Department Of Dance

Arts production and dance departments join forces to produce weekly virtual performances

Eliza and Taft Robinson are applying their BYU dance education to their current jobs as elementary school teachers.

BYU provides pianists a rare opportunity to train in ballet accompaniment

The videos highlight traditional dances with personal meaning to the dancers

Dance education major Daylin Williams shares how her experience with serious injury has made her stronger

After serving the

Graduating student Mckenzie Rucker reflects on her time at BYU

Graduating

Students and alumni share their memories of

The Ho Ching brothers, who have spent the last year performing together with BYU’s Living Legends, share their thoughts on faith, family and dance

Videographer and media arts alum Scott Cook shares his experience with dance film, collaboration and mentoring

Creativity, hard work and a couple of miracles result in a unique dance poster

11 Department of Dance students and nine faculty members attended the National Dance Education Organization’s annual conference in Miami

BYU Dance Professor Shayla Bott Shayla Bott, a professor in the Department of Dance and artistic director of BYU’s Theatre Ballet, was selected to present at the Women in Dance Leadership Conference, held this year in Philadelphia. Bott’s choreography, “Weaker,” was chosen from over 400 entries from 21 countries, a record number for the organization. Dancers from BYU’s Theatre Ballet performed the piece at Drexel University’s Mandell Theatre. The Women in Dance Leadership Conference promotes the work of female choreographers, researchers and artistic directors in a field where leadership positions are disproportionately held by men. The conference provides opportunities for female dance artists to perform and present, and fosters discussion on the empowerment of women in dance. “I think that in the field, men get a little more mentoring and resources than women, and that’s why they are where they are,” said Bott. “I’m glad to see a lot of organizations starting to put more resources behind women. But so often women don’t seek the resources, and they don’t invest the time into making good on those opportunities.” Read more at dance.byu.edu

Jamie Kalama Wood is honored to accept the new role and hopes the community knows how much the group has affected her life for good

BYU dance professor Pam Musil addressed students about the path of transformative change during a devotional on Tuesday, August 6. Musil shared the apostle Paul’s words in Romans 12:2, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed (through the) perfect will of God.” “The type of transformation that Paul speaks of implies a change from our carnal, natural state to a more godlike state wherein we can abide God’s presence,” said Musil. Musil discussed five principles she believes are requisite to take part in that kind of transformative change. Read the full article at universe.byu.edu or see the highlight video at speeches.byu.edu. Read additional coverage at news.byu.edu.

Being pregnant felt like a door closing on a big part of her life and identity, says dance professor Keely Song Glenn (BA ’08). She remembers not knowing how to “navigate moving from a dance identity to then a dance-and-a-mother identity.” Now a mother of three, she’s found that mother and dancer aren’t mutually exclusive roles, and she’s opening the door for other expecting mothers to keep dancing. Last March Glenn choreographed a dance titled “Claim” and brought together seven pregnant dancers at BYU to perform it. “A lot of times with my pregnancies, I just wanted the pregnant part to be over,” says Glenn. She hopes the project helps the dancers “claim where they are at right now within their bodies . . . both as a dancer and an expectant new mother.” Read the article and watch the video at magazine.byu.edu.

KUED PBS gives a behind-the-scenes look at BYU’s International Folk Dance Ensemble, which celebrates cultures throughout the world through dance The BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble is known all over the world for their vibrant costumes and enthusiastic dancing; however, fewer people know the history or inner workings of the group. On May 23, KUED PBS gave viewers a unique behind-the-scenes look at the ensemble and the dedication of all involved. This seven-minute feature video about the ensemble is featured on the “This Is Utah” segment of KUED PBS. “This Is Utah” is meant to highlight and celebrate the diversity that exists in Utah through arts, culture, food and events. As a Utah-based group, the International Folk Dance Ensemble’s desire to share cultures through dance with others is met with enthusiasm for family history work and genealogy. The ensemble hopes their performances will stand as a celebration of heritage. The group spent the summer of 2019 traveling to China, Belgium, France and Poland to share their love of dance and cultures with audience members. Watch the KUED PBS feature on video.kued.org.