In the heat of the Italian summer, BYU American Folk Dance represented the United States at the Latium and Terranostra Festivals with traditional American folk dance and music. 

In Cori, Italy, our performers joined dancers from all around the world to share culture and movement at the Latium World Folkloric Festival. They shared dances like Lindy, Clogging, and Square Dance with audiences and created lasting memories and friendships along the way. 

As the ensemble moved on to the Terranostra in Gioco (“Our World at Play”) festival, they joined forces with Colombian performing group AAINJAA to bring cultural traditions to the heart of Apiro, Italy. In a convergence of English, Spanish, and Italian, the two groups taught dances and games from their home countries to the local children, joining traditions and celebrating the unique bonds that are born from music and movement. Emily Hanson called the event the most memorable moment of the entire tour: “It was such a special experience to see how we were able to overcome language and cultural barriers through dance! We taught them how to do the Virginia Reel and other traditional American dances, and it was so fun!” Emily went on to share an experience she had with befriending a Turkish dancer who, on the last night of the festival, told her, “I will remember you for the rest of my life! I love you!” 

Time and time again, this tour was evidence of the healing and uniting power that the arts have around the world. Moreover, the tour was evidence of the special ability that BYU students have to share the love of Jesus Christ with the world. Festival guides and audience members frequently commented that the BYU students had a “different light” from the rest of the groups, and that light shone brightly in every performance. Emily said, “From interacting closely with other groups at the festivals, I realized just how different BYU students are from performers throughout the world. I hope that the unity we felt as a team and our devotion to the Savior were evident in the way we interacted with everyone around us, overcame various scheduling challenges and setbacks, and performed on the stage. I ultimately hope they were able to feel the Spirit so that when they come across missionaries in the future, they will recognize the same light in their eyes that was in ours when we performed for them…” 

The ensemble expressed their gratitude for the experience on social media: “Performing in Cori and across the Italian countryside has been a dream come true. We’re grateful for the memories made while sharing dances…with incredible audiences.” These dancers had such a wonderful time experiencing life in Italy and cannot wait for their next adventure dancing abroad.

See more from this tour here