I think a significant source of Utahns' interest and expertise in ballroom dance and stage performance comes from the excellent educational programs in the state. BYU's Ballroom Dance teams have dominated national and international competition for decades. The BYU International Folk Dancers have a similar reputation around the world. Weber State's musical theatre program under the direction of Jim Christian and others has become one of the best in the entire region, with impressive numbers of graduates actually making a living in the theatre. SUU's Performing Arts program and the affiliated Utah Shakespearean Festival, as well as USU's Utah Festival Opera, the Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts, Hale Centre Theatre and Rodgers Memorial Theatre are all outstanding programs that provide a multitude of incredible opportunities for young people to be exposed to, and become accomplished in dance and music. As a factor of population, Utah may be one of the best places in the country to try your hand at performing. Kudos to all those who take an interest in helping young people uncover and develop their talents! (I know I've left out a number of other awesome programs, but I'm out of word count....)

Utah can't take credit for all of the people
mentioned in the article. Not all of them
are born and raised in Utah. ie Apolo Anton Ohno
is from Seattle and is living and training in Utah
he just move recently to Utah. So I don't think you
can take credit for everyone,