Celeste Escarzaga, a Freshman Studying Pre-Business, Shares Her Experience Dancing on the 2024 Living Legends European Tour
This year marked my first extended tour with the Living Legends group, during which we traveled through France and Belgium in the spring of 2024. My experience was definitely life changing; it truly opened my heart and eyes to new perspectives and cultivated a love for other cultures.
Our first week was in Paris, France, where I fell in love with every moment. We took long walks, toured the city and danced in churches. Despite the physical challenges and the difficulty of adjusting to the time zone, I could see the Lord’s hand guiding our daily schedules. He provided us with extra energy and angels from both sides of the veil.
One of my most cherished memories from Paris was performing and holding a devotional for a local YSA ward. Although it was a small ward, we were able to dance for more than 200 people. It was amazing to feel how much they already loved us, even though they didn’t know us personally. This moment reminded me of all the hard work we did throughout the year; it was not just about showcasing our dances and songs, but about expressing our love for the audience members and providing a way for the Savior to enter their hearts and remind them that they matter.
In the second week of our tour, we visited Belgium and participated in a global Folklore Festival. This was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. We interacted with groups from around the world such as New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Bolivia, Poland and more. Each day, we performed several numbers at the festival, which allowed us to engage with other groups between performances. Towards the end of the festival, we even exchanged gifts with a few of the other participants.
A highlight of the festival was singing for a group of Japanese college students. We sang two of our Living Legends songs for them, and to our surprise, they were moved to tears by the end of the second song. In that song, we sing about how we can be more like Jesus Christ and I remember feeling the Spirit so strongly. I personally believe that everyone was moved to tears not because of the song, but because we could all feel the Lord's love. I knew they were crying because they felt the Spirit, so I gave them all a hug and cried along with them. Moments like these are what made this tour such an unforgettable and treasured memory in my heart.
This tour taught me that we are, in fact, doing the Lord’s work in a special way and He truly loves all His children, regardless of where they are. I will forever be grateful for the way the tour changed my life and for the lifelong friendships and connections I was able to make along the way.