Psychologist John Mazzola was spending a leisurely evening at the popular "Jukebox Sunday Nights" dance party at Sandcastle last month when he came across some former participants from one of his relationship seminars.

"They were so sad," said Dr. Mazzola, who has a Ph.D. in psychology and specializes in marriage and family counseling and sales training.

The two dozen or so people he spoke with all blamed their melancholy on the same thing: the demise of the wildly popular Sophisticated Singles dances that up until recently were held Friday evenings at the Holiday Inn in Green Tree.

It was the venue that Dr. Mazzola recommended to participants in his seminars as a first step in forming romantic relationships.

Wanting to help and also to enhance his own dating/matching program, Dr. Mazzola decided to re-start a series of Friday evening dances, but this time with a twist.

Tomorrow night, his "Path to Your Soulmate" dance will debut at the same place and time of the former Sophisticated Singles dances: Grand Ballroom at the Holiday Inn Green Tree, 401 Holiday Drive, from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday. The cost is $8.

Like the former Sophisticated dances, there will be music from the 1960s and 1970s played by a disc jockey. And, as always, there will be a cash bar.

The Sophisticated Singles dances ended after more than two decades when the popular event's founder, Nancy Paul of Baldwin Borough, died in November from complications of lupus, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Ms. Paul had started the dances in 1985 after divorcing. Sophisticated Singles was one of the largest and longest running singles groups in Western Pennsylvania. More than 1,000 people married after meeting at the dances.

A notable change from the Sophisticated dances is that attendees now can arrive at 7:30 p.m. and fill out a free questionnaire designed to find matches in personality, interests and desires with others who are attending.

The questionnaires match interests in activities such as dancing, eating out, sports and exercise, and in values, such as "how important is physical appearance?"

Attendees can then compare their responses to others to determine common interests.

"This is a good start," said Dr. Mazzola, of Bethel Park. "It provides some basis to communicate."

Dr. Mazzola said he has used the questionnaire in group sessions to spark conversation and get people acquainted.

He noted, however, that attendees can choose not to participate, or can complete a questionnaire later.

The dance is a first step in his "Path to Your Soulmate" dating/matching service. The second, optional step involves filmed personal interviews, matching and eight arranged dates for $600.

Attendees at the first dance will get one free arranged date following a phone interview with Dr. Mazzola.

He also conducts a monthly workshop/retreat for $25 that offers group and one-on-one relationship counseling, and appearance advice from cosmetologist Claudia Wiencek, of Houston, Washington County.

Besides providing clients and seminar participants with a "nice, safe place to meet before dating," Dr. Mazzola said the dance is a test of his business acumen.

"I help salesmen increase business every day. So now I'm going to help myself increase business and see if I'm any good, he said.

For more information, call 412-600-0518.

First Published: September 20, 2007, 10:15 a.m.