Ballroom dance: BYU's continuing legacy

PROVO, Utah More than 2,000 ballroom dancers will compete this March at the United States National DanceSport Championships held annually in the BYU Marriott Center. The event, one of only two in the United States that awards titles for ballroom professionals, is a dramatic example of the international recognition BYU's ballroom dance division has

PROVO, Utah — More than 2,000 ballroom dancers will compete this March at the United States National DanceSport Championships held annually in the BYU Marriott Center.

The event, one of only two in the United States that awards titles for ballroom professionals, is a dramatic example of the international recognition BYU's ballroom dance division has enjoyed during the past decades.

In 1993 the school hosted the World Amateur Standard Championships, the first time that event was held in the United States. BYU formation teams have won the U.S. national ballroom title for the past 21 years in a row. And even today, BYU holds claim to sponsoring the largest university ballroom dance program in the world.

Lee Wakefield, chairman of the BYU Dance Department, credits BYU's ballroom dance success not only to the international recognition that school dancers have received in competition but also to the BYU culture where community members and students enjoy the arts and harbor an appreciation for dance.

Each year the United States National DanceSport Championships draw more than 10,000 spectators — 10 times the number who attended in Miami, the site where the event was held before moving to Provo six years ago. And today there is only one class on the BYU campus that has a higher enrollment than beginning social dance — beginning Book of Mormon.

Brother Wakefield and his wife, Linda, can also credit some of the program's success to their personal success. The couple, both BYU dance graduates, returned to the university in 1980 during a successful professional dance career. The pair holds two U.S. titles and together they have judged numerous international events, including six world championships.

But, emphasized Brother Wakefield, the greatest successes of the university's ballroom dance program can be measured only in the lives of students.

BYU began teaching social dance in 1953. A dance team was formalized 11 years later and began traveling around the world. By 1967, the BYU teams were trained in the style of dancing used in international competition. The teams of the early 1970s put the school's program on the map internationally, attending the prestigious British championships and even winning that event.

Soon the university had more than 7,000 students enrolling in ballroom dance classes each year.

"I think the recognition and fame that have come to the team is because of what we have been able to do while overseas," explained Brother Wakefield.

Last summer BYU students traveled to Asia, Hong Kong, mainland China, Eastern Russia and Mongolia. Competition was not a factor on the tour. "It is much more important to have the performing and touring part," said Brother Wakefield. "That is where we have a greater presence and impact for the USA, for the university and, much more, for the Church."

Under the guidance of the Church Educational System, the students in BYU's top ballroom dance team serve as Church ambassadors, performing in areas of the world where the Church is not yet firmly established. "When you feel like you are doing something to further the missionary work and objectives of the Church then it makes it a lot more worthwhile," said Brother Wakefield.

Amber Doxey, a BYU senior majoring in ballroom dance, said most people don't think of missionary work when they think of ballroom dance. "But," she said, "the Spirit will compensate for whatever is not being said. Through our dancing the Spirit portrays a lot of what we represent."

For example, last summer the dancers visited Khabarovsk, a city in Russia with only 12 Church members. "We spent three days there. We met so many people important for the members there. City leaders, government leaders — those are the kinds of people we were able to touch and influence."

Brother Wakefield noted that the students will also have a chance to make an impact March 8-10 during the United States National DanceSport Championships — when the school hosts dancers who not only meet a certain standard of excellence but also agree to adhere to the school's high standards for dress and costumes.

For years, Brother Wakefield said, everyone involved in BYU's program shared the dream of hosting a U.S. championship in Provo. Even though he doesn't know how long the school will have this opportunity, for now, he emphasized, "We are enjoying it."

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