By Christopher Ward
Ballroom dancers, ages 18 to over 70, are participating in BYU”s annual ballroom dance workshop this week.
The dance camp is in its 20th year at BYU.
As a week-long camp, participants learn new skills and new dances.
They also have the opportunity to receive instruction from championship dance instructors.
BYU”s camp is known throughout the world.
“I think it is so popular because there aren”t many other places that do it,” said Tannen Call, program assistant with conferences and workshops.
The camp attracts dancers from all over the world, including most states of the U.S., Canada and Guam.
“This allows me to get the best instruction in the shortest amount of time,” said Ron Blake, a business owner from Englewood, Colorado.
Blake has been dancing since 1981 when he had an interest in west-coast swing. From there, his interest has grown and he has had a desire to learn more dances and steps, he said.
Blake said he has little time, but due to the great instruction, this is his fourth year attending the camp.
He was introduced to the camp by his dance instructor in Colorado. His instructor had previously attended BYU”s camp.
Blake came to this year”s camp with friends.
“There are lots of couples, but there are individuals that come to meet people,” Call said.
The camp ends Friday, August 3, with a special dance showcase where the participants perform some of the dance moves they have learned.
A short interruption stopped the dancing for about 15 minutes on Thursday, August 2, when the fire alarm in the Wilkinson Center sounded.
Dancing resumed shortly thereafter when everyone was allowed to reenter the building.
The camp is serving 318 participants this week.
The total participant count for the summer is over 600 people, Karl Kamper accountant for the sports and dance camps said.
