The BYU Ballroom Dance Company is one of the most recognized collegiate ballroom dance teams in the world. Based at Brigham Young University, the company is known for its high level of technical skill, creative choreography, and polished performances. The team is made up of top dancers selected through a competitive audition process, and they train extensively in multiple ballroom styles, including Standard, Latin, Smooth, and Rhythm.

One of the biggest accomplishments of the BYU Ballroom Dance Company is its consistent success at the Blackpool Dance Festival, which is considered the most prestigious ballroom competition in the world. The team has won the formation team championship at Blackpool multiple times, earning a reputation for excellence on an international stage. These victories highlight not only their technical precision but also their ability to tell a story through synchronized group performances.

In addition to competition success, the company is known for its global touring. The team regularly travels to countries across Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world, performing for diverse audiences and representing both BYU and the United States. These tours often include collaborations with other performing groups and provide cultural exchange opportunities, allowing dancers to connect with people from different backgrounds through the art of dance.

The BYU Ballroom Dance Company also contributes to campus life through performances at university events, showcases, and concerts. Their routines often blend traditional ballroom with modern themes, music, and theatrical elements, making their performances engaging and accessible to a wide audience. This creativity has helped the team stand out not just as competitors, but as entertainers.

Overall, the BYU Ballroom Dance Company has built a legacy of excellence through dedication, discipline, and innovation. Their achievements at prestigious competitions, combined with their international presence and artistic performances, have made them a leader in collegiate ballroom dance and a source of pride for Brigham Young University.

History For years BYU offered dance classes that included various genres but with a specific focus on social dance. The 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 at 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. Adams, Kellene Ricks, Amazing Grace, BYU Magazine Winter 1998 The Ballroom Dance program has been growing ever since and is now the largest collegiate ballroom dance program in the world. In 1960 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 reins as directors of the company and they continue to do so today.Performing Arts Management, Ballroom Dance Company, Press Kit, Fact Sheet March 2008 "BYU was the first university to introduce dance into its curriculum; the school's involvement in the sport stretches back for a long time," said 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."

Faculty Curt and Sharon Holman: Curt and his wife Sharon are former competitors in Professional Latin American and Theater Arts Category. As Cabaret dancers, they were finalists in U.S., British, and World competitions. Both have master's degrees in Dance (MFA, Brigham Young University) and are dual licentiates with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance. Curt, an associate Professor, is currently the division director of Ballroom Dance at Brigham Young University. Sharon directs the BYU Ballroom Dance for the youth program. Brent Keck: Brent is a former competitor in the Professional Latin-American division and holds a master's degree in dance. He is a dual licentiate with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance and is recognized by the NDCA as a "Championship" judge. Currently, Brent is the National Committee Executive Secretary for AIDA (American International Dancers Association) and is a full-time faculty member at BYU. As an Associate Professor Brent is integral in the administration of the BYU ballroom program. His excellence in teaching and choreography is evidenced by his direction of the BYU Youth Dancesport "A" Teams which have won United States National Championship formation titles in the Youth Latin and Ballroom categories 26 Times.BYUdancesport.com

Organization The BYU Ballroom Dance Company has 160 membersAdams, Kellene Ricks, Amazing Grace, BYU Magazine Winter 1998 and is currently composed of five teams. It is directed by Curt and Sharon Holman.Swift, E.M., Calling Arthur Murray, Sports Illustrated, April 24, 1995 The five teams include: The Touring Company, directed by Curt and Sharon Holman; The Showcase Company, directed by Brent Keck; Ensembles I (intermediate), II, and III (beginning), directed by staff members.

Medleys

BYU’s Ballroom program competes 2 medleys that change themes every three years. They compete one latin medley which consists of the 5 dances Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Jive, and Paso Doble. They also compete one standard medley which consists of the 5 dances Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, and Viennese Waltz. The medleys below are the themes that they have used.

Latin: Somebody to Love (2023-26) Carmen (2020-23)

Standard: Fiddler on the Roof (2023-26) The Sound of Music (2020-23)

Competitions

BYU's ballroom program further established itself in 1993 when it was chosen to host the World Amateur Championships. This eventually led to BYU's selection to host the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dance Championships, considered to be one of the most prestigious amateur ballroom dance competition in the United States.

