Performing Arts

November 2022 - Marielle Kreutz-Jensen & Joy Price

West Valley 3 Dance Company

One unique feature of the APA campus at WV3 is a full offering of dance classes - from beginning technique classes to our advanced Dance Company and competitive Ballroom Teams. Marielle Kreutz directs the dance department. Skylar Moore expertly co-directs both the JH and High School Ballroom Teams. Throughout the year, dance students have many opportunities to perform and participate in various dance events. The Ballroom Team recently participated in their first competition of the year at BYU. The BYU DanceSport Championship attracts dancers from across the region who compete in a range of ballroom events. Many of the WV3 ballroom dancers, some of whom were competing for the very first time, made it through several rounds in their syllabus events. Their coaches are very proud of them and excited to see how their hard work pays off at future competitions after the New Year. Dance Company has also had a successful year so far and will perform this month for The Festival of Trees at the Mountain American Expo Center to benefit Primary Children's Hospital. Four Dance Company dancers have also been invited to participate in the All-State Dance Ensemble, which is a prestigious ensemble of the best high school dancers from across the State. They even had the opportunity earlier this semester to take master classes from a visiting University of Utah dance professor and learn about opportunities to pursue dance in college. On December 16th at 6:30, dancers from technique classes, Dance Company, and Ballroom will take to the stage to showcase their performance pieces and student choreography. The dance department at WV3 aims to provide quality dance education to all students in a fun and safe environment, developing technical skills and also their own voice as dance artists. 

 Draper Ballroom Team

Wayne Dyer once said, "When you dance, the point is not to get to a certain place on the floor; it's to enjoy each step along the way."

Over the past few years, the D3 Ballroom Team has grown to include 38 members, and while there are some sore muscles and trod-upon toes along the way, the dancers enjoy learning, performing, competing, and serving together.

Ms. Price, the team coach, firmly believes that ballroom dance is a vehicle to teach teamwork, commitment, respect, and resiliency in addition to being a beautiful art form and a positive physical activity. She is so proud of her dancers, many of whom have never done anything like this before, but are willing to chacha out of their comfort zone and be part of something great.

The ballroom team performs for school assemblies and presents a Winter Showcase and Spring Concert each year. They also participate in several local and national competitions, where they compete as a team and as couples in various dances, from foxtrot to lindy hop to disco. Last year they brought home three 1st place trophies from the national Gem State competition in Idaho, and they are looking forward to repeating their success in March.

But perhaps their most rewarding performances are those that have a community-building or service component. For example, they partner with other high school and studio teams to build camaraderie and support each others' programs. They also perform for charity events such as the Festival of Trees, and volunteer at a dance for special-needs youth and adults.  

Kiri Reeves, the ballroom team mom, has been grateful for its impact on her son and his fellow dancers: "Everyone needs something to belong to, a place where they feel they are an integral part of the whole. This team takes care of each other and provides that sense of place. It is a pleasure to work with such great kids."

If you are interested in seeing what they do, come to their Winter Showcase, Saturday Dec. 10th at 2:00 pm in the D3 gym. It is free and open to the public and will feature delightful holiday music and dance.