The Brigham Young University International Folk Dance Ensemble will celebrate 50 years of traveling the world and representing BYU during its Golden Jubilee Celebration July 20-22 at BYU.
The Golden Jubilee Concert, scheduled for Thursday, July 20, at 7:30 p.m., will be the highlight of the anniversary celebration. The folk dancers, who recently returned from a tour of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Quebec, will perform in the de Jong Concert Hall, showcasing dances from their international tour. Besides displaying choreography from the Baltic States, the group will also perform dances representing India, Romania, Hungary and Ireland.
Tickets for the performance can be purchased for $5 through the Harris Fine Arts Center” Fine Arts Ticket Office by calling (801) 422-7664 or by visiting performances.byu.edu.
In addition to the concert, reunion parties, a family picnic, workshops and a formal banquet will bring folk dance alumni from all over the world to Provo for the celebration.
“This event is planned to include plenty of time for visiting with old friends, rekindling memories and enjoying folk music at its best,” said Brent Lewis, co-chair of the Reunion Committee.
A keepsake book, “50 Years of Memorable Dance,” will be available for purchase at the celebration. The book will contain approximately 200 pages of photographs and memories.
The International Folk Dance Ensemble was created in 1956 with four to six couples dancing under the direction of founder Mary Bee Jensen. They were the first BYU performing students to tour internationally. In 1985, Edwin Austin succeeded Jensen and continues to direct the group today.
For more information on the Golden Jubilee Celebration, contact Edwin Austin at (801) 422-3384 or visit http://www.byufolkdance.com.
Writer: Elizabeth Kasper
