About Casey

Casey Treu began dancing at the age of 7. Ironically, he refused to dance in his earlier years, but at one event his sister’s partner fell sick and he was asked to step in last minute. He was hooked from that first moment. Casey trained in every style of ballroom dance: International Latin, International Standard, American Smooth, and American Rhythm. His family couldn’t afford to get a lot of coaching or travel to lots of competitions and camps, so Casey studied and restudied every video he could find and spent hours and hours practicing in the studio.

Casey Treu began dancing at the age of 7. Ironically, he refused to dance in his earlier years, but at one event his sister’s partner fell sick and he was asked to step in last minute. He was hooked from that first moment. Casey trained in every style of ballroom dance: International Latin, International Standard, American Smooth, and American Rhythm. His family couldn’t afford to get a lot of coaching or travel to lots of competitions and camps, so Casey studied and restudied every video he could find and spent hours and hours practicing in the studio.
WATCH CASEY’S STORY

Years of dreams and hard work paid off when he won the U.S. National Youth Latin title in 2009 with his partner Jenna Johnson. That same year they also placed in the National final for Youth Standard and won the National 10-Dance Championship title. For Casey this was a dream come true. In a field typically dominated by dancers from the coasts or immigrants from other countries, Casey and Jenna were the third-ever couple from Utah to win the Youth Latin title, and only the second to win that and the 10-Dance title in the same year, feats that have not yet been replicated.

WATCH CASEY & JENNA
WATCH CASEY & JENNA

The following season, Casey formed a new partnership with Rachel Pope. That year he again won the National Youth Latin Championship, becoming the first dancer to win two consecutive years with two different partners and the only dancer from Utah to do so. The following season they placed 3rd in the Under 21 Latin Championship and 7th in Adult Amateur Latin. Casey and Rachel worked hard, often rehearsing at 6am before school, then again after school.

After their senior year of high school, Casey and Rachel were invited to be soloists on a tour to China, a trip documented on the TV special “Bridge to China.” Performing in China was a career highlight for these youth dancers and they were privileged to share six solo pieces of their own creation to thousands. The sites, food, and amazing people made the trip an unforgettable experience.

WATCH CASEY IN CHINA
WATCH CASEY IN CHINA
Casey and Rachel’s partnership came to a close when Casey left home to dedicate two years of his life as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. At age 19, he’d already been planning and saving for many years to fund his service and follow the example of his father and older brother. He was called to serve in the Africa Ghana Accra mission.
WATCH CASEY & RACHEL
While he loved the people of Ghana, Casey’s immune system had a hard time handling the pressures of the country. He fell sick many times, contracting Malaria, Typhoid, facial fungus, worms, a kidney infection, and a severe migraine that lasted several months. The migraine symptoms led doctors to believe he had a tumor, bringing Casey home after only 9 months of service. After many visits to specialists, doctors told Casey he did not have a tumor, but that his condition was severe enough that his recovery would take many years. He was also told that he would suffer from chronic Epstein Barr for the rest of his life. But miracle after miracle sped up Casey’s recovery. After only a year, Casey was able to finish his missionary service as a local service missionary. Several months later he was well enough to began dancing again.
Although Casey gave up a lot to serve a mission, including several opportunities in dance and elements of his health, he has no regrets. He feels that the things he learned while serving have been a blessing to him and he is forever grateful. Casey is very proud of his past and of his youth career and is excited about the many things that are in store for him and his wife and dance partner Kayci. He does not claim to be a perfect person, far from it, but he hopes others will be inspired by his example to do what they believe is right.

BURDENS BORN

“Burdens Born” is the final show dance Casey created with Rachel Pope before leaving on his mission. He created this piece to represent the feelings in his heart as he faced leaving dance behind for two years to serve a mission, then returning home to an unknown future.

Casey loves creating show dances and began choreographing early in his youth career. It is a very uncommon thing for youth dancers to take so much self initiative, but Casey always believed in creating opportunities and developing himself as an artist.