Tuesday, the 18th of June, saw a captivating celebration of dance and culture in a performance by Brigham Young University’s dance group Living Legends, hosted by the European Union and International Affairs Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brussels, Belgium. Before the concert, ambassadors and diplomats from 12 countries and other key leaders from faith and civil society organizations met Elder Massimo De Feo, General Authority Seventy and President of the Europe Central Area of the Church, and his wife Loredana, while enjoying a diplomatic reception.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
The diplomatic reception was well-attended by ambassadors, representatives of civil society organizations, and other friends of the Church. Ms. Ekaterina Shatokhina, Сhargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus, noted that the reception gathered people from many countries around the world in peace and friendship and served as an example of what the world could be.
In his remarks, Elder De Feo shared Galatians chapter 3 verse 28 with those at the reception, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” He explained that though those at the reception might seek unity through different paths, they were all able to become “one” despite any cultural or religious differences.
After the reception, the performance by BYU’s Living Legends itself was spectacular. Nearly every spot in the 500-seat auditorium was filled, and the audience was enthralled. Living Legends shared a beautiful presentation with traditional dances from South American, Native American, and Pacific cultures.
The Ambassador of Hungary, H.E. Tamás Kovács, posted an eloquent "Amazing Living Legends" on X (formerly Twitter).
H.E. Ms. Berta Cossa, Ambassador of Mozambique, shared that the feeling she got from the performance was splendid and something she wanted to take with her. Mr. Ammar Al Arsan of the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic described the performance as an expression of goodness and intercultural collaboration—a contribution to soothe the world’s need for peace.
The Living Legends cast viewed the performance as a chance to share God’s love with His children through the celebration of art and tradition. “It allows them to know that He sees them and knows their efforts and knows their individuality,” said Gabriela Ruiz, one of the student performers. “This show allows us to share gratitude for the sacrifice and love of those before us. Being a part of Living Legends allows me to connect to my culture and others to theirs through the spirit brought in our dancing.”