The audience at the Kiva Auditorium sat spellbound as the dancers of the Brigham Young University Ballroom Dance Company showcased their talent in a seemingly flawless performance Friday night. At times, the BYU dancers seemed to defy gravity and float across stage.
The company consists of 36 dancers who were chosen out of at least 500 students competing for a position in the company. BYU was the first American company to win the prestigious British Formation Championship dance competition and has done so 10 times. Its talent has led it to the top spot in the United States Formation Dance Championships for 18 consecutive years. The team has competed worldwide, including in the Ukraine, China and Hungary.
The company's expertise shines through in its performance. The team has a variety showcase of Latin and international dance styles. The two-hour program was exciting and highly energetic with the dances ranging from the Viennese Waltz to the West Coast Swing.
The dancers have taken traditional formation dances and standard ballroom steps and added twists on the choreography. The beautiful costumes and lifts and spins leave you awestruck.
"The company has been dancing and performing for over 20 years," said Rex Barrington, assistant director of performing arts at BYU. "It is a wonderful showcase of dancing and a show that you will remember for the rest of your life."
Some highlights from the performance included a theater-arts medley, which included "Once Upon a Dream," "Forever Tango," an Argentine Tango, "Maria," a high-energy hip-hop performance, and "Checkbook Daddy-O," a Lindy hop dance. The troupe also performed standard dances used in competition and a "Footloose" medley during which the dancers came into the crowd and pulled audience members up to dance with them.
"Half the time you hold your breath, it makes you want to get up and dance; the whole time you will smile," audience member Vanessa Haye said.
