BYU Folk Dance Ensemble in Hungary, Austria, and Czechia
The Folk Dance Ensemble began the summer by spending three weeks traveling through Europe. The group made stops in Hungary, Austria, and Czechia participating in festivals and activities throughout the tour
The first festival was the 28th annual Danube Carnival in Budapest and the second was the Strážnice International Folklore Festival in Czechia. An ensemble member expressed gratitude for their festival experience saying, “I loved being able to watch teams from Hungary and Czechia perform. I gained a greater love for the people, their country, culture, and history. I loved being able to share my testimony and light through dance.” Between festivals, the group toured Budapest, where they went sightseeing and filmed their traditional Hungarian piece, Dulándlé.
The BYU Cougarettes in Italy and France
In July, the BYU Cougarettes traveled to Italy and France. In Italy, they competed at World Dance Movement, an international dance festival in Castellana Grotte, Italy. They were able to meet dancers from various countries and received the “Dance Group of the Year” award.
“Dancing on that stage in the middle of beautiful Italy was magic! When we dance, we always strive to share the light of Christ, and being able share our love of dance and that light of Christ with locals all the way across the world was so special," said Abbi Kelley Slade, president of the team.
Beyond simply competing, they spent time dancing and singing with families at the Résidis refugee center in Paris. The team emphasized this experience being one of the “spiritual highs” of the tour.
BYU Ballroom Dance Company in Belgium and England
The BYU Ballroom Dance Company’s travels took them back to the prestigious British Championships at the Blackpool Dance Festival. There, the company was rewarded with two first-place awards.
After their wins in Blackpool, the Ballroom Dance Company headed to Brussels to unveil their show “Rhythm” at the Royal Flemish Theatre to an audience of European Union ambassadors and global dignitaries.
Wind Symphony in Spain and Portugal
This year, BYU’s Wind Symphony toured the beautiful countries of Portugal and Spain. The ensemble performed twice their first weekend in Portugal, including a performance on the grounds of the Lisbon Portugal Temple.
In Barcelona, the group experienced one of the highlights of their tour – performing at the Palau de la Música Catalana. The Wind Symphony donated all ticket sales to two local organizations that work with people struggling with hearing, vision, or mental health.
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The BYU Wind Symphony entertains a large audience at the historic Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, Spain.2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.BYU Young Ambassadors in Scotland
This summer, the BYU Young Ambassadors embarked on a tour to the United Kingdom. The group performed their show “Thank You for the Music” at Surgeons’ Hall Grand Theatre, hosted by theSpaceUK as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Highlights of their time included filming three music videos, selling out all their shows, and performing devotionals for local congregations. One student commented, “Socially and spiritually, I learned I can find belonging anywhere and that there are kind and Christlike people everywhere...I felt love from the people we met and felt my own love for them.”
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