The Best Ballroom Dance Cities
Although ballroom dancing is considered by many to be a lost art form, plenty of talented individuals still keep the traditional fancy footwork alive and well. While it is possible to find ballroom dancing lessons almost anywhere, some U.S. cities take pride in being the best locations for this time-honored practice that mixes entertainment with recreational exercise.
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Columbus, Ohio
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Columbus, Ohio is the site of the world's largest ballroom dance competition. Thousands of dancers flock each year to display their proficiency in all four major dance styles: American Smooth, American Rhythm, International Standard and International Latin. A panel of judges from around the world assembles to crown the winning couple. The competition even earned a place on television. PBS has covered the contest since 2006 in an annual broadcast event titled "America's Ballroom Challenge."
Baltimore, Maryland
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USA Dance, a member organization of the United States Olympic Committee and the International DanceSport Federation, hosts a circuit of ballroom dance competitions across the United States each year. Dancers who hope to compete in the national championship rounds must attend at least one of the dozen or so qualifying events held in the six USA Dance regions. Nationals is held annually at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. Dancers may compete at levels from juniors to adult in a variety of styles.
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Los Angeles, California
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Los Angeles boasts the Ballroom Dance Academy, one of the largest ballroom programs in the U.S. The school offers ballroom lessons for every skill level, from couples who only want to learn a few simple steps and avoid embarrassment at their wedding reception, to competitive professional dancers needing to hone their craft. In addition to Ballroom Dance Academy, Los Angeles is home to more than 150 dance academies that specialize in ballroom classes and offer private instruction.
Salt Lake City, Utah
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For high school students who want a professional career as a ballroom dancer or instructor, the ballroom dance program at Brigham Young University should be at the top of the list for consideration. The BYU Ballroom Dance Company has won the U.S. National Formation Dance Championship every year since 1982, and was the first U.S. team to win the British Championships. The university boasts the largest collegiate ballroom dance program in the world, offering dozens of classes each semester.
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