The BYU Dance Company currently competes on both the National and International Levels 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).News Release, Ballroom Dance Company, April 2005 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 Since 1982, the BYU Ballroom Dance Company has annually won the NDCA title of United States National Formation Dance Champions.

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

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

Performances

Tours The BYU Ballroom Dance Company touring team has been touring since 1971; visiting many countries and cities throughout the world.Performing Arts Management, Ballroom Dance Company, Press Kit, Tour History Feb. 2008

2022-23 1. Nevada and California 2. England and Belgium 2021-22 1. Colorado and Wyoming 2. Belgium, France, Germany 2020-21 1. Livestreamed "Virtual Tour" 2019-20 1. Tour cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic 2018-19 1. England, France, Belgium, France, Switzerland 2017-18 1. New York, Virginia, Washington DC, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts https://www.facebook.com/pg/BYU-Ballroom-Dance-161466173882793/events/ 2016-17 1. Chile and Argentina 2015-16 1. England, Scotland, and Wales 2014-15 1. Arizona, Utah 2. Nauvoo, IL 2013-14 1. Colorado, Wyoming 2. China, Hong Kong 2012-13 1. Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana 2. England, Germany, Switzerland 2009-10 1. Utah, Nevada, California. 2. England and Scotland 2008-09 1. Idaho, Oregon, Washington 2. Mid-West and Eastern United States 2007-08 1. Arizona, Utah 2. Hong Kong, China 2006-07 1. New Mexico, Texas 2. England, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain 2005-06 1. Colorado, Wyoming 2. Ukraine, Nauvoo, IL 2004-05 1. Northern Nevada and California 2. Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, French Polynesia, Nauvoo, IL 2003-04 1. Southern Utah, Nevada, California 2. England, Belgium, France, Spain, Nauvoo, IL 2002-03 1. Washington 2001-02 1. Wyoming 2. Mid-West and Eastern United States 2000-01 1. New Mexico, Texas 2. England, Norway, Sweden, Denmark 1999-00 1. Arizona 2. Hong Kong, People's Republic of China, Far East Russia, South Korea, Mongolia 1998-99 1. Northern Nevada, California 2. South Africa 1997-98 1. Oregon, Washington, Idaho 2. England, Scotland 1996-97 1. Southern Nevada, California 2. Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Finland 3. Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines 1995-96 1. Arizona 2. Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia 3. Taiwan, Malaysia 1994-95 1. New Mexico, Texas 2. England, Scotland, Belgium, Germany, France 1993-94 1. Northern Nevada, California 2. Russia, Ukraine, Hungary 1992-93 1. Washington, Oregon, Idaho 2. Utah, California, People's Republic of China, Republic of China, Thailand 1991-92 1. Utah, Nevada, Southern California 2. England, Belgium, Netherlands 1990-91 1. Northern California 2. California, Illinois, Michigan, Canada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Washington D.C. 1989-90 1. Miami, Florida (United States Ballroom Championships) 2. Stuttgart, Germany (World Ballroom Championships) 3. Arizona 4. Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii 1988-89 1. Miami, Florida (United States Ballroom Championships) 2. New Mexico 3. England, Belgium, West Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Michigan 1987-88 1. Miami, Florida (United States Ballroom Championships) 2. Southern California 3. Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana 1986-87 1. Miami, Florida (United States Ballroom Championships) 2. Bremen, Germany (World Ballroom Championships) 3. Northern California 4. People's Republic of China, Republic of China, Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand 1985-86 1. Miami, Florida (United States Ballroom Championships) 2. Washington, Oregon, Idaho 3. England, New York 1984-85 1. New York (United States Ballroom Championships) 2. Southern Utah, Nevada, California 3. Jordan (Jerash Festival) 1983-84 1. New York (United States Ballroom Championships) 2. Northern California 3. People's Republic of China, Republic of China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Hawaii 1982-83 1. Southern Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico 2. England, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria 1981-82 1. Northwest U.S. 1980-81 1. Southern California 2. England 1979-80 1. Washington 1978-79 1. Northern California 2. England, Belgium, Netherlands 1977-78 1. Oregon, Washington, Alberta 2. Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma 1976-77 1. Idaho, Oregon, Washington 2. England, Scotland 1974-75 1. England 1972-73 1. New York 1971-72 1. Idaho, Oregon, Washington 2. New Mexico, Texas

Concerts