The highlight of this past week for the Ballroom Dance Company was their experience in Hamm, Germany, just northeast of the city of Dortmund. There the group's sponsor - a combined effort by a local business, two noteworthy charities, and the Dortmund LDS Stake - provided an unforgettable evening. Over 1,800 people came to the Maxipark Arena to enjoy the presentation of Capture the Magic. Filled to near-capacity, with professional staging, lighting, and sound, the performance had the added benefit of a major donation to the charities (Christliches Hospiz Hamm & Deutschen Kinderhospizverein) of 75,000 Euros! These funds were raised through ticket sales for the performance and significant business and community donations. Two costumed dancers participated in the presentation of the checks, and the mayor of Hamm City also presented a 'thank you' expression and gift to the sponsorin! g groups and BYU. It was a huge success in every way.Other performances this week on tour were given in NÁ¼rnberg (FÁ¼rth City), Germany and in two cities of Switzerland - Basel and ZÁ¼rich. The final presentation, given in the Schinzenhof Kongress Salle in Horgen (in the ZÁ¼rich area) had an excited, enthusiastic crowd who gave a standing ovation as well as gifts to Directors Lee and Linda Wakefield and to members of the team.

This week started off with a three mile hand cart trek, led by President and Sister Call (counselor to the mission president). Many inspirational pioneer stories were shared along the way. The students had a great time pulling the carts through the streams, mud and prairie fields.

BYU Communications students win big at world’s largest advertising competition

The first week in Nauvoo for the International Folk Dance Ensemble was full of activities, performances, visiting historic sites and making new friends.

This weekend, a TV spot produced by a team of BYU students won the Addy Judges Choice Award at the AAF's National Student Advertising Competition in Phoenix, Arizona. The team of students, Dallin Cerva, Michelle Brodrick, Bri Hepworth, and Kasey Ahlstrom, produced the Phillips TV spot in Chris Cutri's TV production class.

BYU dance faculty Nathan Balser performed in the opening number of the TONY Awards last night, June 9, on CBS. Balser performed in the Radio City Music Hall as one of the core dancers and singers in the show.

The Brigham Young University School of Music will present the popular Gilbert and Sullivan opera “The Pirates of Penzance; or the Slave of Duty” Wednesday through Saturday, June 12-15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pardoe Theatre at the Harris Fine Arts Center.

The Brigham Young University School of Music will host a special CD Release Concert for composer Steve Lindeman featuring BYU Synthesis directed by Ray Smith with master of ceremonies Steve Williams, host of KUER 90.1 'Night Time Jazz.'

The second week of tour for BYU Synthesis in Brazil was packed with concerts, festivals, and outreach. The group even played in front of a crowd of people that reached as far as the eyes could see in the Rio das Ostras Jazz and Blues Festival.

For three years the BYU Ballroom Dance Company has been planning, preparing, practicing, and finalizing plans to participate again in the British Formation Dance Championships, in Blackpool, England. This is something the teams participate in every three years, and 2013 was the long expected next competition at this prestigious and world-recognized event. The competition occurred this past week, and was an amazing experience for all involved.

The BYU Museum of Art's annual Family Art Festival is coming soon on Friday, June 14, 10:00 a.m—3:00 p.m. The festival will be held in conjunction with the MOA's current Shaping America exhibition.

The tour for the International Folk Dance Ensemble began as the group traveled to O'Fallon, Illinois, near St. Louis on June 3. They were warmly welcomed by the parents of Amber Shepherd, a dancer in the ensemble. The group arrived just in time for a major storm to hit the area. The airport closed down just a few hours after their arrival. As the group members met their host families at the O'Fallon stake center, the weather turned dark and eerie, and soon the tornado sirens were going off.