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Studies Abroad and Dance Camps: June in the Department of Dance

Dance, Dine, and Discover Europe

BYU students, including several dance majors, had the chance to experience Europe through dance, food, and culture with dance faculty member Brent Keck. They danced in historic venues in Italy and Switzerland, visited iconic landmarks, and made connections with international artists and chefs.

“We incorporated dance in several ways throughout the study abroad, both as a class and as groups,” said student Morgen McInnes. “From large group cultural dance classes to dancing in the streets to live music, we were constantly finding opportunities to dance and move.”

The students also had the opportunity to visit the Blackpool Dance Festival where they cheered on the BYU Ballroom Dance Company and some of their classmates as they competed. “The most meaningful part of this experience for me was traveling to Blackpool Dance Festival and having the opportunity to both dance and watch high level dancers,” said McInnes. “It gave me another perspective and even more respect for the competitors. It was also amazing to meet and talk with so many people from different cultures and places; and while we come from different places, we were still able to connect over similarities such as our love for dance.”

Connecting with people from different countries, cultures, and languages was a ongoing theme throughout the study abroad. The students visited temples in Paris, Rome, and Preston. “Despite the language barrier, it was comforting to simply be in the Lord’s temple and feel His presence,” said McInnes. “No matter where we are in the world or what language we speak, God is still our Heavenly Father.”

Check out the photos below, courtesy of dance student Brian Lowe, and visit @byudance on Instagram to see a reel of students dancing across Europe.

Photo courtesy of Brian Lowe
Photo courtesy of Brian Lowe

BYU Dance Camps: Ballet Workshop and International Folk Dance Camp

The first two BYU Dance camps of the summer have just come to a successful end. June started with two weeks of intermediate and advanced ballet workshops where the students had the opportunity to learn from industry professionals such as Rylee Rogers (first soloist with Ballet West) and BYU ballet faculty. At the end of the week, the students performed classical and contemporary repertoire at the Summit Center in Springville, UT.

The International Folk Dance camp welcomed students as young as 9-years-old to enjoy a variety of international dance styles. They learned from BYU cultural dance faculty and International Folk Dance Ensemble students. Families and friends were invited to attend a closing performance where they showed off their new skills.

Follow @byudancecamps for photos and videos celebrating the bright young students of the BYU Dance Camps.

Next up: Contemporary Dance Intensive on June 15-19 and June 22-26

Mark Your Calendars: Dates to Know

International Folk Dance and Mountain Strings Pre-Tour Showcase | June 25 at 7:00 p.m. at Orem High School | Purchase tickets here.

Uplifting Thought of the Week by Yahneli Garcia, BYU student and member of Living Legends

Yahneli Garcia recently returned from the Living Legends tour of Africa. She shared an experience she had in Cape Town:

“We went into the church to start singing to them, and all the kids were sitting there on the floor, just looking at us. We started singing, and I realized we sounded louder and more angelic than we had ever sounded before. There was a strong impression that came to me that it was because there were angels singing with us. It was not just us there. There were many angels around us there.

“I thought this culture was going to be very different from my culture, but I have come to realize there are actually a lot of similarities. No matter how we look, how we sing, how we dance or what we eat, there are always a lot of similarities between every single culture.”

Read more about Garcia’s experience in this article written by Ellie Lallatin, CFAC External Relations.

British Formation Champions 2026

May has garnered a lot of excitement within the BYU Department of Dance, from the Ballroom Dance Company bringing home gold at the Blackpool Dance Festival in its inaugural year to the establishment of a new endowment fund in honor of Maida Rust Withers.

BYU Ballroom Triumphs at Blackpool

In 1971, BYU became the first American ballroom dance team to win the British Formation Championships. Every three years since 1980, BYU Ballroom Dance Company (BDC) has returned to compete at the Blackpool Dance Festival. This year is no different, with the company competing at the 100th anniversary of the festival.

With all new medleys, the Latin Team was named the Latin Formation Champions and the Ballroom Team was named the Ballroom Formation Champions.

When the students weren’t rehearsing or competing, the team visited the Preston England Temple. On Sunday, they attended a local sacrament meeting in Preston before touring the Preston England Temple grounds and the neighboring landscapes in Downham.

BDC’s next stop is India, where they will be performing in New Delhi and Bengaluru. Follow along with @byuperformingarts and @byuballroom on Instagram for weekly updates on the students’ experiential learning.

Check out articles detailing their upcoming performances in The Slovenia Times and the Taiwan News.

