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In 1975 Disco music was at it’s peak. People were wanting to touch dance again after 15 years of the Twist, Frug, the Bump, and Jerk.
Rising Star professionals- Carol & Ron Montez having seen the huge dance program at BYU started the first program at USC in September of 1974. Starting with 3 students Emily Sanford, Susan Campbell and Elizabeth Curtis they probably had no idea how many lives they would impact from this small beginning. One team became two, and two teams became three.
Working tables at Fall registration, handing out flyers these team members helped spark a forest fire of talent and passion over the next few years. For the next 5 years these dancers and the teams went from impromtu performances in front of Tommy Trojan, to performances at the Music Center and during USC Notre Dame halftime shows
USC ranks #1 nationally, known for its 100+ National Championships, and legions of NFL, NBA, Baseball, Track & Field Stars. No one had any idea that Ron & Carol were going to crank out US Amateur Latin & Disco Champion after Champion, and Champion Formation Teams to rival the sports teams.
As these raw dancers practiced under great coaching, they quickly improved and began to do on campus performances such as USC basketball and football Halftime shows, Bovard Auditorium, and LA area studios. Individual team members began to perform solo routines to extend the performances.
First at the California Star Ball and Las Vegas competitions where the first team performed admirably, then the US Ballroom Championships in New York at the famed Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where they were awarded the Gold Medal. The 1977 team was invited to compete at the 1978 British Open (known as Blackpool- the Mecca for the dance world) where they came in 2nd. Two years later, another US Formation Championship, this time under the coaching of Stephen Cullip. Over the next 6 years they would perform at 4 World Formation Championships in Germany and get 2 Bronze Medals and one 5th Place
The teams were so fortunate to be taught by Ron & Carol Montez who had just made a splash at the British Open Championships and were considered the best new 10 Dance couple in the US. When Ron & Carol left to pursue other opportunities, US Ballroom Champion Stephen Cullip took over for a few years rebuilding the team, first to a more social focus with performances at Ballroom events, but eventually winning another US Formation Championship. Carol, meanwhile gathered many of the graduated former members and created the Southern California Dance Team.
Carol was followed by former team member Linda Duarte who having danced at four World Championships stepped in. Linda was followed by the trio of former team members Steve Olsen, Mark Emanuelli, and Natalie Masson.
In 1986, former team member Enio Cordoba gathered many of the various team members and they took the 1988 US Gold Medal in Miami.
A portion of the USC Dance Team history, as recalled by Natalie Masson
I was on the team coached by Linda Duarte from 1987-1990, traveling to the World Formation Championships with the team in 1988, then continuing under Steven Olson’s coaching until 1992.
Steven Olson moved from Los Angeles around 1993 and from there, Mark Emanuelli continued to guide the competition team.
I returned for graduate school in 1994 and started a new student dance program, the USC Dancing Club, which focused entirely on social dancing. I hired local instructors to teach West Coast Swing, Argentine Tango, Salsa and Lindy Hop. Over the next few years we hosted large dances on campus featuring live music from Indigo Swing, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Johnny Polanco in Town & Gown hall.
In 1995, the USC Competition Team invited me to collaborate in guiding the team. We rolled out a new format for training beginning dancers. We hired local professionals to teach International Latin and American Smooth dances. Eventually we added formation dance performance back into the mix for the more experienced dancers.
At this time the collegiate dance competition scene was developing quite nicely and we enjoyed traveling to many competitions on different campuses including UCSD, San Jose State and UNLV. We were a rowdy bunch, often first up for the Spirit Award.
Instructors who taught the team during this phase of the team included Duane May, Erik Cyr, Teresa Shirey, Mark Weiss, and Viola Jordan.
I was never a dance instructor for the team but rather a team director, hiring instructors and guiding the direction of the team. Mark Emanuelli co-directed and was a consistent leadership presence throughout these years.
After I graduated in 1999, Angelica Wright and Mark Emanuelli continued to lead the team as it grew and thrived, bringing many more Trojans to the world of dance.
The USC Dancing Club continued as a separate entity, although there was lots of crossover between the two programs. Those who carried the torch in leading the dance club after me included Deborah Mundis, Nick Williams and Armando.
Finally, former US Pro-Am Champion Lorena Bravo and partner Jonathan Atkinson are currently running the team and working to bring it even more glory in the future.
World class champion and performer, Carol has her Master’s Degree in dance from BYU, was head of the Dance Program at USC, and was the Founder and original Director of the USC Ballroom Dance Team, including teams that placed second in the British Open (Blackpool) and third in the World Championships (Bremerhaven, Germany). Carol lives in Orange County, California, with her husband Paul.
Sadly, Ron was lost to the Covid pandemic in early 2021. Winner of 7 US Latin Championships and considered one of the Legends of US dance. There are many videos of him and partner Liz Curtis online.
There is a full tribute to him on the in Memoriam page as well as all of our coaches on the about>championship teachers page
Steven won the two US Standard Ballroom Championships (one with USC team member Elizabeth Knoll), and currently lives in San Rafael, Ca with wife Debbie.
