The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

Our One-Year Anniversary of Salsa Friday dances at the Cabaret at Theater Square is this Friday, November 6, 2009. We will celebrate this night by having two DJs, Two dance performances and also cake (and maybe even ice cream).

DJ Israelo Diaz from Cleveland, OH, along with Jeff Shirey will provide the music, and Pitts...burgh's own Acero Bravo will perform a Mambo routine. Rob Clark and Richard Walters will also bring a group of Tango dancers to perform as well.

Doors open at 10:00 pm with a free lesson and the music goes from 10:30 pm to 2:00 am. Cover charge is $5.00 or Free if you have a ticket stub from an earlier Cultural District theater that night.

Read More

Dwayne Dolphin began playing the drums at ten years of age. In that same year he began to play the bass guitar. By the time Dolphin was fifteen, he was on the jazz scene working with Pittsburgh greats such as Roger Humphries, Pete Henderson, and Carl Arter.

Throughout his career, Dolphin has had the opportunity to play ...and record with the "Who's Who" of music. Nancy Wilson, Melba Moore, Fred Wesley, and Abby Lincoln, just to name a few.

Mr. Dolphin's vast and diverse experience has afforded him the opportunity to lend his musical expertise in many areas. Including performances with The Pittsburgh Ballet Theaters production of "Indigo In Motion", as well as his current position at Duquesne University as Adjunct Professor of Jazz. Read More

Jeff, a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra since 1996, received his musical training at Youngstown State University, The Cleveland Institute of Music, and the University of Southern California. While a student at USC, he won a position of Orchestral Fellow with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra through the Music ...Assistance Fund, and has since played with the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra prior to joining the PSO. In addition to his orchestral achievements, he is also an accomplished jazz bassist. In 1996, Jeff won Downbeat Magazine’s “Dee Bee” award for Best Collegiate Bass Soloist, and has since performed and recorded with many touring internationally known jazz artists. Grubbs was most recently Associate Professor of Jazz Double Bass at the University of Illinois/ Urbana-Champaign and is currently an adjunct faculty member at Slippery Rock University.

Tania has been singing for over 30 years, in many different venues and styles. She is a graduate of Youngstown State University. While a student she gravitated toward singing and learning about jazz, starting with the classic American songbooks. Tania focused on listening to every vocalist she could get her hands on. Whenever possible, she would "sit in" at jam sessions, and a little over 19 years ago at a jazz session, is where she met her now husband bassist, Jeff Grubbs. Jeff’s career landed the couple in South Florida where they lived for 5 years. Tania sang in jazz clubs, performed in numerous theater productions, and concert settings while in Florida. Tania was as a featured vocalist with the Florida Philharmonic, and was a “voice” of Boca Raton Pops Orchestra for 3 years. In 1996, Jeff landed his position with the PSO, so the family, now of 3 moved to Pittsburgh. Today you will most likely hear Tania singing fronting her own jazz quartet, The Tania Grubbs Quartet, featuring Jeff on Bass. While in Pittsburgh, Tania has been a four-time recipient of the Ready for Life Grants, founded by the Heinz Foundation, working with young children through music and movement. She has also been a featured vocalist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with the Civic Light Opera. Jeff and Tania are proud parents of three great kids, and they are honored to call Pittsburgh their home and to be part of its' rich musical legacy.Read More

October 27 – December 17

Tuesdays
7:30 PM Salsa Basics On1
8:30 PM Advanced Beginner Salsa On1

Wednesdays
5:45 PM Salsa Basic On1
7:30 PM Salsa Basic On1
8:30 PM Advanced Beginner Salsa On1

Thursdays
7:30 PM Intermediate Salsa On1/On2
8:30 PM Partner Dancing for Dancers

Evening Student Rate $10
Standard Drop-In Rate $15
2009 Prep...aid Session 5 $105
2010 Prepaid Session $120


Location: Trust Arts Education Center
805-807 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District
Contact: classes@thedancecafe.com, Phone: 412-401-6499
Website: thedancecafe.com

Read More