BDC Latin Formation Team named 2026 Latin Formation Champions at Blackpool. Courtesy of BYU Ballroom
BDC Ballroom Formation Team named 2026 Ballroom Formation Champions at Blackpool. Courtesy of BYU Ballroom
BDC at the Preston England Temple. Courtesy of BYU Ballroom
BDC rehearsing at the Blackpool Festival Village. Courtesy of BYU Ballroom
BDC Latin Team rehearsing at the Winter Gardens Blackpool. Courtesy of BYU Ballroom
BDC Latin Team rehearsing at the Winter Gardens Blackpool. Courtesy of BYU Ballroom
BDC Latin Team rehearsing at the Winter Gardens Blackpool. Courtesy of BYU Ballroom
BDC dancing outside of Blackpool Tower. Courtesy of BYU Performing Arts Management

New on Campus: Maida Rust Withers Endowment Fund in Contemporary Dance

This year, a new endowment fund was established by BYU Dance alum Maida Withers to help contemporary dance students “travel, research, collaborate, and develop original projects beyond campus.”

“This is unique,” Withers said. “It is not necessarily a tuition scholarship because the vision is to support student creative work.”

Withers was one of the first seven students to graduate with a dance degree from BYU. She later went on to get a master’s degree from the University of Utah and lead a successful dancer career for more than 50 years. She established the Maida Withers Dance Construction and became a central figure in the Washington, D.C. dance community, with her choreography being performed around the globe. The endowment “extends [Withers’] legacy, turning decades of experience into opportunity for the next generation.”

DancEnsemble performed at a luncheon to honor Withers legacy and introduce the new endowment in her name.

Read more about Withers and the endowment in this article published by Ellie Lallatin, CFAC External Relations.

Maida Rust Withers. Photo by Hallie Farnsworth/CFAC External Relations
Maida Rust Withers with BYU Dance faculty and dancEnsemble students. Photo by Hallie Farnsworth/CFAC External Relations
Maida Rust Withers with Marin Roper. Photo by Hallie Farnsworth/CFAC External Relations
BYU Dance faculty Marin Roper, Shayla Bott, and Kate Monson with Maida Rust Withers. Photo by Hallie Farnsworth/CFAC External Relations
Marin Roper and Maida Rust Withers. Hallie Farnsworth/CFAC External Relations
Marin Roper, Maida Rust Withers, and Kate Monson. Hallie Farnsworth/CFAC External Relations

Mark Your Calendars: Dates to Know

International Folk Dance and Mountain Strings Pre-Tour Showcase | June 25 at 7:00 p.m. at Orem High School | Purchase tickets here.

Uplifting Thought of the Week by Wyatt Jennings, BYU student and Ballroom Dance Company member [As shared on Instagram @byuballroom]

BYU Ballroom student standing in front of a stained glass window in England — Courtesy of @byuballroom on Instagram

[The BYU Ballroom Dance Company] had the opportunity to hear the testimonies of fellow saints and hear about their experience being members of the Church in another part of the world. Seeing their faith helps me feel stronger in my own. I think that is what is so wonderful about the Church, that we have the opportunity to experience comradery and brotherhood in this Church and support each other in the struggles that we’re experiencing. I love that I got to feel the support of the saints here in England as I spent time with them here.

Hear more about Wyatt’s experience in England on Instagram @byuballroom

Greetings from Africa: Living Legends on Tour

Living Legends kickstarted a series of upcoming BYU Dance tours and studies abroad with their tour to South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. The tour included performances, cultural exchanges, devotionals, and service opportunities, all while the students explored the rich landscapes of Africa. Living Legends visited Buhurutshe Cultural Village, where they learned about Botswana culture, traditions, and daily life. They participated in cultural exchanges with local Young Single Adult wards in cities such as Capetown. They performed in Johannesburg, Capetown, and Gaborone, among other cities.

In a video posted to the Living Legends’ Instagram page (@byulivinglegends), students and faculty spoke of a three-stake devotional where BYU students and local members shared their culture and testimonies with each other. One said, “To see the chapel just filled, they are so loving and it’s genuine love. But them welcoming us, coming to shake our hands, introducing themselves, and throughout the whole devotional, to hear them sing to us, it was so beautiful and felt like a glimpse of heaven.”

Check out more photos and videos from the Living Legends tour on social media @byulivinglegends @byuperformingarts @byudance

Photos Courtesy of BYU Performing Arts Management

CFAC Creative Works Contest 2026 Now Open

Click here for more information and to enter the contest.

Mark Your Calendars: Dates to Know

Uplifting Thought of the Week by Moni Tiatia, Artistic Director of Living Legends

Touring in Southern Africa—South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana—was an enriching experience for Living Legends. The cultural exchanges were not only educational but spiritually uplifting as well. In each city we visited, we were able to participate in cultural exchanges with the local Young Single Adult wards in the area. We shared a few songs and dances, and in return, they shared their cultural heritage and stories with us. We learned about different cultural practices, such as the marriage proposal process, the transition from boyhood to manhood, and some of the ways that different tribes or villages would pray over crops. What surprised me most was how spiritually uplifting these cultural exchanges were. Through the process of cultural sharing and celebration, there was a strong feeling of familiarity and connection. In these moments, it felt very clear that we are all children of the same God and that we are more similar than we are different.

