The BYU ballroom dance company has earned a reputation as one of the top collegiate ballroom teams in the nation — and the world.
With dozens of awards and international tours under their belt, they’re not just performing — they’re making history.
Utah is known for having an incredible ballroom dance scene, especially within the collegiate and amateur levels.
BYU has one of the greatest ballroom teams there is.
Dance partners Ashlyn Burnside and Maklain Shepherd both dreamed of being on the touring company from a young age.
“This has kind of been the main goal for my whole life,” Burnside said. “So to get here is just so fulfilling and rewarding and just so satisfying to know that I was able to work hard to be able to make it where I was hoping to.”
The BYU ballroom department has five companies: three ensembles, the showcase company and most prestigious, the touring company.
Securing one of the 32 coveted spots on the touring company takes several days of auditions, starting with a technique evaluation, followed by learning current medleys and routines which auditioners then perform for the team’s directors and coaches.
Burnside was ecstatic when she found out she made the team.
“I was overjoyed. Happy tears, nervous tears, everything,” she said.
The touring company has performed and competed all over the world in places like China, England, South Africa, Zimbabwe, France, Chile, New Zealand and so many more.
They recently completed a tour in southeast Asia where they performed for the king and queen of Thailand.
“After the king, you know, left the venue smiling,” Shepherd said. “It was so heartwarming to be able to be in that environment and to have that opportunity.”
As expected, rehearsals for the team can get intense.
“It’s quite vigorous depending on if we’re preparing for a performance or not,” Shepherd said.
They have already started learning and rehearsing two new medleys for the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival.
The festival will take place in England this coming May, giving them a little over 10 months to perfect their routines.
“There is a lot of pressure mostly, I think, from ourselves,” Burnside said. “Because we want to be better and we are such competitive people.”
Though Burnside and others may put pressure on themselves, the team continues to support one another through every competition and performance.