BYU Ballroom Dance Company

BYU dancers

The BYU Ballroom Dance Company originates in the Department of Dance of the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. It has been a part of Brigham Young University for nearly 50 years and competes and performs throughout the world.

History

For years BYU offered dance classes that included several genres, but with a specific focus on social dance. BYU's dance company didn't exist until 1953 when Alma Heaton joined the faculty as a recreation professor. Heaton came to BYU having taught social dance for a nationally recognized dance studio, and it seemed logical to continue that instruction at the university level. Heaton's work set the stage for BYU to become a leader in ballroom dance.[1] The Ballroom Dance program has been growing ever since and is now the largest collegiate ballroom dance program in the world.[2] In 1960[3] Benjamin F. de Hoyos (a BYU professor in the BYU College of Health and Human Performance) founded the Ballroom Dance Company and was the director for 10 years. Following de Hoyos, Roy and June Mavor directed the company from 1970 to 1975 when Emerson Lyman and his wife LeGene took the reins. In 1980 Lee Wakefield and his wife Linda began directing the company. Starting in 2015, Curt and Sharon Holman took the reigns as directors of the company and they continue to do so today.[4] "BYU was the first university to introduce dance into its curriculum; the school's involvement in the sport stretches back for a long time," observes Brian McDonald, president of the National Dance Council of America, which governs dance competitions in the United States. "And now BYU is, without question, the most influential school in the nation in terms of identifying dance as both a sport and a respected curriculum."[1]

Faculty

[5]

Organization

The BYU Ballroom Dance Company has 160 members[7] and is currently composed of five teams. It is directed by Curt and Sharon Holman.[8] The five teams include: The Touring Team, directed by Curt and Sharon Holman; The Back-Up Touring Team, directed by Marci Edgington; The 1:00 Team (intermediate), directed by Brent Keck; and The 2:00 and 3:00 Teams (beginning), directed by Staff Members. In addition to the team directors, Eleanor Wiblin has played a central role to the program as the Ballroom Dance Department Secretary, managing daily office affairs, student logistics and management at Dancesport competitions.

Competitions

The BYU Dance Company currently competes on both the National and International Level. The most recognized competitions that BYU participates in are: The United States National Formation Championships, The World Formation Championships (NDCA), and The British Formation Championships. Though all three competitions are highly competitive, The British Formation Championship is the most prestigious event in the competitive dance arena for individual competitors (though not for formation teams).[9] All three competitions comprise a variety of events in both the International Standard and Latin categories but the BYU Ballroom Dance Company only competes in the team formation events.

Awards

The BYU Ballroom Dance Company has consistently won numerous prestigious awards in the competitive arena. Since 1982, the team has annually won the NDCA title of United States National Formation Dance Champions.[10]

Since 1971, the company has competed at the highly esteemed British Open ballroom competition every three years,[9] most often placing first in both Latin and Standard formation categories.

The BYU Ballroom Dance Company are the first Americans to win the highly esteemed British Formation Championships, and they have done so ten times.[11]

Performances

Tours

The BYU Ballroom Dance Company touring team has been touring since 1971; visiting many countries and cities throughout the world.[12]

Concerts

The BYU Ballroom Dance Company annually presents Ballroom Dance in Concert and has done so for twenty-seven years.[13] The concerts are currently performed in the Marriott Center at BYU, but prior to 1987 the concerts were performed in the Smith Field House at BYU. The pieces are the creative works of Ballroom Dance Company directors Lee and Linda Wakefield, as well as guest choreographers and professional champion dancers from across the United States and Canada.[13] The concerts first received individual names in 2003; prior concerts were simply titled "Ballroom Dance in Concert".

See also

External links

References

  1. 1 2 Adams, Kellene Ricks, Amazing Grace, BYU Magazine Winter 1998
  2. ↑ Benjamin, Bob (January 20, 2006). BYU Ballroom Dance
  3. ↑ Bergera, Gary James; Priddis, Ronald (1985). "Chapter 8: Arts, Entertainment, & Literature". Brigham Young University: A House of Faith. Salt Lake City: Signature Books. ISBN 0-941214-34-6. OCLC 12963965.
  4. ↑ Performing Arts Management, Ballroom Dance Company, Press Kit, Fact Sheet March 2008
  5. 1 2 3 BYU Dancesport Championships About Us
  6. ↑ BYUdancesport.com
  7. ↑ Adams, Kellene Ricks, Amazing Grace, BYU Magazine Winter 1998
  8. ↑ Swift, E.M., Calling Arthur Murray, Sports Illustrated, April 24, 1995
  9. 1 2 News Release, Ballroom Dance Company, April 2005
  10. ↑ General News Release March 2008
  11. ↑ Rounddance.com, BYU Ballroom Dance Company, Jan. 20, 2006
  12. ↑ Performing Arts Management, Ballroom Dance Company, Press Kit, Tour History Feb. 2008
  13. 1 2 BYU News Release, March 31, 2008
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