This October, a new dance studio opened in Bloomfield and made history. The owner, Holly Dayton-Kirby, hopes it will also help create a brighter future. The Pittsburgh Dance Center, located on the second floor of the former Plaza Theater in Bloomfield, is the largest in Pittsburgh, with over 5000 square feet of floating dance floor.

Over 35 professional instructors offer classes in ballroom, salsa, swing, ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, bellydance and more, as well as a full range of fitness classes including Zumba, yoga, and pilates. Dance and fitness classes are also offered for youth, from toddlers to high school dancers. Class rates have been set at $5 and $10, to make them affordable to the wider community, and scholarships will be offered.

Holly Dayton-Kirby is a noted Pittsburgh ballroom dance performer and instructor. In the past, she performed as a member of the cast of Riverdance. However, her journey to the glitzy world of professional dance began in gritty Bloomfield. Raised by a single mother, it was often a struggle to pay tuition for dance classes. Now, Holly wants to give back to her community. She lives in the South Hills, but chose to open her studio in the heart of Bloomfield so that kids whose parents struggle to make ends meet will be able to afford high quality dance instruction. She also hopes that the wider community will feel welcomed into the space. “If you can walk, you can dance” says Kirby, “If you can dream, you can dance.”

Two upcoming events include a Bloomfield Appreciation Day with FREE salsa dancing for residents with a 15224 zip code, and a kids’ dance party for K–8 children. See details below, or call the Pittsburgh Dance Center at 412-681-0111 for more information.

Bloomfield Appreciation Day!

Sunday, December 18, 2011
7:00 PM Advanced Salsa
7:45 PM Beginner & Intermediate
Followed by Open Dance from 8:30 PM–11:00 PM

Pittsburgh Dance Center
4765 Liberty Avenue, Second Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Free Admission, Snacks & Refreshments
Present ID with a 15224 zip code

Download a printable flyer.

Saturday, December 17, 2011
5:00 PM–7:00 PM

Pittsburgh Dance Center
4765 Liberty Avenue, Second Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

$2.00 per kid/$5.00 max per family
Complimentary Snacks & Refreshments

Bloomfield Events Calendar