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The BYU Ballroom Dance Company was originated from the college of Communication, Dance and Fine Arts Department at the Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. It has been competing and performing around the world as part of BYU for nearly 50 years now.
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. [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 reins 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," 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." [1]
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 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. In addition to the team directors, Mandi Johnson plays a central role in the program as the Ballroom Dance Department Secretary, managing daily office affairs, student logistics, and management at Dancesport competitions. [ citation needed ]
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. [9]
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). [10] 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.
Since 1982, the BYU Ballroom Dance Company has annually won the NDCA title of United States National Formation Dance Champions. [11]
Since 1971, the company has competed at the British Open ballroom competition every three years, [10] often placing first in both Latin and Standard formation categories.[ citation needed ]
The BYU Ballroom Dance Company are the first Americans to win the British Formation Championships, and they have done so ten times. [12]
The BYU Ballroom Dance Company touring team has been touring since 1971; visiting many countries and cities throughout the world. [13]
The BYU Ballroom Dance Company annually presents Ballroom Dance in Concert and has done so for twenty-seven years. [15] 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 Curt & Sharon Holman, as well as guest choreographers and professional champion dancers from across the United States and Canada. [15] The concerts first received individual names in 2003; prior concerts were simply titled "Ballroom Dance in Concert".
Brigham Young University (BYU) is a private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"The Council of Fifty" was a Latter Day Saint organization established by Joseph Smith in 1844 to symbolize and represent a future theocratic or theodemocratic "Kingdom of God" on the earth. Smith prophetically claimed that this Kingdom would be established in preparation for the Millennium and the Second Coming of Jesus.
The State of Deseret was a proposed state of the United States, promoted by leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who had founded settlements in what is today the state of Utah. A provisional state government operated for nearly two years in 1849–50, but was never recognized by the United States government. The name Deseret derives from the word for "honeybee" in the Book of Mormon.
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BYU Vocal Point, or simply Vocal Point, is a seven to nine-member, male a cappella group at Brigham Young University (BYU). Founded by two students, Bob Ahlander & Dave Boyce, in 1991, Vocal Point is under the direction of former member Carson Trautman.
The Young Ambassadors are a song and dance performing group from Brigham Young University (BYU). Consisting of 20 performers, 10 male and 10 female, they were founded by Janie Thompson in 1969. Since their first international performance at the 1970 World Fair in Osaka, Japan, they have performed in over 68 countries.
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Almon Whiting Babbitt was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement, a Mormon pioneer, and the first secretary and treasurer of the Territory of Utah. He was killed in a raid by Cheyenne Native Americans in Nebraska Territory while travelling on government business between Utah and Washington, D.C.
The BYU Division of Continuing Education (DCE) is a division of Brigham Young University (BYU) that oversees continuing education programs.
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The Brigham Young University International Folk Dance Ensemble is a Brigham Young University (BYU) performing group that performs folk dances from many parts of the world. They were established as a small performing group in 1959 by Mary Bee Jensen and have grown to include around 180 participants. However, about 30 of the dancers participate in the touring ensemble which has performed in many locations around the world including at the cultural festival held in connection with the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea and at the opening ceremonies in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Living Legends, originally the Lamanite Generation, is a song and dance performing group at Brigham Young University made up of performers of Native American, Polynesian and Hispanic or Latino origin. They perform dances that originate in these cultures as well. Living Legends was formed in 1971 by Janie Thompson.
The following television stations broadcast on digital channel 30 in the United States:
The following low-power television stations broadcast on digital or analog channel 23 in the United States:
The following outline is provided as an overview of and a topical guide to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.