Ballroom Dance Team Impresses at First National Competition

The UA Collegiate Ballroom Competition Team recently competed in its first national competition and brought home more than 20 top three finishes including 10 first place ribbons.

The team took 10 competitors to the National Collegiate DanceSport Championships in Pittsburgh April 1-3. While finishing with several top placements, the overall team won fifth place in the American style team match against 12 other universities and sixth place for points per person.

The group that traveled to the national competition included Greyson Brower, Olivia Cole, Jayna Enguita, Reed Fowler, Emilee Gruszeczki, Sydney Humphrey, Louis LeBoeuf, Jefferson Lindsay, Evans Shaw and Lauryn Smith.

A few of the highlights from the competition include:

• Jefferson Lindsey and Sydney Humphrey won all first place titles in Bronze American Smooth (Waltz/Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz) in both the Collegiate and Adult age categories.
  • They were finalists in International Standard in both Collegiate and Adult categories, taking home two second place titles for Waltz/Quickstep and Tango. They also ranked third in Adult International Viennese Waltz.
• Reed Fowler and Jayna Enguita ranked first in both Collegiate and Adult Bronze International Paso Doble.
  • They were also American Smooth finalists, earning fourth place for Waltz/Foxtrot and fifth place for Viennese Waltz, and were semifinalists in Adult International Tango and Viennese Waltz.
  • Their American Rhythm and International Latin dancing skills resulted in third and fourth placements (Cha Cha/Rumba, Swing, Jive, Samba) against 60-90 other couples.
• Louis LeBoeuf and Lauryn Smith ranked third in Collegiate Silver Adult American Smooth (Waltz/Foxtrot/Tango) and Adult Silver International Paso Doble.
  • They ranked fifth among 20 other couples for their American Smooth (Waltz/Foxtrot/Tango) and International Tango.
  • They were American Rhythm and International Latin semifinalists in the collegiate division (Cha Cha/Rumba/Swing, Cha Cha/Rumba/Samba) and won fourth place for their American Bolero.
• In their first competition, Evans Shaw and Olivia Cole won two Bolero titles (second place in adult, eighth place in collegiate), and Greyson Brower and Emilee Gruszeczki’s International Paso Doble earned them a semifinalist placement in the collegiate division and sixth place in adult.

In addition, three couples were awarded scholarship money for their finalist placements.

The UA Collegiate Ballroom Competition Team is open to any student who would like to participate. Requirements include a $20 fee due each semester and attendance at a minimum of one practice per week. Participants aren’t required to compete.