UVU: Dancing with the Stars / UVU Ballroom Dance Co Live on ABC

The Utah Valley University Ballroom Dance Company has waltzed its way into the hearts of thousands over the years, and now it has the opportunity to claim millions of followers.

Representatives from the ABC show Dancing with the Stars announced that UVU will be one of four competitors in a collegiate ballroom formation team dance-off airing on the show this month. UVU will compete against Rutgers (The State University of New Jersey) on May 18 and would face off against a second university squad in the championship round on May 25 if the team gets voted through.

ABC could not have selected a more talented and well-prepared collegiate dance team for this competition, said UVU President Matthew S. Holland. Led by Scott Asbell, the dance team truly is one of the jewels of this campus. I know they will represent UVU with class and distinction on the national stage.

The UVU ballroom team is no stranger to competition. Currently the reigning No. 2 formation team in the nation based on National Dance Council of America rankings, the UVU dancers are used to performing in front of professional ballroom judges, but the ABC show uses audience call-in votes to determine winners. Scott Asbell, director of the UVU Ballroom Dance Company, gave his dancers a taste of this type of judging recently at the companys Spring Concert when he gave out ballots to the audience and asked for their input on the dancers performances.

Knowing UVUs reputation as having one of the nations top ballroom dance teams, ABC representatives initiated contact with Scott Asbell last month. The ABC representatives filled Asbell in on their idea and asked him to provide video footage of his dancers for consideration.

The producers saw our footage and literally said, Wow! Asbell said.

In addition to UVUs selection from a national pool, the ABC show has featured Utah competitors such as Donny and Marie Osmond, the former winning the 2009 competition.

UVU has a well-established ballroom dance program. UVU offers a bachelors degree in ballroom dance and full four-year scholarships. Among its many successes, the UVU team boasts four championships at the vaunted Blackpool competition.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Dancing
• with
• the
• Stars
• UVU
• Ballroom
• Dance
• Utah
• Valley
• University
• Orem
• ABC
• The
• State
• of
• New
• Jersey
• Rutgers
• Scott
• Asbell

[DianeEugene]

UVU ::: You go Nick. Excellent footwork.

[DianeEugene]

You rock NICK! Terrific Dancing and Great Moves.

[selmaj21]

Utah is bursting with dancing talent in all forms! Great job UVU. What an excellent opportunity.

[LaBellaMexicana07]

Um you guys are INCREDIBLE. You put everyone else to shame 

[Twofun4u]

Good job Trey!

[LaurbarN]

GOOD JOB DAVID and the rest of UVU. I love you guys

[daveiba]

Nice job UVU!!!

[bizarrefanatic]

Go David!

[Blossomflower989]

GO JOSH! now i'm even more proud that he's one of my ballroom coaches :)

[enochwaddy]

Extraordinary dancing team!!! Alayne Wadsworth you were amazing!