curt holman

BYU’s Ballroom Dance Company Showcases their Work on Campus Before Heading to a European Competition

BYU’s Ballroom Dance Company Will Give Audiences a Glimpse of the Upcoming Tour

Joe Ostraff, Diane Reich and Brent Barson will begin their new leadership roles in the college in July, with Curt Holman continuing on as Department of Dance chair

Students and alumni share their memories of

Associate Dance Department Chair Curt Holman has been selected as the new BYU Department of Dance Chair, effective June 1, 2017. In his almost 25 years as a dance faculty member at BYU, Holman has served on numerous department, college and university committees, including Ballroom Area administrator, associate Dance Department chair and Ballroom Dance Company artistic director. Holman and his wife Sharon are former professional ballroom dance competitors, U.S. National Cabaret finalists and invited competitors at the British Championships in Blackpool, England and the World Championships in the Netherlands. “Holman has developed a deep understanding of the touring and performance aspects, as well as the curricular and education issues of the department,” CFAC Dean Ed Adams said. “He has been an integral part of the prestigious awards garnered by the Ballroom Dance Company, both nationally and internationally.” Holman replaces Marilyn Berrett who has served in this position since Dec. 2010. Berrett’s choreography has been featured in main stage productions and award winning films across the US and in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. She serves on the BYU ARTS Partnership coordinating council, the dance and the Child international board of directors and is a past-president of the Utah Dance Education Organization. “Berrett’s commitment as chair has been extraordinary and she has endeavored to ensure that students, faculty, and staff in the department achieve the fullest measure of their abilities,” Adams said. The Department of Dance provides a broad base for professional training in both the classroom and the studio. The versatile undergraduate program includes four degrees: Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Dance, Bachelor of Arts (BA) in K-12 Dance Education, Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Music Dance Theatre. The Department of Dance is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance. “My greatest joy has been witnessing the personal and collective successes of faculty and students,” Berrett said. “I stand in awe as BYU Dance faculty and students collaborate and create together and so pleased when they win academic, teaching and performance acclaim at conferences, festivals, and competitions. I am grateful for the support of the university, college, our donors, alumni, and colleagues.” Writer: Bailey Fruit

The BYU Department of Design and the Department of Art have each renewed their department chairs for another term. Gary Barton continues on as the Department of Art chair as well as Eric Gillett as the Department of Design chair. Curt Holman, recently selected as the new Department of Dance chair, replaces Marilyn Berrett, effective June 1, 2017. Gillett, was appointed as chair of Department of Design in 2015 when the Department of Visual Arts split to become the Department of Art and the Department of Design. He graduated from BYU in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and completed an MFA in design from the University of Utah. Gillett is a professor of graphic design. Gillett’s work is regularly featured in national and international design publications including Communication Arts, Print, How, Eye, Creative Quarterly, Graphis, NY Art Director’s Club and The One Show. His commissioned work as a designer, art director and creative director has included commissions for many Fortune 500 companies. His research focus relates to design systems, branding and typography. Barton became the chair of the BYU Art Department in 2015 following the division of the Department of Visual Arts. Barton graduated from BYU in 1989 with a bachelor’s in printmaking and received his master’s degree from Ohio State University. Barton works primarily in two-dimensional media including painting, printmaking and mixed media. While at BYU, Barton has served as the 2-D studio area coordinator, associate chair of the Department of Visual Arts and has been the director or associate director of several study abroad programs. He has also served on the Gordon B. Hinckley Presidential Scholarship Committee, the London Center Study Abroad Committee and the University Rank and Status Council. Holman graduated from BYU in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and again in 1996 with a master’s degree in dance. Holman and his wife are former professional ballroom dance competitors, U.S. National Cabaret finalists and invited competitors at the British Championships in Blackpool, England and the World Championships in the Netherlands. In his 25 years at BYU Holman has served on numerous department, college and university committees, including Ballroom Area administrator, associate department chair and Ballroom Dance Company artistic director. Writer: Bailey Fruit

The artistic director for BYU’s Ballroom Dance Company announced his retirement at the end of the school year after directing the group for 35 years.