For those of you not as exposed to the ins and outs of the ballroom dance scene in America, it might come as a surprise to know that one of the best programs in the world hails from the United States -- and it's predominately Mormon.

Brigham Young University is the largest religious university in the U.S., and is primarily funded and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But in the right circles, it is known as the place to go for aspiring professional ballroom dancers. 

Ballroom dance has had its high and low points throughout the decades in America. Unlike countries such as Russia, where dancesport is essentially a national pastime, here in the States the popularity of social dance is in constant fluctuation. 

Despite what was going on in the rest of the mainstream U.S., ballroom dance never lost its relevance at BYU. 

BYU's ballroom program began in 1953, and unlike most other dance programs, it offers the rare ability to be able to train and focus on ballroom. Although dancers are required to study various other forms of dance from jazz to ballet to complement their primary focus, students are given the opportunity to specialize in ballroom. 

BYU is renowned for its performing group, the Ballroom Dance Company, which has held the title of United States formation champion since 1982. The university has a total of five performing teams but only one group competes.


The BYU Ballroom team celebrates after winning the 2016 British Ballroom Dance Championships in Blackpool, England.

Partners on the formations teams have to not only be in sync with one another but also with the rest of their teammates. Precision and repetition are key to their success, and they work diligently to ensure that every pair looks just like the next from their fingers down to their toes.

The competition team often wins both the ballroom and the Latin formation competitions at the world's most esteemed ballroom dance event, the Blackpool Dance Festival. BYU has won both categories a record-number 24 times. 

Being the dance program is heavily funded by the Church of Latter-day Saints, its company members steer away from employing risque costumes or dance moves, as they strive to respect the church's image both on and off the dance floor. 

The ballroom dance company competes five weeks out of the year and has traveled to places such as China, Tahiti, and France, to name a few. During the company's travels, it traditionally stays with host families to garner exposure to new cultures and ways of living. 

In addition to ballroom, BYU offers a focus on either modern, ballet, musical theatre, or a composite of all styles. Students can also get a degree in dance education or a master of fine arts in modern and ballet.

Being a part of BYU's dance program has its obvious benefits. Dancers not only get the chance to better their craft but also the opportunity to travel the world and receive a respectable education.

Check out last year's BYU competition team as it prepared for Blackpool: