UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY
December 5 and 6, 2025
Scott & Karen Smith Theatre
DIRECTORS NOTE
Welcome to Christmas on the Danube! We are delighted to share an evening of music, movement, and holiday magic inspired by one of Europe’s most storied rivers. The Danube winds through cities rich with culture, tradition, and celebration — tonight, our dancers bring those traditions to life through ballroom dance.
This concert blends the elegance of Vienna, the vibrance of Budapest, the charm of Bratislava, and the warmth of holiday festivities across Central Europe. We also draw inspiration from the quaint, medieval villages of Germany, where Christmas markets glow against timbered streets and time-honored dances have been passed down for generations. The Danube region is home to some of the most storied traditions in ballroom history, and you’ll see that heritage reflected throughout the evening. One of our featured pieces pays homage to the grandeur of the famed Vienna Christmas Eve Ball, capturing the romantic sweep and refined elegance that have long defined the region’s holiday celebrations.
This year has brought extraordinary triumph for our program, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate the UVU Ballroom Tour Team for their stunning achievements at the prestigious Blackpool DanceSport Festival. Against remarkable teams from around the world, our dancers rose to the top — earning the coveted titles of British Open Latin and Ballroom Formation Champions. This double victory reflects their exceptional talent, discipline, and dedication, as well as the unstoppable spirit that defines UVU Ballroom. Their artistry carries forward not only modern ballroom excellence but also the elegance and refinement rooted in Regency-era ballroom traditions — where poise, musicality, and precision were the hallmarks of true mastery. Their success continues to elevate our program on the world stage and stands as an inspiration to every dancer performing tonight.
I want to express my deep gratitude to our dancers, faculty, designers, crew, Schoool of the Arts staff, and the many hands behind the scenes who make this production possible. Their dedication turns an empty stage into a world of wonder. And to you — our audience — thank you for supporting the arts and for being part of our UVU Ballroom family.
May this performance fill your evening with warmth and the magic of the holidays. From all of us, we wish you a joyful season and a very Merry Christmas.
Enjoy the show!
PROGRAM
Sound of Music
Opener
UVU Ballroom Dance Company
Music Artist: The Sound of Music, The Richard Hayman Orchestra
Choreography: Tour Team Dancers, and Company Directors: Tara Boyd, Mary Lyn Keck, and Chris Witt
Fix
You
Cabaret Tour Team
Music Artist: Brynn Cartelli (The Voice Performance)
Choreography: Shane and Shannon Jensen, additional choreography from the Tour Team Dancers, Porter Bankhead, Parker Harris, and Tara Boyd
The Deep End
Viennese Waltz
Ensemble Team
Music Artist: X Ambassadors (from “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom”)
Choreography: Brandon Keck
Underneath the Tree
Jive Tour Team
Music Artist: Kelly Clarkson
Choreography: Dmitri Nikishkin, additional choreography by Tara Boyd
Let’s Do This
Paso Doble
Back Up Team
Music Artist: Outskrts
Choreography: Chris Witt
1st place Ballroom Medley Blackpool DanceSport Festival 2025 Tour Team
Music Artists: Archer Marsh, Vitula, Joel Sunny, Kris Browers, Max Richter, Daniel Hope, Konzerthous Kammerorchestra Berlin, Andres de Ridder, Vitamin String Quartet, Duomo, Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice & Michael Halasz, Yury Revich & Libor Jesek
Choreography: Andres and Veronika End, additional choreography by Tara Boyd
You Got This
Cha Cha
Ensemble Team
Music Artist: Mattia Di Renzo
Choreography: Mary Lyn Keck
Warriors, League of Legends
Cha Cha
Ensemble Team
Music Artist: 2 WEI and Edda Hayes
Choreography: Dan Malev and Anna Bohachova
Polka With a Twist Polka Tour Team
Music Artist: Jimmy Dorsey
Choreography: Chris Williams
