The 2026 Winter semester is coming to a close with Convocation for our seniors right around the corner. Meet the Dance graduating seniors, celebrate the semester with Cosmo, and look back on this semester’s performances.
Celebrate the 2025-26 Department of Dance Graduating Seniors
CFAC Convocation Information | April 24, 2026 | Concert Hall, Music Building
Communications | 9:00 a.m.
Dance, Music and Theatre and Media Arts | 12:00 p.m.
Art and Design | 3:00 p.m.
Meet the 2026 Department of Dance Convocation Presenter Jordan Halterman
Interview by Chloe Kearns, CFAC External Relations
Jordan Halterman is a dance education major (K–12), with an emphasis in contemporary dance. Jordan is currently starting a dance program at Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy in Lindon, Utah, and plans to continue developing that program upon graduation. She also plans to continue teaching dance to people of all ages and skill levels.
Describe your BYU experience in five words or less: Fulfilling, opportunity, challenging, growth, joyful.
What do you feel is your biggest takeaway from your education? My biggest takeaway is that getting involved opens doors. The best skill I have learned through my education is how to take any opportunity that I might be interested in, and allow myself to grow and be challenged in new ways through those opportunities.
Can you give us a teaser for your presentation? We live in a world that needs more dreamers. Art creates dreamers.
One of the most important things about a BYU education is the intertwining of the intellectual and the spiritual. How has that kind of education impacted you? This kind of education inspired my Honors thesis research. I found it necessary in my personal education to discover what the intersection of dance and spirituality could teach me. This exploration provided many rich opportunities to work with professors, learn how to research and increase my personal spirituality by increasing my dance artistry.
Read the full CFAC article here.
Cosmo Visits the Department of Dance
Written by Chloe Kearns, CFAC External Relations
The 2025–26 academic year marks 100 years of creativity and scholarship in the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University. To celebrate this major milestone, the CFAC welcomed one of BYU’s most iconic figures: Cosmo the Cougar.
Cosmo spent the day visiting classes across the college, exploring the many creative paths available to students in the CFAC. His tour highlighted the innovation, collaboration and artistry that have defined the college for a century.
The celebration began in a Theatre Ballet Studio Company rehearsal, where Cosmo joined dancers as they refined their technique and choreography. As students practiced, Cosmo followed along, working on his own moves and even performing a lift to the delight of both students and instructors. The rehearsal showcased the discipline, creativity and precision emphasized in BYU’s Department of Dance.
Read the full CFAC article here.
Winterfest Recap Pt. 2: Contemporary Dance Theatre, International Folk Dance Ensemble, and Theatre Ballet
All six of the Department of Dance’s mainstage performing companies have now returned from their Winterfest tours where they shared their light and talents with audiences off campus. Most recently, International Folk Dance Ensemble, Contemporary Dance Theatre, and Theatre Ballet returned from shows across Utah. These performances gave the students opportunities to perform on the road and connect with a wider audience.
“Getting to perform at Winterfest is always extra fun because it provides insight into the life of a professional company dancer,” said Kara Williams, a Contemporary Dance Theatre student. “We get to see and assist with the behind-the-scenes of production, perform in a beautiful theatre, and dedicate our day to doing what we love.”
Students enjoy the opportunity to connect with audiences on and off the stage during Winterfest. “My favorite part about Winterfest is talking to the audience following the show,” said Isabella Mudrick, a Theatre Ballet dancer. “The most precious thing to me after a performance is knowing that some aspect of the story touched someone or had a lasting impression.”
Both Williams and Mudrick commented that some of their fondest memories from dancing at BYU have come from Winterfest.
Contemporary Dance Theatre dancer Chloe Baddley added, “I was really sad when our team’s concert ended in February, so Winterfest felt like a meaningful final goodbye to all of our pieces. It was special to come together one last time to dance and celebrate everything we worked on throughout the year.”
To read about other students’ Winterfest experiences, click here. In addition to the photos below, watch an exclusive behind-the-scenes video of International Folk Dance Ensemble’s Winterfest performance on Instagram @byu_folkdance or click here.
Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Events
- Minerva Teichert Award for Creative Work in Global Women’s Studies | due April 17 | Apply here.
- BYU Commencement | April 23 at 10:00 a.m. in the Marriott Center
- College of Fine Arts and Communications Convocation | April 24 | Session for Department of Dance is at 12:00 p.m. in the Music Building Concert Hall | Tickets required.
- Ballroom Dance Company: Blackpool Preview Showcase | May 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Marriott Center | Purchase tickets here.
Uplifting Thought of the Week, a letter from the College of Fine Arts and Communications Dean’s Office
Dear 2026 CFAC Graduates,
We are deeply proud of the remarkable dedication and creativity you have demonstrated during your studies in the College of Fine Arts and Communications!
We recognize the significant challenges many of you have overcome during your studies…Through it all, you have grown in your disciplines and as individuals, learning how to connect meaningfully with audiences at BYU and around the world.
We have deep faith in each of you as you move forward as artists, scholars, citizens and disciples. We look forward to seeing you continue to share your talents, knowledge, faith and light with the world…You will always have a home in the CFAC.
Read the full letter from the Dean’s Office here.
atimetodance.news.blog 