We wish to welcome you into the incredible world of partner dancing;
it is a world full of music, rhythm, movement, connection, history, creativity, and joy.
We offer instruction for dances in the Ballroom, Latin, and Swing dance families as well as Wedding First Dance.
About Us
Irina & Matías
Irina fell in love with dancing at age 6 in Philadelphia, PA, under the tutelage of world champion Inna Ivanenko. From a young age, she loved to learn subtle technique, improve her dancing, and share the love of dance with others. She received training from many great champions of International style Latin & Ballroom, and recieved many accolades including USADance National Champion and USA representative to the world at the WDSF World Championships. She is currently a student at the University of Pittsburgh studying Biopsychology.
Matías fell in love with dancing at age 19 in Pittsburgh, PA, at the Carnegie Mellon University Ballroom Dance Club. He grew up in a family of classical musicians and his brother Tomás is a pianist that transcends genres. He studied Physics, Computer Science, and Quantum Computing in his time at Carnegie Mellon University, but the rich complexity of dance spoke to him deeply. Recently, he was an Adjunct Professor in the Dance Department at Seton Hill University teaching the history and practice of partner dances in the Americas.
Matías & Irina started dancing together in 2021 and are on a quest to revolutionize the ballroom dance world by (re)connecting each dance authentically with its deep and complex historic roots. They have a passion for teaching dance with an emphasis on connection, authenticity, and natural movement.
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Our Dance Philosophy
Have you ever wondered why each dance is danced in its own particular way?
The answer to that question, as it turns out, is not so simple. In this series, we will begin unpacking the authentic history of a wide range of dances from around the world, and look for ideas and inspiration for dance and for life.
Chapter 1: Evolution of Afro-Cuban Dance Ideas
Part 1: Introduction & Historical Context Part 2: Performance at Seton Hill University, choreographed by Matías Jonsson Partner dances in Cuba evolved from the African slave trade. European dances like Contra Dance, Waltz, and Gavotte, Mazurka, and Flamenco mixed with religious music and dance from the diverse cultures of West Africa in colonial Cuba. 6 social and competitive ballroom dances are descended directly from this lineage.
Chapter 4: Dance History Explorer A tool for exploring the evolution of western hemisphere partner dances and some others.
Bonus Video: African rhythmical worldview A beautiful insight into the profound relationship between rhythm and life in the lives of the Malinke tribes of West Africa.
Address located at the bottom of this page. Please check the calendar for the most up-to-date information. No partner is necessary for any of our classes.
Please use the door phone (code 126, "APASIONADO" in directory) to be let in.
Want to know more? Contact us! Please do not contact the Wightman School.
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Private Lessons
Whether you are an absolute beginner looking to learn how to dance, or an experienced veteran social dancer wanting to take your dancing to the next level with new combinations and techniques, or a competitor looking to improve your quality on the floor, or someone else altogether, let us know how we can serve you best.
Prices listed below are for lessons with just one instructor at a time; lessons with both Matías & Irina may be purchased at a premium of $10 per lesson.
Holiday Sale: Gift certificates are 15% off till Jan 1
Bring us your favorite song, no matter how unusual, and we will help you learn to dance a magical first dance. A block of 5 lessons is the minimum that we recommend to make sure you are confident in your dancing.
We also offer lessons for dances with parents.
Holiday Sale: Gift certificates are 15% off till Jan 1
Pricing and lesson structure
Block Size
Block Price (Winter Holiday Sale
What you can expect to learn
The Bare Essentials: Two Lesson (2 x 1 hour)
$200 $170
Connection, basic steps that match your song, how to move together to the music.
Standard Package: Five Lessons (5 x 1 hour)
$475 $403
Approx. 90 seconds of choreography, an entrance, a dip or a trick at the end, and some more advanced dance steps and connection techniques.
Shock Your Family: Ten Lessons (10 x 1 hour)
$900 $765
Approx. 3-4 minutes of bespoke choreography, fully customized to match an entire song, with unique tricks and movements tailored to you.
If you wish to contact us to schedule a lesson, a wedding dance consultation, book us for an event, or anything else, you can use this form and we will be in touch shortly.
If you just wish to join our mailing list, you can click here to be added.
Alternatively, you can contact us directly.
Phone: 412-805-9798
Email: apasionado.pgh@gmail.com
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Try our newest progressive dance class: Rueda de Hustle!
6:30-7:30pm on tuesdays. $75 for the 5-week class, or $20 drop-in
All backgrounds and skill levels of dancers are welcome. In this class you will learn not only essential Hustle moves for increasing your skills dancing with a partner but also how to dance them in a group wheel formation socially ("Rueda" format).
This does not require choreography, as the moves are called out by someone in the circle for everyone to do in sync. Each class, some time will be allotted to Hustle moves in a group and some with just a partner.
