Dancers of all skill levels will vie for titles in more than 40 competitive categories.
This November 9th, ballroom dancers from around the country will converge at the Wilkinson Student Center to participate this year’s annual BYU DanceSport Championships. With skill levels ranging from amateur to elite, these dancers will show their skills and compete against a host of dancers from all over the United States.
“More than 40 competitive categories give beginning, intermediate and advanced dancers the opportunity to showcase their ballroom talents,” said Brent Keck, a BYU assistant professor who specializes in ballroom dance.
“This competition holds all of the best events, including Championship Ballroom, Latin, Smooth and my favorite event, the Cabaret Championships,” added Mckenzie Rucker, a student participant and a member of the BYU Ballroom Touring company.
The BYU DanceSport Championships consistently delivers the opportunity to view some of the world’s finest ballroom dancers. “We have an exciting showcase as we present World Professional Ballroom finalists Marat Gimaev and Alina Basyuk and their beautiful and thrilling dances,” Keck said.
Now in its 44th year, the BYU DanceSport Championships make it possible for students in any of the 52 ballroom dance classes at BYU to compete in a friendly environment, while more experienced dancers will compete at higher levels of expertise.
“It’s one of my favorite competitions because it is professionally done, but it also has the special spirit that comes from being at Brigham Young University and following the honor code,” said Autumn Hawkes, another student participant and member of the BYU Ballroom Touring company.
Hawkes, who has competed in the DanceSport Championships since she was in high school, said she keeps coming back to DanceSport because “it’s an adrenaline rush. Competing brings out talents and movement in the best way. There’s just something about the competitive aspect of it that makes you perform at your best.”
“There are so many amazing, technically advanced dancers that come to this competition, it really pushes us to put forth our best effort,” Rucker added.
The BYU DanceSports Championships begin early on Friday, Nov. 9 and continue through Saturday, Nov. 10 in the main ballroom of the BYU Wilkinson Student Center. Tickets are available at the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center ticket offices or online. For more information, see www.byudancesport.com.