Graduation Recap + Spring Term Begins

Spring term has begun for our BYU Dance students but we’re still reminiscing about graduation. Relive the happy moments with photos below, celebrate our alumni, and learn about upcoming events and performances happening this spring.

Looking Back: BYU Dance Convocation 2026 in Photos

Dance, TMA, Music Convocation. Photo by Phillippe Castro | CFAC External Relations
Jordan Halterman gives Convocation address. Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations
Dance, TMA, Music Convocation. Photo by Phillippe Castro | CFAC External Relations
Jacob Edwards. Photo by Jenna Van de Graaff | CFAC External Relations
Leah McNatt. Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations
Leah McNatt. Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations
Jordan Halterman. Photo by Jenna Van De Graaf | CFAC External Relations
CFAC graduates hug family members and friends. Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations
A CFAC graduate pirouettes across the Convocation stage. Photo by Phillippe Castro | CFAC External Relations

Shayla Bott, CFAC Associate Dean of Faculty, with 2026 Department of Dance grads. Photo courtesy of Shayla Bott.

Excerpt from CFAC External Relations Convocation 2026 recap article, featuring dance education major and Convocation speaker Jordan Halterman

“Dance has increased my capacity in ways I never imagined possible. It has taught me to overcome mountains of fear and challenge and has pushed me to do more than I ever thought I was capable of.

“When I was a freshman, I watched the Contemporary Dance Theatre concert. One piece in particular captured my imagination. It was titled ‘Vanish.’ As I watched the movement unfold on stage, I thought to myself, ‘I am going to be in that company one day.’ For four years, I auditioned. And in those four years, I built resilience. I developed patience. I learned to perform with deeper artistry. This semester, I stood on the RB stage performing that same piece, ‘Vanish,’ as a member of Contemporary Dance Theatre. I achieved my dream.

“I believe that artists are able to increase their capacity so much because they are dreamers. They are dreamers who strive to achieve impact and connection. Being an artist is challenging—and it always has been. Artists must have the capacity to keep trying and keep dreaming. Often, we must convince the world that our work has value. But I truly believe that in a world increasingly shaped by technology and artificial intelligence, experiences in the arts will only become more meaningful. In a world quickly devaluing humanity, art can provide space for communities to reconnect.”

Read the full Convocation recap article by CFAC External Relations, including more from Halterman’s address, here.

Ballroom Dance Company: Blackpool Preview Showcase

May 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Marriott Center | Purchase tickets here.

Get a sneak peek of Ballroom Dance Company’s new competition medleys on May 15, when they debut as part of the Blackpool Preview Showcase. The 2026 tour will begin in Blackpool, England where the company will compete in the British Formation Championships during the 100th anniversary of the iconic Blackpool Dance Festival.

“Creating a new Latin and Ballroom medley isn’t just about the final performance – it’s about the journey,” said Holman. “From music selection to choreography, with guest coaches and technical mentors guiding the way, our students pour months of creativity, practice, and heart into every step.”

Photos by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations

Dance in the News

CFAC News | ‘The Outsiders’ Broadway Performer on His BYU Experience

CFAC News | Dance Alum Emry Wride’s Path from BYU Dance to Radio City Rockette

CFAC News | Living Legends 55th Anniversary Celebration Connects Students and Alumni

Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Events

Add/Drop Deadline for Spring Term (full semester and 1st term) | May 5
Living Legends Southern Africa Tour | May 5-18 | For more performance details and to buy tickets, click here.
Ballroom Dance Company: Blackpool Preview Showcase | May 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Marriott Center | Purchase tickets here.
Ballroom Dance Company England and India tour | May 30-June 9 | For more performance details and to buy tickets, click here.

Uplifting Thought of the Week by Curt Holman, Department of Dance Chair

We proudly congratulate our graduating majors and celebrate the remarkable accomplishment this milestone represents. Their years of dedication, discipline, and artistry have not only refined their talents but have also deepened their capacity to advocate for the art of dance in meaningful and lasting ways.

We are confident that wherever their paths lead, they will carry forward the creativity, work ethic, and vision cultivated during their time at BYU. We also hope they will always retain a special place in their hearts for the Department. They are, and will always remain, an important part of our family.

Saying Goodbye to Winter 2026

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.

Jordan Halterman, Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff

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.

Contemporary Dance Theatre, Photo by Jenna Van De Graaf
Isabella Mudrick and Gordon Felesina, Theatre Ballet
Contemporary Dance Theatre
Contemporary Dance Theatre, Photo by Jenna Van De Graaf
Theatre Ballet
Contemporary Dance Theatre

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.

Happy Easter from the Department of Dance

Dancers share the joy and light of Christ this April in final performances of the semester.

