Each year, Pacific Ballroom Dance, a dance studio in Auburn, WA, showcases multiple teams in Provo, Utah for U.S. National Amateur Dancesport Championships & other competitions throughout the U.S. The teams range from 3rd grade-12th grade students who energize each competition with their excitement, smiles and laughter nearly immediately upon arrival. Leo Pierce joined The Pacific Ballroom Dance Preteen Competition Team for the first time last season and said “It was REALLY, REALLY fun! You are dancing with all your friends, competing with them and sharing the experience together.” Leo continued: “The songs & dances were so fun and YES, I want to go back again. Overall, it was an amazing experience!”
Have you or your dancer ever thought about joining in on the fun? This article will help you decide if it is the right fit for you!
WHAT TO EXPECT
Competing at Pacific Ballroom Dance can help you grow in ways you didn’t even know possible! From preparing and learning as a team to taking your first steps onto the competition floor, you develop skills and confidence to carry with you for a lifetime. While practicing and competing, you will grow individually, safely stretch comfort zones, build lasting friendships and enhance your teamwork skills, all while loving the process and having a team and supportive coaches with you every step of the way. Nearly each season at U.S. Dancesport National’s, PBD’s competition teams rank highly in division one and have even been previous national champions in the Youth, Junior and Preteen age levels. Not only are our teams successful on the floor but our dancers that compete at the highest levels have the opportunity to receive college dance scholarships to both BYU and UVU.
INDIVIDUAL GROWTH
Being part of the PBD competition dance team fosters profound individual growth both and off the dance floor. The teachers at Pacific Ballroom Dance create a safe, comfortable and empowering learning environment where each dancer can grow, learn from their mistakes and build confidence in themselves and their dancing. Dancers quickly learn the value of discipline, resilience, and perseverance while practicing and learning new choreography. Even in a competitive setting, our dancers often find themselves becoming more patient, focused, and emotionally expressive. The journey of pushing physical limits while mastering choreography and creating strong bonds with teammates shapes not only skilled dancers—but also confident, self-aware individuals. Being part of the competition team will be a journey of fond memories and rewarding outcomes, not just in your dance skills.
TEAM COMRADAREE & FRIENDS
One of the most rewarding aspects of being on a Pacific Ballroom Dance competition team is the deep sense of teamwork and the lasting friendships that naturally form. Through hours of rehearsals, shared goals, laughter, and the highs and lows of competition, dancers learn to rely on and support one another. Whether it’s a last-minute costume fix, encouragement before stepping onto the floor, or celebrating a hard-earned win, teammates become more like family. These shared experiences create bonds that are built on mutual respect, empathy, and joy—friendships that often extend far beyond the studio. Leo Pierce said “I was on the same flight with many of my friends and it was so fun. I really liked having my friends at the competition to share my placements with and encourage me. I also liked cheering for my friends.”
TIME & TRAVEL COMMITMENT
Auditions for Pacific Ballroom Dance Competition Teams are Mid-September. Once you audition and if you make a team, practices will begin in October and carry through until Nationals in March. If you are already participating in a performing team, the practice typically happens directly after your performing team practice. Please see the Competition Studio Schedule HERE for specific practice times for your age group. Each team typically performs various local performances and depending on which team you are on is how many required travel commitments you have. Generally, our Preteens have one travel commitment, Juniors & Youth B have two travel commitments, and our Youth A have three competitions they attend that require travel.
PARENT PERSPECTIVE
Our Parents are critical to our success, and here at Pacific Ballroom, we have some of the BEST! It is a joy to watch the parents not only cheer on their own dancer but encourage and root for all the students from the studio. Especially while traveling, our parents and dancers all start to feel like family and genuinely want each student to succeed.
Jon Poulson, who has 3 children that have performed on various Pacific Ballroom Competition Teams said: “As a parent it has been a blast watching our kids competition team experience. Seeing them out on the floor with their team, there’s a huge sense of pride knowing all the hard work they put into the performance. You can’t help but feel they are the best team out on the dance floor.”
Bonita Migliore, who is still actively involved with our studio, has two sons that danced on our competition teams prior to their graduation. She said: “I simply just loved watching them dance, regardless of where it was, whether concert or competition. It was just one more reason to go to the competitions.
IN CONCLUSION
How amazing that our dance studio in Auburn, WA brings such an exciting and expansive program! Whether you have been on a competition team before or are contemplating trying it for the first time this season, the studio and your teammates will be there for you. Our staff, teachers, parent committee and even students would be happy to answer any questions. The Pacific Ballroom Dance website has valuable information, and it is a great first step to find details and answers to your questions! Overall, the team is fun, helps you grow and is an amazing experience. Whether you choose to audition or cheer us on from back home, we are so excited you are here with us as part of our PBD family.