National Dance Festival to “Trip the Light Fantastic” in Pittsburgh

By Janice Lane Palko

It was poet John Milton, who first described dancing in his 1645 poem “L’Allegro” as the “light fantastic toe,” which morphed into the more common phrase “to trip the light fantastic.” 

Milton knew what he was writing about as dancing is fantastic for the body, mind, and spirit. Those who will be heading to downtown Pittsburgh for the USA Dance Inc. 2026 National Dance Festival already know the delights of dance, and they invite others to join in on the fun.

This is the fourth year that USA Dance has hosted National DanceSport and Collegiate Championships in Pittsburgh, and this year’s festivities will be, once again, held at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh March 27—29.  

“The competitions are a marvelous opportunity to see the very best dancers competing in age groups from Pre-Teen (age nine and under) to Senior (age 75 and up) and in a match-up of collegiate teams,” said Gloria Schohn, a member of USA Dance and an avid ballroom dancer. She and her husband, who are both seniors, have only been ballroom dancing for a few years, and are excited that the city will once again be hosting. 

Competitors will be representing most states in the union, including Hawaii, and over 800 dancers, including 400 collegiates, who are expected to participate.

The DanceSport Championships are the culminating event of a year-long extensive program of local, collegiate, and regional competitive ballroom competitions, and it is where spectators will see the very best dancers of both American and International style performing dances. They will compete in Rumba, Waltz, Cha Cha, Tango, and Quick Step, as well as fun dances such as Salsa, Hustle, West Coast Swing, and Night Club Two Step.

The National Championships have proven to be so successful that USA Dance has expanded it this year into the National Dance Festival. New features include a Social Dance Celebration and a Professional Summit, which will include 44 workshops for all social dance levels and two evening social dances, as well as workshops for dance professionals (studio owners/instructors and competition officials) and USA Dance chapter leaders. 

There are opportunities for social dancers to watch the competitions, and for competitors to join the social dancers, giving observers an opportunity to perhaps pick up a few new moves.

Recently, there have been a plethora of articles from medical societies to the U.S. Surgeon General bemoaning the epidemic of loneliness in America, which can be very detrimental to health. In fact, the Surgeon General’s report states that, “loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity.”

One solution to the epidemic is to dance. 

“Dancing is a great exercise. It lifts the mood and increases social interaction,” said Gloria. “It’s difficult to be sad when you’re dancing.”

Another benefit of the National Dance Festival is that it provides opportunities for people to interact with volunteers who help with the festival. 

Hosting the competition is a labor of love for the Pittsburgh chapter, as USA Dance is an all-volunteer organization. The members recruit dancers, volunteers, spectators, and sponsors for the Nationals, and do it for the love of dance. The Pittsburgh area has a vibrant dance scene with 17 ballroom dance studios and another dozen specialized dance organizations in the region. 

“We can always use help,” said Gloria. “And volunteering is a great way to meet people and enjoy music and dance.”

For more information on the 2026 National Dance Festival, how to volunteer, and to buy tickets, visit the website: https://usadancenationals.org/.