Ballroom Dance Company in Concert

April 9-11 at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. in the Marriott Center | Purchase tickets here.

Ballroom Dance Company in Concert is a culmination of 160 students’ dedication and hard work over the past year. This performance will be your final chance to enjoy Ballroom Dance Company’s (BDC) current competition medleys, both the ballroom medley, “Fiddler on the Roof,” and the Latin medley, “Somebody to Love.” In addition to these medleys, the show will feature 18 other numbers showcasing a wide range of dance techniques from the Cha Cha to the Viennese Waltz to the Foxtrot.

“One of the things that makes this program special is its focus on ensemble choreography, where multiple couples move together to create something unified, seamless, and visually exciting,” said Department of Dance chair and artistic director of Ballroom Dance Company Curt Holman.

BDC’s new competition medleys will debut on May 15 as part of a preview performance to kick off their 2026 tour. The tour will begin in Blackpool, England where the company will compete in the British Formation Championships during the 100th anniversary of the iconic Blackpool Dance Festival.

Find tickets for both of these exciting shows, Ballroom Dance in Concert and Blackpool Preview Showcase, at onstage.byu.edu.

DancEnsemble Presents Where We Meet

April 9-11 at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. in the RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here.

The mission of BYU DancEnsemble is mentoring and producing student contemporary choreography and Where We Meet, the 2026 DancEnsemble production, has stayed true to that long standing tradition. The show will feature original works by eight student choreographers who turned their focus to the natural world and were inspired by the question, “How do God’s creations inform and inspire contemporary choreography?”

Where We Meet will also feature assistant professor Jaclyn Brown’s piece titled “Pierced Skies, Painted Walls.” The work uses cardboard boxes to explore faith as a living landscape rather than a boundary. Guest artist Ruger Memmott and alum Brinnli Wosnjuk (’25) both choregraphed large group works.

This semester marks the end of Marin Roper’s tenure as DancEnsemble artistic director. Roper said, “Over the past four years, 63 student works have been presented on DancEnsemble, continuing a long legacy of developing students’ artistic voices in Contemporary dance at BYU.”

To get to know the student choreographers and learn about their works, attend the Q&A on Thursday, April 9.

Dance in the News

Daily Universe | Ballroom dancers Ava and Blake Mecham perform at BYU 150 Easter devotional

Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Events

“American Modern Dance as Living Archive” | Dance movement demonstration and lecture with Jesse Obremski | April 2 at 5:00-6:00 p.m. in the RB Dance Performance Theatre
Dancing Through Time: A Wiggle Friendly Show for Children, Families, and Students | April 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the BYU Museum of Art | Free for all ages.
Kagel Blessing Scholarship (For non-dance majors) Application Due | April 7 at Noon 12:00 p.m. | Applications available in 294 RB
Dance Bachelor of Arts Capstone Symposium | April 8 at 5:30-7:00 p.m. in RB 2206
DancEnsemble in Concert | April 9-11 at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. in the RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here.
Ballroom Dance Company in Concert | April 9-11 at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. in the Marriott Center | Purchase tickets here.
Grad Bash | April 10 at 6:00 p.m. in the LaVell Edwards Stadium | Register for free here.
Rhythm N’ Soul Collective Showcase | April 10 at 7:30 p.m. in 2206 RB | RSVP here.
BYU Contemporary Alumni Event | April 11
Contemporary Dance Theatre and DancEnsemble combined audition | April 13 4:00-7:00 p.m. in 2206 RB | Register here.
BA Dance Capstone Proposals Due | April 15 | Apply here.
BFA Dance Capstone Proposals Due | April 15 | 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 by Shayla Bott, Associate Dean of Faculty

On March 10, 2026, College of Fine Arts and Communications Associate Dean of Faculty and Department of Dance professor Shayla Bott gave the campus devotional address. Her speech, “Be Still and Know That I Am God,” centered on making our time special through the act of slowing.

“Slowing doesn’t mean giving up on worthy goals and ideals. It means widening your view and pausing long enough to notice what’s already there,” she said. “Slowing helps us uncover who we really are under all the worldly influences that sometimes permeate our minds and hearts and focus on our Savior Jesus Christ, who is mighty to save.”

Bott described a three-step pattern of slowing that she has adopted in her life to foster spiritual development. First, she encourages us to remove distractions in order to act deliberately rather than reactively, and hear spiritual promptings more clearly. Second, she advises that we use the act of slowing to consecrate efforts to become true disciples of Christ, including recognizing blessing and repenting when necessary. Finally, she explained that slowing can help us “let God prevail” in our lives.

“Slowing fosters the ability to be agents unto ourselves as we practice following in the Savior’s footsteps, instilling Godly confidence and spiritual self-reliance,” Bott said.

What small and simple ways have you practiced slowing in your life to intentionally seek the Lord? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

To listen to her entire devotional, click here.

