The ballroom in the student center was full to the brim with enthusiastic dance students last Thursday at the UVU Dance Sport Festival. Every semester, the ballroom department gives the students an extra bonus outside their class work to participate in competitions. This provides an opportunity for them to test their skills to see if a dance career is in the future or simply just to have fun.
During the last two weeks, UVU has hosted two dance events. In the first event, 40-70 student couples from beginning and intermediate classes attended and demonstrated their skills in standard ballroom and in Latin dance. A few children, inspired by the music and energy, danced in the wings while parents, grandparents and friends cheered on their favorite couples.
Chris Witt, the MC of this event, kept a meticulously friendly and well-paced tempo to get all the couples on and of the floor while the judges silently took notes. There were no hang-ups. Little wonder the dance department has such a successful program with such a skillful and talented staff.
The evening ended with an exhibition from the dance team; their amazing and inspiring performance was made all the more impressive by the fact that some of the students have only danced for three years. Not only did they put on an outstanding performance, but they seemed to have fun doing it.
The UVU Dance Sport Festival which took place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday last week brought dancers from all over Utah and Canada. The competitor ages ranged from elementary school to college students.
An event of this magnitude takes significant cooperation on the part of both organizers and participants. In all, the staggering number of 138 events took place from the first round to the finals during a course of only 4 hours on Thursday and Friday nights and a well spent Saturday.
If you missed this event you have an opportunity to attend the UVU department of dance Spring Concert in the Ragan theatre during April 15-19. Mark your calendars and plan to enjoy an evening of astonishing talent from one of the best college dance departments in the nation.