Additional Choreography: Tara Boyd
Quickstep
Ensemble Team
Music Artist: Tetra C2C Derek Martin
Choreography: Mary Lyn Keck
Maracatu Funk
Samba Tour Team
Music Artist: Samba Squad
Choreography: Manuel Frighetto and Daria Sereda
Cozy Little Christmas
Foxtrot
Back Up Team
Music Artist: Katy Perry
Choreography: Chris Witt
Awakening
Cha Cha/Samba/Rumba Tour Team
Music Artist: Hans Zimmer, Jain, Dimitri Vegas and Steve Aoki, The White Lotus, The Oddness Remix, Luca D., ZERB & Sofiya Nzau, Carmen Twillie & Lebo M, Trinix Remix
Choreography: Tara Boyd
Sound of Silence
Cabaret
Ensemble Team
Music Artist: Disturbed
Choreography: Ensemble Student Collaborations and Mary Lyn Keck
Up In the Sky
Waltz
Tour Team
Music Artist: Emilee Moore
Choreography: David Moon
Good Golly Miss Molly Jive
Ensemble Team
Music Artist: Deuce of Hearts
Choreography: Mary Lyn Keck
Rumba Tour Team
Music Artist: Josh Groban
Choreography: Kiersten Lujan
Hot Chocolate
Quickstep Tour Team
Music Artist: Tom Hanks, Polar Express Soundtrack
Choreography: Matthew and Lucy Valentine, additional choreography by Paul Winkelman, Tara Boyd, & Parker Harris
Barberro
Cha Cha
Tour Team
Music Artist: unknown
Choreography: Alex Chernositov and Arina Grishanina
Blue Danube
Viennese Waltz
Tour Team
Music Artist: Johann Strauss II, London Philharmonic Orchestra and David Parry
Choreography: Tour Team Dancers and Tara Boyd
Jingle Bells
Quickstep/Lindy
Back Up Team
Music Artist: The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Choreography: Chris Witt
It Had to Be You
Foxtrot
Tour Team
Music Artist: Harry Connick Jr
Choreography: Landon Anderson, additional choreography Tara Boyd
Samba Temperado
Samba
Ensemble Team
Music Artist: You & Explosion Band
Choreography: Jasher Kuehn and Brooke Johnson
Back to the 80’s
1st place Latin Medley Blackpool DanceSport Festival 2025 Tour Team
Music Artist: Trinix Remix, Van Halen, ACDC, Queen, Eurythmics, Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine, DJemadelgado, Survivor, Def Leppard, DJ Taylor Minaj, Michael Jackson, Steve Aoki, CARSTN, Katrina and the Waves & agent Zed, the Clash, Kenny Loggins, Kool & the Gang
Choreography: Manuel Frighetto and Daria Sereda, and Tara Boyd
Lindsay Sterling Holiday
Finale
UVU Ballroom Dance Company
Music Artist: Lindsey Sterling
Choreography: Tara Boyd, Mary Lyn Keck, and Chris Witt
Tour Team
Director: Tara Boyd
Dancers
Kai Agamez
Owen Anderson
Porter Bankhead
Charlie Brooks
Kyle Bunker
Brynnlee Busk
Emily Call
Isabella Dobson
Emily Echeverria
Grace Forsberg
Lily Hale
Dancers
Cali Aldridge
Domanic Allred
Adam Blanchard
Benjamin Carter
Bella Colasurdo
Jennifer Connolly
Jacob Curtis
Gavin DeMoux
Luisabella Estrella
Parker Harris
Hailey Herbst
Jaxon Humphrey
Aidan Kemp
Lucas Lamph
William Lemmon
Logan McHenry
Sienah Pablo
Max Phippen
Failyn Reeves
Dane Reemer
Kailey Schuster
Ensemble Team
Director: Mary Lyn Keck
Kenna Fisk
Shareny Garcia
Camilla Grover
Zyon Henderson
Evelyn Jones
Skylon Lambert
Josh Larsen
Britton Leavitt
Henry Martineau
Bridger McInnes
Tahni Smith
Jax Spenst
Mandy Taylor
Gracie Tomlinson
Lucy Valentine
Matthew Valentine
Karli West
Guests
Ben Carter
Adam Blanchard
Kaysha Murray
Calder Nelson
Alyssa Olds
Veronika Pedchenko
Austin Rushton
Rae Sanders
Quarry Sarabia
Alexa Searle
Linden Volgardson
Sophia Wright
12:00 Back Up Team
Director: Chris Witt
Dancers
Domenic Callor
Hannah Conlin
Allison Crawford
Stella De Campos
Gavin DeMoux
Danika Dinsdale
Braden Duffin
Lexi Gallacher
Ashley Heinz
Voice Over: Kristen Hawkins
Jacob Jones
Chris Kemp
Christian Klingler
Harrison Manesse
Tashara Martin
Jared Meza Garcia
Kassidy Olson-Neslen
Nygel Pectol
Savannah Przybyla
Heather Reavis
Beatriz Ribeiro
Corbin Sanders
Jack Shelley
Camrie Snapp
Mylee Staker
Brigham Stone
David Wood
Jonathan Yeager
Additional Credits
Projections: David Moon Media
Sound: Grayson Martineau
Light Design: Peter Leonard
Stage Manager: Abby Whitaker
Noorda Center Events Team
Special Thanks
UVU Dance Department Chair: Jamie Johnson
UVU Dance Department Admin: Laural Hill
UVU Ballroom Faculty
UVU Ballroom Club