Photo by Lizzy McDonald/BYU
https://news.byu.edu/faith/devotional-be-still-and-know-that-i-am-god

Dance Students and Alum Share Their Light

Calling all students, alumni, and patrons: Join us in historic events across BYU Campus. More information on performances, events, job opportunities, and auditions below.

Theatre Ballet Studio Company Presents Emerging Works

March 26-28 at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. | RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here

Theatre Ballet Studio Company’s Emerging Works Series is a showcase of student excellence in choreography and performance. The show will feature original choreography by five student choreographers: Grace Covington, Hazel Torgerson, Abby Wardle, Maia McBride, and Gordy Felesina.

“The thing that has surprised me the most about this experience is just how much I have enjoyed it,” said Grace Covington. “It has been super cool to work with dancers I know really well and see them perform my choreography.” Covington is an exercise science major and dancer on Theatre Ballet Studio Company (TBSC). She said the choreographic experience has pushed her to be creative in a way that is both familiar and new to her. “I’ve learned how to make more deliberate artistic decisions and how to string those choices together in a way that portrays the message I am trying to put across,” she said.

The show will also feature adjunct faculty member Mira Larsen’s thesis piece. Larsen is getting her Master of Fine Arts from St. Mary’s College of California. Along with the student choreographed pieces, TBSC will perform an excerpt of Michel Fokine’s Les Sylphides. Theatre Ballet dancers will be guest performing George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco.

Dancers Share Their Light During BYU 150 Cultural Celebration

As part of the 150th anniversary celebration, BYU has held several “Nights of Light.” One such event, coined “The World of Campus,” consisted of international-themed experiences, exhibits, and performances. Living Legends and International Folk Dance ensemble were invited to perform alongside Rhythm N Soul Collective, Mariachi Band, and student choirs performing in a vast array of languages from Welsh to Tagalog.

In a video shared on the BYU Dance Instagram account, one student said, “Dancing helps me share my light by helping me celebrate the gifts God has blessed me with and share them with other people.”

“I feel so much joy when I’m moving, when I’m dancing, when I’m representing my culture,” another student added. “My family in from Jamaica. I feel a lot of light and connection with my ancestors when I dance.”

Check out the photos below and visit @byudance on Instagram to see a reel recapping the “Night of Light.”

Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations
Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations
Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations
Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations
Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations
Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations
Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations
Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations
Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations
Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations
Photo by Jenna Van De Graaff | CFAC External Relations

Calling All Living Legends and Lamanite Generation Alumni!

The current Living Legends invites all Lamanite Generation and Living Legends alumni and their families to come celebrate the group’s 55th anniversary on March 26-28. This three day reunion will provide the opportunity for alumni to reflect on the blessings that came into their lives because of their contribution to the group, renew friendships, reconnect, and reach out to lift each other up. The schedule of events includes a ticketed banquet, a free alumni showcase performance, a ticketed performance of the current Living Legends’ “Seasons” show, cultural dance lessons for youth and family members, and a morningside presented by Living Legends students.

For more information, to reserve your tickets, and to sign up to dance in the alumni showcase, visit @byulivinglegends on Instagram and onstage.byu.edu.

Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Events

Theatre Ballet: Romeo & Juliet | March 20 at 6:00 p.m. at Vista School in Ivins, UT | Purchase tickets here.
Living Legends Audition | Application due on March 15 at 10:00 p.m. | Solo auditions on March 20 at 3:00-6:00 p.m. | Call backs on March 21 at 9:00-2:00 p.m.
TMA’s All the Beautiful Things Auditions | March 24-27 | For more info and to sig up, click here.
TMA’s The Music Man in Concert Auditions | March 24-26, 28 | For more info and to sig up, click here.
Young Ambassadors Auditions | March 25-27 with Advanced Dancer Audition on March 26 | For more information and to register, click here.
Theatre Ballet Studio Company: Emerging Works Series | March 26-28 at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. in RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here.
Living Legends 55th Anniversary Celebration | March 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Marriott Center | Purchase tickets here.
BFA Experiential Learning Application Due | March 29 at 11:59 p.m. | Apply here.
“Technology: A Contemporary Form of Colonization and Its Influence on ‘Ori Tahiti” | MFA Thesis Presentation by Moni Tiatia | April 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the RB Dance Performance Theatre
“American Modern Dance as Living Archive” | Dance movement demonstration and lecture with Jesse Obremski | April 2 at 5:00-6:00 p.m. in the RB Dance Performance Theatre
DancEnsemble in Concert | April 9-11 at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. in the RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here.
Ballroom Dance Company in Concert | April 9-11 at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. in the Marriott Center | Purchase tickets here.
BYU Contemporary Alumni Event | April 11
Contemporary Dance Theatre and DancEnsemble combined audition | April 13 4:00-7:00 p.m. in 2206 RB | Register here.
BA Dance Capstone Proposals Due | April 15 | Apply here.
BFA Dance Capstone Proposals Due | April 15 | Apply here.

