A whirlwind of flying fabric, dizzying footwork, twinkling rhinestones and some tough competition literally hit the floor of the Marriott Center last weekend as BYU hosted the United States National Amateur DanceSport Championships.
DanceSport has been held at BYU for about 15 years, an honor which members of the dance faculty consider to be invaluable to BYU students and the university itself.
“This is such a great opportunity for our students to participate in national events but also to see lots of other dancers perform at a very high level,” said Claudia Hill, a member of the dance faculty.
After three jam-packed days of competition, DanceSport came to a close Saturday night with the Battle of the Champions competition between four of the nation’s top professional ballroom dance couples. Because of its national status, DanceSport attracts performers from across the country at different skill levels in a variety of ballroom dance styles.
“Even in a single event, [competitors] can range from those just starting out to people who have done this forever,” said Elsha Guthrie, a pre-business major who dances on BYU’s ballroom companies.
Guthrie began ballroom dancing with her siblings when she was 11 years old. Her mom took a beginning social dance class as a student at BYU, entered a competition and fell in love with the art. Years later, Guthrie is now competing in competitions of her own like DanceSport.
“For me, the best moment of the whole event is when you are out there on the floor with all those people watching,” Guthrie said. “You feel like a professional.”
Another veteran of BYU’s ballroom companies, Callie Stewart, has competed in DanceSport for years and also teaches social dance classes on campus. Her beginning students enjoy the opportunity to compete as much as she does.
“It’s rewarding to see your students out there,” Stewart said. “Sometimes I’m more nervous for them than myself.”
An air of intense focus and apprehension filled the backstage deck, where competitors lined up and prepared for upcoming events. For many of them, the few minutes of spotlight they get on the floor could determine whether or not they can claim something they’ve been dreaming of for years — a national title.
“Winning is really nice … but not everyone can win,” Stewart said just before rushing off to warmup with her dance partner, her colorful gown billowing behind.
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Copyright Brigham Young University 15 Mar 2009
