Pittsburgh Swing Dance Community

Lindy Hop demands a lot from our feet, hips, core, and cardiovascular system! Let’s take some time to learn about how we can care for our bodies and become stronger, more resilient, and more agile dancers.

We’ll cover all of these topics and more. Take what resonates with you to help improve your longevity in this dance!

Jamie is a sports massage therapist & Physical Therapist Assistant who has survived many a dance weekend. She’s excited to share practical tips and evidence-informed strategies based on both her dance and professional career experience.

Date: Saturday 7/18 from 1-3pm
Location: Wilkins School Community Center
7604 Charleston Ave, Pittsburgh 15218
Cost: $25 when you register at pittsburghswingdance.com by 5 PM on 7/15, or $35 at the door.

Give yourself plenty of extra time to get to Wilkins due to the 376 detours and parking restrictions around our venue!

I-376 Parkway East will be undergoing a large-scale bridge replacement starting July 10th stretching from the Squirrel Hill Tunnel to the Edgewood/Swissvale exit. Expected to last about a month, this construction will heavily impact commutes to Wilkins School Community Center for PSDC events.

⚠️What to Expect ⚠️

Extra Traffic: Even if you don’t usually use this route to get to swing, you will likely experience extra traffic/delays due to the large volume of extra cars taking alternate routes.

We strongly recommend giving yourself extra time to commute to classes and dances.

Detours: Search “376 detour” for a map of alternate car (and bike!) routes to avoid the area of construction.

Parking Impacts: Due to the closure, parking around Wilkins will be further restricted to allow emergency vehicles to navigate safely.

Stay tuned for updates as we monitor the impact of this closure!

Join us for PSDC’s annual picnic in Highland Park! We will be grilling hamburgers and hotdogs, including vegetarian options. Bring a side or treat to share if you wish*, or equipment for outdoor games and activities!

When: July 2, 6-9 PM
Where: Sycamore Grove Shelter in Highland Park, on Reservoir Dr.

*If bringing a homemade dish, please have a list of ingredients handy for our friends with allergies!

Online pre-registration is now open for our July classes! Lindy Hop 1 students can get all 4 lessons and 4 social dances for just $45 when you pre-register at pittsburghswingdance.com by Wednesday 7/1 at 5 PM.

🟡Lindy Hop 1 - No experience, no partner needed!
🟢Lindy Hop 2B: 6 Count & Other Rhythms
🔵Lindy 3 Workshop: Tandem Charleston
🟠Open Level Workshop: Body Care & Conditioning for Lindy Hoppers

And save the date for these additional happenings!
7/2: PSDC Community Picnic
7/29: Beginner lesson and live music dance with The Boilermaker Jazz Band at The Frick Museum - details and registration at https://www.thefrickpittsburgh.org/Event-Mid-Summer-Swing-Dance-and-Live-Music

Swipe through to learn about each of these offerings and pre-register at pittsburghswingdance.com!

Location:
Wilkins School Community Center
7604 Charleston Ave, Pittsburgh 15218

We will welcome Penna Players back to the PSDC stage on Wednesday, 6/24! Penna Players music features a trad jazz sound - perfect for dance styles including Lindy Hop, Balboa, S**g, and Charleston.

Note that the lesson from 7-8 PM is week 4 of our progressive series. If you’re brand-new, come dance to Penna Players at 8 PM, and then join us for the start of our next lesson series on Wednesday 7/1!

$20 at-the-door for 3hrs of live music and dancing!
No experience, no partner needed.

7:00-7:30 Beginner Swing Lesson
7:30-10:30 Social Dance ft. Boilermaker Jazz Band

Venue: Bulgarian Macedonian National Educational & Cultural Center (BMNECC).

Parking: Gravel parking lot next to the BMNECC, or street parking.

First time dancing with us? Here's a few tips:

- Wear smooth-soled shoes. Bring a fan, a towel, or a change of shirt. Stay hydrated. Dancing can be hard work!

- Be bold: Ask someone to dance. Some dancers dance both Follow and Lead roles; Some dancers dance only one role. It's okay to ask which roles they do.

- We commonly find a different partner each song, but it's okay to ask if someone wants to dance a second song in a row.

- It's OK to say "no" when someone asks you to dance. You don't need to give a reason. Do be polite (E.g., "No, but thank you for asking.")

- If you ask someone to dance and they say "no", try not to take it personally. There are so many reasons why we may not want to dance in that moment! You can say "Okay. If you want to dance later, come find me."

- Standing close to the dancefloor is a hint that you might want to dance, in case you're nervous to do the asking.

- Solo dancing is awesome! If the song makes you want to groove you don't have to wait to find a partner... just dance how your body wants to!

Have you remembered to register for the Intermediate Balboa Workshop?

Register by 5pm on Friday, June 5, before price goes up!
https://www.pittsburghswingdance.com/product-page/balboa-workshop-w-allie-dorothea

Workshop registration gets you into the Saturday night dance for free!
4 hours of lessons
3 hours of dancing ft. Live music from the Boilermaker Jazz Band!

Happy Pride Month! We are hosting a meetup for our q***r dancers on June 20th from 12-2pm at The Soft Spot, a local q***r cafe!

This will be a casual hangout and an opportunity for folks to chat and spend time together off the dance floor. Please support The Soft Spot by indulging in their fine coffee, treats, and bagels!

Location: 5407 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA

You can our Discord to coordinate rides - there’s a “carpool” channel! If you’re not on our Discord yet, there’s a link at the very bottom of pittsburghswingdance.com (look for the social media platform icons).

Join the Pittsburgh Swing Dance Community for an evening of amazing music and dancing, with LIVE music from the Boilermaker Jazz Band! No experience, no partner needed to attend.

Pre-register at pittsburghswingdance.com for $20 - that gets you 3 hours of dancing to the Boilermakers plus a free beginner lesson!

Saturday, June 13
7:00pm-7:30pm: Beginner Swing Dance Lesson
7:30pm-10:30pm: Social Dance
 
Location: Bulgarian Macedonian National Education & Cultural Center, 451 W 8th Ave, West Homestead, PA 15120

NOTE: If you have registered for the Balboa Workshop with Allie & Dorothea, you DO NOT need to register separately for this dance! It’s included in your workshop registration.

Want TWO nights of dancing? Come to the FREE Friday Night Swing Dance at Golden Age on June 12!

We’re excited to return to on June 12th for another Friday night swing dance with the !

Beginner lesson: 6:30-7:00
Social dance: 7:00-10:00

Even though there is no cover charge to attend, we strongly encourage RSVPing at pittsburghswingdance.com>Lessons>Registration, in addition to supporting our partners by ordering food/drinks and tipping the band!

You can also support Golden Age by returning your glassware when you’re finished with your drinks ;) We packed the house so much last time that they ran out of glasses to serve drinks in!