Job Opportunities and Auditions

Dance in the News

Uplifting Thought of the Week by Jeanette Geslison, Associate Professor

The other day as I was walking across campus, I noticed the birds singing. It felt like a small blessed and peaceful moment and reminded me of the beauty that surrounds us every day when we take a moment to notice. It is easy to get caught up in all the business that our lives demand, but it feels rejuvenating to find small moments to appreciate nature and people. It doesn’t have to carve out tremendous amounts of time but can be done any time during our day and even during our work. It is these moments that can give us strength to carry on and help us remember what really matters. The human connection we can establish with people is essential and it is these relationships that will make an imprint on our heart and soul. The connections we take time to make with nature and people feel divine and will help us to see better with an eternal perspective, in turn focusing more on our Savior. This will in turn help us to prioritize what is more important as we navigate our way through this life.

I resonated with Associate Dean Shayla Bott’s devotional message this week when she shared: “Slowing helps us uncover who we really are under all the worldly influences that sometimes permeate our minds and hearts and focus on our Savior Jesus Christ, who is mighty to save.”

May we be more mindful about noticing the beauty of nature and people and may it remind us that these are some of the most essential and divine blessings we can enjoy.

Winterfest 2026 Recap: Living Legends, Young Ambassadors, Ballroom Dance Company

Enjoy Winterfest photos, purchase tickets to Living Legends’ Seasons, Young Ambassadors’ Imagine, and Dancesport Championship; and celebrate our students on their recent accomplishments.

Each winter, BYU Dance performing groups tour across Utah and to nearby states as part of Winterfest. So far this year, Living Legends, Young Ambassadors, and Ballroom Dance Company have shared their light and talents on stages in Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming. Scroll through the photos below for a glimpse into their time on stage.

When asked to share their favorite memories from Winterfest, students commented on the joy of getting to meet audience members and bonding with their fellow dancers.

“During Winterfest we draw a name and secretly give a sweet treat, gift or nice message to that secret friend,” said Ballroom Dance Company member Carter Hooper.

“My favorite memory is greeting the audience members and getting to know the people who support our program,” added Miori Kennedy, member of the Young Ambassadors.

Catch Theatre Ballet, Contemporary Dance Theatre, and International Folk Dance Ensemble in Winterfest in March. For more details visit https://pam.byu.edu/.

Young Ambassadors in Wyoming. Photo by Avocet Photography
Ballroom Dance Company
Young Ambassadors in Wyoming. Photo by Avocet Photography
Ballroom Dance Company
Young Ambassadors in Wyoming. Photo by Avocet Photography

Young Ambassadors Present IMAGINE

March 11-14 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here

The Young Ambassadors are taking audiences on a music and dance journey through Adventure, Fantasy, and Celebration in their upcoming performance of Imagine. The program includes a wide range of musical favorites from pop favorites like Queen, Elvis, and Adele, to Broadway hits from Singin’ In The Rain, Wicked, and The Notebook.

Student of the company have been involved in every aspect of the show, from the planning to the performing. What makes this year’s performance unique is that it incorporates live music played by members of the Young Ambassadors. “We hope to make audiences feel welcome in engaging with us as we perform,” said Young Ambassadors performer Miori Kennedy.

Artistic Director of the Young Ambassadors, Nathan Balser, said that the new structure of the show has resulted in a more “cohesive theatrical experience” that is “thoughtfully anchored in the transformative power of imagination and hope.”

Don’t miss this fast-paced, emotional, and hopeful showcase of American pop and musical theatre!

Dance in the News

CFAC News | TikTok Sensation: BYU Alum Gary Brotherson’s Journey Back to Dance

Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Events

Living Legends: Seasons | March 4-7 at 7:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here.
ACDA Showing | March 4 at 5:00-6:00 p.m. in RB 2206 | Free admission
CFAC Faith + Works Lecture with Miles Romney | March 5 at 11:00 a.m. in the Music Building Recital Hall | Free lecture for all CFAC students, faculty, and staff
United States National Amateur Dancesport Championships | March 10-14 in the Marriott Center | Register as a dancer here | Purchase tickets to attend here.
The Young Ambassadors: IMAGINE | March 11-14 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here.
CFAC Choose 2 Give Day | March 12 at 11:00-1:00 p.m. at the Brimhall Bldg 2nd Floor Lobby and the West Campus Bldg North Lobby
Living Legends Audition | Application due on March 15 at 10:00 p.m. | Solo auditions on March 20 at 3:00-6:00 p.m. | Call backs on March 21 at 9:00-2:00 p.m.
Theatre Ballet: Romeo & Juliet | March 10th at 7:00 p.m. at Mid-valley Performing Arts Center in Taylorsville and March 20th at 6:00 p.m. at Vista Performing Arts School in Ivins, UT | Purchase tickets here.
Theatre Ballet Studio Company: Emerging Works Series | March 26-28 at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. in RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here.
Living Legends 55th Anniversary Celebration | March 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Marriott Center | Purchase tickets here.
BFA Experiential Learning Application Due | March 29 at 11:59 p.m. | Apply here.

