The ballroom dance program at BYU is turning 60 and is celebrating in style with its spring performance of “Ballroom in Concert”
Waltz on over for a celebration of BYU history and ballroom dance!
Join all of BYU’s ballroom dance teams in the Marriott Center for “Ballroom in Concert,” a celebration of BYU ballroom’s 60-year anniversary.
BYU’s ballroom dance team was founded in 1960 and quickly became notable for its energy, enthusiasm and skill. Soon the team was invited to tour the world with the BYU Program Bureau. The ballroom dance program’s directors broadened the “Medals” testing program and instituted regular ballroom dance competitions at BYU as well as a scholarship program.
BYU’s ballroom program and company grew exponentially while directed by Lee and Linda Wakefield. The couple were responsible for BYU’s ballroom scholarship program and regular participation at the British Championships in Blackpool, England.
BYU received additional recognition in the ballroom world when it was chosen to be the host of the World Amateur Championships in 1993. This laid the groundwork for BYU to eventually host the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dance Championships, now considered to be the most prestigious amateur ballroom dance competition in the country.
Now directed by Curt and Sharon Holman, The BYU Ballroom Dance Company, in tandem with current students in the program, will present “Ballroom in Concert” to honor and celebrate the efforts and successes of the program and team over the past 60 years.
“Ballroom in Concert” is also about celebrating the accomplishments of BYU and its ballroom students in this past year. The show will include routines where students will samba, foxtrot, quickstep, lindy and waltz across the stage, showcasing their efforts in the 2021-2022 academic year.
The students will also share the stage with BYU alumni and current cabaret world champions Shane and Shannon Jensen who will sweep audiences away with a breathtaking routine.
For a night of beautiful music, impressive artistic ability and a celebration of BYU’s storied artistic legacy, “Ballroom in Concert” is not one to miss.
For tickets to the event, visit arts.byu.edu.
Ballroom in Concert
Marriott Center
April 8 at 7:00 p.m.
April 9 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.