The Bizarre Reason Mormons Dominate Ballroom Dancing 💃🕺

Let’s dive into the bizarre connection between Mormons and ballroom dancing! 💃🕺
From Brigham Young’s surprising support of dance as a way to glorify God, to BYU’s world-class ballroom dance programs, I’ll share my research on how Mormons came to dominate the competitive dance scene. Plus, we’ll take a look at famous Mormon dancers from Dancing with the Stars, how the church uses dance for PR and missionary work, and the cultural tensions between modesty, representation, and the evolving dance world.

*Watch Jackson and I dance using the Mutual Improvement Association dance manual (on Patreon): https://shorturl.at/TbHBu

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A few resources I mention in the video:
*BWTS Mormon Reddit Thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/dancingwiththestars/comments/1fdkrpi/does_anyone_know_the_connection_between_dwts_and/
*2018 World Religion News Article: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/did-you-know-mormons-dominate-competitive-dancing/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1728603282889694&usg=AOvVaw0_BKz3rNZFnfu8Tfm6g6kg
*2008 Newsweek Article: https://www.newsweek.com/latter-day-domination-93603
*1975 New York Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/24/archives/why-so-much-dance-in-utah-of-all-places-dance-in-utah.html
*Deseret News Lindsey Stirling/Brigham Young Article: https://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/24/archives/why-so-much-dance-in-utah-of-all-places-dance-in-utah.html
*Lindsay Arnold describes growing up Mormon: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindsarnold/video/7293234295664119083?lang=en
*Lindsay Arnold reacts to Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindsarnold/video/7412773203061263646?lang=en
*Joseph Smith legal troubles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith_and_the_criminal_justice_system
*Find Your Places, Please (Dissertation by Denise Machin): https://escholarship.org/uc/item/229605hj
*1968 MIA Dance Manual Screenshots: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fvTEn9UaFJCMp4uqQf5MV_zQPAMj1jLc?usp=share_link
*History of America’s first Nutcracker: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://americas1stnutcracker.org/the-history-of-the-nutcracker/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1728603725793965&usg=AOvVaw3Cxs2Q0m9iGkPBRO8BKdCe
*An overview of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabernacle_Choir
*A brief history of BYU’s ballroom dance program: https://usnationals.byudancesport.com/pages/byu_ballroom_dance_program/Default.asp
*Outfit requirements for BYU’s ballroom dance competition: https://usnationals.byudancesport.com/pages/costume_specifications/Default.asp
*BYU decides to bend to pressure and permit same-sex dancing in competition: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://universe.byu.edu/2020/01/17/byu-allows-for-same-sex-couples-in-national-ballroom-competition-2/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1728603866046860&usg=AOvVaw2sgHAcmzjbzyIy8VLab7Xk
*The first women to dance in a pair at BYU during a competition: https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2020/01/21/first-time-ever-byu-will/

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Other resources that may interest you:
*Why I left the Mormon Church: https://www.mormontruths.com/why-i-left-the-mormon-church/
*My Mormon endowment explained video: (https://youtu.be/_jXk53GhZr0)
*Mormon garments explained video: (https://youtu.be/CZVrRWfDHYU)
*Every rule I followed as a Mormon: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYoCjhT2098&t=4396s)
*My Mormon mission was a waste: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uicAn4l9z4&t=18s)
*Complete story of my Mormon wedding: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gLAVyGy5tk&t=961s)

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