Uplifting Thought of the Week by Keely Song, associate professor

In a 1995 devotional by Phylllis Jacobsen (Former Department of Dance Chair), she stated: “In the south foyer of the Richards Building is a portrait of Stephen L Richards and a plaque with this quote: The human body is sacred—the veritable tabernacle of the divine spirit which inhabits it. It is a solemn duty of mankind to develop, protect, and preserve it from pollution, unnecessary wastage and weakness.”

I hope you might take a jaunt down our hallway in search of the portrait and plaque hidden in plain sight. These two artifacts serve as a remnant and memory of why Exercise Science and the Dance Department find themselves in the same building. Sacred is the body, a tabernacle of the divine and through the sciences AND the arts we are charged to develop, protect, and preserve the bodies, our bodies, from pollution, unnecessary wastage and weakness. The Lord promises each of us that if we humble ourselves before God, He will make weak things become strong (Ether 12:27). May we all trust in this promise and find joy and delight along the way.

Contemporary and Cultural Dance on Campus This Month

As February rolls into March, look forward to campus performances by Contemporary Dance Theatre and Living Legends. Read a recap of President Oaks’ BYU devotional address below.

Contemporary Dance Theatre: Aperture

Feb. 25-28 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. | RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here

Long before Harry Styles announced his new song, “Aperture,” BYU Contemporary Dance Theatre was hard at work creating an exciting new dance production with the same name. CDT presents Aperture, an performance that explores human connection and emotion through expressive movement, music, and visuals. The program features works by BYU faculty, CDT alumni, and renowned guest choreographers: Jesse Obremski, Keely Song, Steve Bangerter and Hardy, Adam Dyer, Nicole Von Arx, Cindy Welik-Salgado, Laja Field, Kate Monson, Bonnie Story, and Mo Crump.

Living Legends: Seasons

March 4-7 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. | RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here

After four inspiring shows on tour in Arizona, Living Legends is bringing their show, Seasons, to the RB Theatre. Seasons is a production filled with vibrant costumes, infectious music, and traditional Latin American, Native American, and Polynesian dances.

Interested in dancing with Living Legends? Audition applications are now open. For more details, click here.

International Folk Dance Ensemble Performs in BYU Russian and German Department Maslenitsa Celebration by Sam Devenport, BYU Russian major and dancer on IFDE

I thought the celebration was special for me since I am a Russian major and also on IFDE, so it was cool to have those work together to celebrate world cultures. I really enjoyed dancing a traditional folk dance, a khovorod (ховород), all together as dancers and other participants united in this tradition. Performing our two Ukrainian pieces was also really fun because it was an intimate setting in which we could see and interact with our audience members. They really enjoyed it, so it was fun to share it with them.

I think it is really important to have these types of cultural activities on campus because it can be really easy to get stuck in own little bubble of life experiences and worldview. It is just wonderful to remember the variety of experiences and traditions of all of God’s children. Such events and experiences help me feel more empathetic for others, and they expand my world, one small experience at a time.

Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Events

BYU 150 Nights of Light | Featuring performances by International Folk Dance Ensemble and Living Legends | Feb. 20
International Folk Dance Ensemble mid-semester tour performances | Feb. 23-Mar. 1 | Northern California | Tickets available at tix.byu.edu
Contemporary Dance Theatre in Concert | Feb. 25-28 at 7:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here.
Stories of Life: A Black History Month Celebration featuring Blessing Offor and BYU rhythm N’ Soul Collective | Feb. 26 at 6:00 p.m. in Music Building Concert Hall | RSVP here.
Contemporary Dance Theatre High School Day | Feb. 28
France: Art & Identity Study Abroad 2026 | Deadline to apply extended to March 1 | Apply here.
Living Legends: Seasons | March 4-7 at 7:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here.
United States National Amateur Dancesport Championships | March 10-14 in the Marriott Center | Purchase tickets here.
The Young Ambassadors: IMAGINE | March 11-14 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here.
Living Legends Audition | Application due on March 15 at 10:00 p.m. | Solo auditions on March 20 at 3:00-6:00 p.m. | Call backs on March 21 at 9:00-2:00 p.m.

Uplifting Thought of the Week by Dallin H. Oaks, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

On Feb. 10, 2026, President Dallin H. Oak gave his first public address as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the BYU Marriott Center. In his address he gave four simple actions to help us come closer to the Savior and “overcome present or future doubts.”

