill level, or anything else. Dance gives me hope every day. It’s something my daughter and I can do together that is both humbling and rewarding.”
Art in Motion offers its students a punch card, allowing for class flexibility with their daily schedules. Students are encouraged to drop into a class when they have time, rather than paying for a fixed package of sessions. Student ages range from toddlers to retirees, and the studio welcomes anyone with an interest in dance to come by.
“We love welcoming new students, especially beginners,” said Gallagher. “We even have many people who return to dance later in life, so the studio offers a lot of mixed-level classes. Hope to see everyone on our dance floor!”
Additional Dance Studios in Pittsburgh
For people looking for ballroom dance lessons for weddings, date nights, or just for fun, Arthur Murray Dance Centers will take their students from wallflowers to dancing queens. With three locations across town, they offer over 30 dance styles, including two-step, salsa, tango, swing, and many more.
For salsa, bachata, zouk, merengue, and more, check out Los Sabrosos Dance Company in Pittsburgh. The studio offers month-long, progressive group classes to teach students Latin dancing. Additional forms of dance like Zumba, burlesque, and performance, plus kids’ classes, are also taught throughout the year.
From contemporary to hip-hop, jazz, and more, Firewall Dance Theater in the South Side provides drop-in classes and packages for students. Unique classes such as Chicago Footwork and Intro to Heels are also taught, and the studio produces shows open to the public each season.
Center Stage Dance Academy in the North Hills invites grade school students to participate in tap, pointe, jazz, ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, and more. Classes start for children as young as two years old. The studio has received many accolades throughout the region for its artistic excellence and innovative choreography.
Comments