Education & Classes in Upper Saint Clair

In 1949, Charles “Chick” and Elda Mae Bruckman founded Bruckman School of Dance as a center of education for dancers of all ages and skill levels. A lifelong devotee of dance, Chick began his career at 6 years old and remains the school’s artistic director to this day. Along with a team of instructors, the Bruckmans introduce students to dance styles including tap, ballet, jazz, pointe, and hip-hop. As they lead students in mastering choreographed routines, they also teach dance history, imparting the origins of ballet and how NASA scientists made the moonwalk a dance craze in the early '70s. In addition to conventional dance classes, they host dance-inspired fitness classes, such as the Hip Hop Hustle and Turbo Kick, to get cardiovascular systems pumping.

Chef Gaynor Grant, who has trained with epicureans in Europe and New York, presides over a school that has forged restaurant owners and caterers while remaining accessible to students of all skill levels and interests. The Art of Fine Cooking 1, a five-week class, begins by elucidating basic culinary skills such as sautéing, braising, and crocheting with spaghetti noodles. Students apply their newfound knowledge and provided ingredients to creations, whipping up batches of food that may include chocolate mousse and grand marnier soufflé, which play important roles in a feast at the end of each session. Like a Ouija-board monologue, each class involves extensive hands-on work and lasts between 4.5–5 hours. The school's varied schedule offers a range of morning and evening classes, and more will be added according to demand.