Watch President Oaks’ full address in the video below.

For the Love of Dance: February in the RB

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Theatre Ballet’s Romeo & Juliet

Feb. 10-14 | 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. | RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here

BYU Ballet Alumni Mixer | Feb. 13 at 6:00 p.m. | Register here

BYU Theatre Ballet is brining the classic Shakespearean story of love and conflict to life on the RB Dance Performance Stage this Valentine’s Day weekend. Can’t make it to campus? You can also enjoy the performance in Taylorsville, UT on March 10 and Ivans, UT on March 20.

This rendition of the beloved story is choreographed by five BYU ballet faculty — Maile Johnson, Mira Larsen, Ashley Parov, Brooke Storheim, and Hilary Wolfley — and will be performed by Theatre Ballet, with special guest performers from Theatre Ballet Studio Company and BYU Department of Theatre and Media Arts.

Theatre Ballet Artistic Director Brooke Storheim and Assistant Director Maile Johnson said that, “This production has pushed our students to grow not only as technicians and performers, but as young artists capable of expressing the depth, tenderness, and tragedy at the heart of Shakespeare’s story. Their artistry, vulnerability, and dedication bring fresh life to a timeless story.”

Prior to the 7:30 p.m. performance on Feb. 13, there will be a BYU Ballet Alumni Mixer held in the RB. The event is a catered dinner where alumni can mingle, catch up, and reminisce about their time at BYU. Following dinner, attendees are encouraged to attend the Romeo & Juliet performance. Register for the Alumni Mixer here. Romeo & Juliet tickets sold separately.

BYU Alum and Faculty Shared Their Stories at Dance Career Panel

As students of dance, the world is your oyster; but in a career so nebulous and varying, with so many paths to choose from, it may be daunting to think of your future beyond the BYU classrooms. In an effort to open students eyes to the abundance of ways they can use their dance degree, the Department of Dance held a Dance Career Panel on Jan. 30, 2026, during which faculty and alumni shared their stories and offered advice. The first session featured Ryan Hatch, Jocelyn Smith, Susan Lloyd, and Alex Hatch; the second session featured Jessica Heaton, Susan Lloyd, Brooke Storheim, and Nathan Balser. Both sessions began with a presentation by CFAC Career Director Derek Jack. He introduced the “Holland Code” or RIASEC model, a career aptitude test that helps people find career satisfaction through matching their personality and work interests into six types: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional.

Following his presentation, Liz Dibble spoke on navigating rejection, referencing Alma 8:13-22. She then led the panel of guest speakers through a question and answer session. The guests came from a variety of dance backgrounds and were each at a different stage in their careers. They gave their insights on how to navigate the transition from student to professional, find a career in dance, and deal with rejection.

Clock this link to watch a video that was shared during the panel featuring BYU Dance alumni.

Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Events

Young Ambassadors mid-semester tour performances | Feb. 5 in Ogden, Utah | Tickets available at tix.byu.edu
CFAC Faith & Works Lecture: Jen Watson | Feb. 5 at 11:00 a.m. in WCCB Auditorium
Ballroom Dance Company Winterfest | Feb. 10-11 in Taylorsville, Utah | Tickets available at tix.byu.edu
Theatre Ballet: Romeo & Juliet | Feb. 10-14 at 7:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here.
BYU Ballet Alumni Mixer | Feb. 13 at 6:00 p.m. in RB | Register here | Note: tickets for Theatre Ballet’s Romeo & Juliet are sold separately
BYU 150 Nights of Light | Featuring performances by International Folk Dance Ensemble and Living Legends | Feb. 20
International Folk Dance Ensemble mid-semester tour performances | Feb. 23-Mar. 1 | Northern California | Tickets available at tix.byu.edu
Contemporary Dance Theatre in Concert | Feb. 25-28 at 7:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the RB Dance Performance Theatre | Purchase tickets here.

Uplifting Thought of the Week by Hilary Wolfley, Assistant Teaching Professor

We are the curators of the art we consume. We select, organize, and present ourselves and others with art that is meaningful to us through the playlists we keep, the shows we watch, and the ways in which we engage with dance. Carefully curated art has the capacity to enhance our lives through increased inspiration, knowledge, peace, and joy. It can also have the power to move people to reflect, act, or change in some way. And how satisfying is it when someone appreciates the same kind of art that we love and share?

That intentionality, that curation, can be applied to our relationship with God. Author James K. A. Smith talks about this in his book, You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit: “Discipleship, we might say, is a way to curate your heart, to be attentive to and intentional about what you love.” As we are intentional about turning our focus toward Christ, making conscious decisions to be like Him, and helping others to do the same, our discipleship will enhance our lives in similar ways that art can: by bringing added inspiration, peace, hope, and mobilization for change. During this Valentine’s season, I invite you to consider how you might curate your choices to be more attentive to and intentional about what you love.