Jake Heart

I first fell in love with ballroom dancing in my spare time while doing research at UIUC, south of Chicago. When I returned to Philadelphia, I immediately sought out a team, and joined UPenn's ballroom team, competing across the East Coast. When I moved to Stanford, I started their team which is now thriving.

Most recently in Portland, I’ve created PSU’s team — but I realized what I really wanted was to create a space where queer folks and allies could experience the athleticism, artistry, and pure joy of ballroom together. That vision became QStep PDX: a queer-led community where you can sweat, sparkle, and grow, whether you’re stepping onto the floor for the first time or training for international competition.

Expect classes that are fast-paced but beginner-friendly, inclusive, and always full of energy. Ballroom changed my life — and I can’t wait to share that spark with you.