Students, alumni, and friends gathered in the Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center on March 29 for BYU’s annual Traditions Ball, an evening filled with music, performances, and nostalgia.
The blue-tie event ran from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and featured live entertainment, dance instruction and a raffle for a chance to dance with Cosmo the Cougar.
This tradition started in 2008 as a way to celebrate current students and honor alumni of BYU.
Throughout the night, attendees enjoyed performances from the band Just Kahakis, the BYU Fencing Club and Laugh Out Loud Comedy. Complimentary photos and historical displays from past BYU years added to the celebratory experience.
An alumni traditions video, featuring interviews spanning more than eight decades, played as a reminder of the university’s long-standing legacy.
Haley Butterfield, a second-year law student, attended the event and also performed with the fencing team. She said she has been fencing for five years.
“I’ve never been to this event before, but it’s nice. It’s super fancy and the food is great,” she said.
The BYU Ballroom Dance Team’s Ensemble I delivered a performance featuring a waltz, samba and quickstep.
Danika West, a senior studying computer science with a minor in ballroom dance, performed with the team. Her boyfriend, Jason Beckstrand, watched and enjoyed the performances from the audience.
“We’ve performed these dances at different events, but this is our first time being invited to perform at the Traditions Ball, which is cool,” West said.
Although he was not performing, Beckstrand said watching the samba was a highlight of the night.
“I think because I’m a dancer, I have an eye for it,” he said.
For some, the event was about more than just dancing—it was about reliving cherished memories.
BYU alumni Darwin and Bonnie Cheney have attended the Traditions Ball nearly every year, except when serving a mission and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Darwin started at BYU in 1958, and Bonnie followed in 1962. The couple met at Carson’s Market, where the BYU Creamery on Ninth now stands.
They met on Jan. 18, became engaged by Feb. 29 and were married on Sept. 14 of the same year. They have now been married for more than 60 years.
“We were going shopping, and my brother introduced me to a friend, and she introduced me to Bonnie,” Darwin said.
Bonnie added, “Our first official date was going to a movie in Salt Lake City.”
The couple said they are fond of their time at BYU and the memories they share.
Between the dancing, music and food the Traditions Ball once again brought the BYU community together to celebrate its past and present.