The BYU Ballroom Dance Company originates in the Department of Dance of the College of Health and Human Performance 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. The Ballroom Dance program has been growing ever since and is now the largest collegiate dance program in the world. In 1960 Benjamin F. de Hoyos (later a BYU recreation professor) 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, and continue to do so today. "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."
Faculty
- Lee and Linda Wakefield:
Lee Wakefield and his wife Linda are former U.S. Theater Arts Champions. Over the past thirty years they have been instrumental in the growth of Ballroom Dancing at Brigham Young University, they are the directors of the World Famous BYU Ballroom Dance Touring Company. Both Lee and Linda are World Class Adjudicators. Lee is currently the chair of the Department of Dance at BYU and is the Ballroom Director for the National Dance Council of America.
- 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 a Masters Degree in Dance 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 youth program.
- Marci Edgington:
Marci Edgington directs the Social Dance Program at the University. She holds a Masters degree in dance and is a dual licenciate with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance.
- Claudia Hill:
Claudia Teaches in the Social Dance Program at the University. She holds a Masters degree in dance and is a dual licenciate with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance.
Organization
The BYU Ballroom Dance Company has 160 members and is currently composed of five teams. It is directed by Lee and Linda Wakefield who have done so since 1980. The five teams include: The Touring Team, directed by Lee and Linda Wakefield; The Back-Up Touring Team, directed by Curt and Sharon Holman; The 1:00 Team (intermediate), directed by Marci Edgington; and The 9:00 and 10:00 Teams (beginning), directed by Staff Members. In addition to the team directors, Eleanor Wiblin plays an important role as the Ballroom Department Secretary.
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, 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. 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 won the title of United States National Formation Dance Champions.
Since 1971, the company has won first place in Latin or Standard formation competitions at the highly esteemed British Open Ballroom Competitions. In May 2004, they won first place in both 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.
Performances
Tours
The BYU Ballroom Dance Company touring team has been touring since 1971; visiting many countries and cities throughout the world.
- 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
- 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
The BYU Ballroom Dance Company annually presents Ballroom Dance in Concert and has done so for twenty-seven years. 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. The concerts first received individual names in 2003; prior concerts were simply titled "Ballroom Dance in Concert".
- 2009; Viva Espana
- 2008; Seize The Beat
- 2007; Zoot Suit Sizzle
- 2006; Capture The Magic
- 2005; Cinemagic
- 2004; Rhythms of Rio
- 2003; Light Up The Night
- 2002-1982 Ballroom Dance in Concert
External links
- Brigham Young University Home Page
- BYU Department of Dance Performing Groups
- BYU Ballroom Dance Company
See also
Continental Dance Club, Performers Entertainers Latin Ballroom Dancers ...
Top Female Teacher Award at the American Star Ball on eight ... Northern, South, Learn to Dance, Learn how to dance, Ballroom, Latin Dance, instruction, New Jersey, NJ ...
dance, New Jersey dancing ballroom Dance links, dancing lessons ...
Starlight Dance Center - premier NJ Dance Lessons and Dance studio. Offering Ballroom and Latin Dance group-classes and ... NJ Dance Teacher in Bergen and Essex Counties ...
Continental Dance Club, Ballroom Dance Lessons and Latin Dance ...
Latin and Ballroom dance teachers and performers. Let us Entertain You ... Ballroom Dance Lessons NJ, Salsa, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, Bolero, Argentine Tango,Rumba, Fox ...
Fred Astaire Upper Montclair New Jersey Ballroom Dance Studio - Cha ...
Voted NJ's Top Fred ... the United States are teaching the "Fred Astaire way." Our studios offer all kinds of dance instruction - from ballroom ... Upper Montclair Ballroom Dance ...
Blue Suede Ballroom, Memphis TN » Our staff
After teaching ballroom dance in Upper Montclair, NJ, he accepted an invitation to join Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Memphis, TN where he taught from 2000 to 2006.
Arthur Murray International Ballroom Dance Instruction NJ Green Brook ...
Arthur Murray International ballroom dance instruction locations Greenbrook Highland Park NJ traditional modern ... call it, we have a long tradition of excellence in teaching ...
Dance Lessons in NJ, Ballroom Dance Lessons New Jersey, Arthur Murray ...
866-519-2715, Ballroom Dancing NJ, Ballroom Dance Lessons New Jersey, Arthur Murray Dance Studios Northern NJ, Dance ... New Jersey, our talented instructors and proven teaching ...
Ballroom Wedding Dance Group Lessons Classes NJ
Ballroom Wedding Dance Group Lessons Classes NJ ... Note for teachers, We have 5 private rooms and a spacious ballroom, all rooms have new floors ...
The LAFITTE DANCE CLUB Freehold Ballroom Dancing Meetup (Freehold, NJ ...
ADMISSION is $12.00 & it includes a FREE ballroom dance lesson,( by a fantastic teacher), from 6:30 to 7:30. ... 70 East Main Street FREEHOLD NJ
dance.net - Teaching Jobs: Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Tap, Irish ...
Dance Teacher & Instructor Jobs! Is your organization hiring ... Asbury Park, NJ, United States ... Beyonddance: Thu Dec 10, 2009: Hiring Ballroom Teacher: all styles