MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin dance troupe is turning heads after getting noticed at an international competition. It marks the first time a dance team from Madison has won such a big event.

What You Need To Know

  • A Wisconsin dance troupe is turning heads after getting noticed at an international competition

  • The group is known as Barrio Dance Factory

  • Barrio Dance Factory placed first in the country at the World of Dance competition in Los Angeles at the end of July

  • Then, they were the only team from the U.S. to finish in the top 12 of the international division

The group is known as Barrio Dance Factory. AJ Juarez is the founder and owner of Barrio Dance Studio, where the team is headquartered. He helps set the tone for the group.

“I wanted to start a team that represents the city, but also represents the studio,” Juarez said.

Juarez grew up in Argentina and has performed around the world. Now, in addition to owning his own studio, he teaches dance at the University of Wisconsin.

“It doesn’t matter what background, we want everybody to come here and share their own experience,” Juarez said.

Barrio Dance Factory placed first in the country at the World of Dance competition in Los Angeles at the end of July. Then, they were the only team from the U.S. to finish in the top 12 of the international division.

For dancers, including Abbey Brooks, it was a life-changing experience.

“There’s I think a lot of times this feeling as like a dancer or artist, like you have to go somewhere, move somewhere in order to get opportunities,” she said. “To kind of show that you can build it where you are with that community that you love, I think, makes it even more powerful.”

Not everyone in the group plans on making dance their career or going professional.

Maddie Banich grew up dancing, moved to Madison for work, and was looking for a creative outlet and friendship.

“This community has just meant the world to me. It’s given me the opportunity to spend a lot of time with people who have similar interests,” Banich said. “But also, to meet a lot of people who work in different areas of Madison and do different things.”

Members said that’s the beauty of this team. It’s people of all backgrounds who are doing this for the love of it.

Juarez said his goal is to make more people in the dance universe take notice of Madison as a hotbed of talent.

“People start recognizing, ‘Oh, I can go to Madison. I can go dance there,’” Juarez said. “I can take some dance lessons, not just as a hobby, but also take this a little further and then be more professional.”