A night of applause and sparkles lit up the Dolores Dore Eccles Fine Arts Center’s mainstage as Utah Tech University’s Ballroom Dance Company performed its showcase.
Performing ballroom and Latin dances, dancers were able to showcase their talent to the crowd in a variety of dances in their performance, “Motion,” held April 23 and 24. Hurricane Recreation Center’s dancers, as well as Utah Tech’s Youth Ballroom Company, joined Utah Tech’s ballroom, adding a variety of ages to the performance.
Lights bounced off colorful costumes as dancers performed traditional ballroom and Latin dances such as sambas, waltzes and paso dobles, as well as other dance styles ranging from hip-hop to western polkas.
Spaced in between performances were videos introducing the current dancers as they shared their favorite thing about being part of the dance company.
Arya Jenkins, a master’s student in technical writing and digital rhetoric from St. George, is a first-year member with the ballroom company. Jenkins was raised in Saudi Arabia, where ballroom dancing wasn’t big.
“Being able to be on a collegiate dance ballroom team is something I never knew I could do,” Jenkins said. “It’s just so cool to finally be able to accomplish that and be on stage with my best friends.”
With lifts and tricks, ballroom dancing requires trust and connection. These dancers have been able to grow friendships that they will hold with them for the rest of their lives.
Johana Florian, a senior dance major from St. George, is also a first-year member with the ballroom company. Florian and Jenkins are best friends and have been able to experience being with the company together.
“It’s really rewarding to be able to work as a team,” Florian said. “To perform to the best of our abilities and to share that moment with each other and with our families and friends.”
Amy Randall is one of the ballroom dance company’s co-directors and has worked for the company for many years.
“I’m so proud of them [the company],” Randall said. “They’ve worked so hard, and it’s a lot of early mornings and a lot of hard work, a lot of hours. I’m just really proud of the show that they put on.”
A promotional video for the company shared the message they hope to spread: “Be kind, stay healthy, keep your body strong.” The ballroom company hopes to show students that movement isn’t just a performance, but a way to develop confidence and teamwork.
The company doesn’t just perform, but also travels to various locations to be ambassadors for Utah Tech. From Brazil to Canada, the ballroom company shares culture and promotes excitement for higher education.
With the end of the school year, some company members will be retiring their dance shoes with Utah Tech’s company as they step into a new spotlight.
“We’re going to miss them but we hope that they’ll come back,” Randall said. “We’ve had several alumni here tonight and it’s always fun to see them come and visit with us and be excited for the current team.”
For more information on Utah Tech’s Ballroom Dance Company events and tryouts, their Instagram is @utahtechballroom.
