News Email - June 13, 2016
Performing Arts Management
Encore on Tour
Nauvoo, Illinois

The city of Quincy, Illinois celebrated their <em>Flag Day Festival</em> and <em>Lincoln in the District </em>with the BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble and Mountain Strings Saturday, June 11, 2016. Braving the 98 degree heat and high humidity, the group performed at mid-day in Washington Park.  As part of the show, Mountain Strings performed the Illinois State Song, which received many positive accolades. After the performance people crowded around the performers. Audience members commented that “this was the best event of the entire day.” They could not stop praising the students. Some other first week highlights included: <ul> <li>Well-received daily evening shows on the outdoor Nauvoo stage.</li> <li>An outreach show in Keokuk, IL, along with a service project for Rotary International.</li> <li>A performance at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, Illinois.</li> <li>Attending the Nauvoo Temple.</li> <li>Presenting a Sunday evening "Sociable" at the Nauvoo LDS chapel.</li> <li>A guided Martyrdom Trail Tour with historian Craig Dunn.</li> <li>A guided tour of Quincy historical sites.</li> </ul>  

READ MORE

The folk dancers perform Chinese dance "Red and Green" at the Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, Illinois.

Emily Huckstep, Sean Nicholes, Julianna Bateman, Whitney DeMille, and Breanna Daniels wait to go on the Nauvoo horse-drawn wagon ride.

Students learn to make rope at the Nauvoo Family Living Center.

Sean Nicholes, Christian Halvorsen, Marshall Gibson, and Branson Handy stop for a photo as they tour Historic Nauvoo.

A large crowd looks on during the performance at Washington Park in Quincy, Illinois.

England, Scotland, and Wales

On the heels of their victory at the Blackpool Championship, the BYU Ballroom Dance Company began a demanding leg of their performance tour – performing eight times in the past seven days. Word of the group’s success was carried by local BBC news stations and many of the venues were filled to capacity. This portion of the tour took the group throughout Northern England and Scotland.  Here are a few highlights from this week: <ul> <li>Visited two of Scotland’s most popular tourist attractions, Edinburgh Castle and the William Wallace Monument. The team loved hearing Dr. David Seely, cultural advisor for the tour, share stories about Scottish history and its favorite heroes, including Robert the Bruce and William Wallace.</li> <li>Made a special visit to the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, where team members danced and interacted with patients.</li> <li>Held a ballroom dance workshop for University of Aberdeen students at one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world (founded in 1495). The University taught its first ballroom dance classes this past year and was pleased to host the BYU students, which included a wonderful dinner and social event.</li> <li> Conducted several promotional interviews with local BBC news stations.</li> </ul>  

READ MORE

A delighted crowd rises to their feet in Aberdeen, Scotland at the conclusion of another performance.

Director Curt Holman is interviewed by the local BBC news station in Durham, England.

Three members of the Ballroom Dance team (left to right: Joseph Nugent, Ryan Podzikowski, and Alexi Ruffell) attend a VIP reception in Leicester, England, where they met the Lord Mayor, Stephen Corrall.

Jordan Ward and Alexi Ruffell show off some dance moves during a visit to a cancer ward at the Royal Aberdeen Hospital.