The Ballroom Dance Company embarked on their European tour May 24th and flew to Manchester, England. The 48-member group includes Mark Philbrick, BYU's photographer, who will record the teams' competitions in the British Formation Dance Championships this week in Blackpool. Also included are three BYU Engineering students on special assignment to help out with special lighting used in the costumes of the dancers, which will be a new and exciting addition to BYU's competition pieces.
Greeted with a beautiful sunny day, the group journeyed to Blackpool, England, and almost immediately went into rehearsal.
On Sunday, May 26, the group attended church services near the majestic Preston LDS Temple. After church the group visited the temple grounds and traveled into downtown Preston. In Preston, they reviewed the many LDS Church history events of 1837 and 1839 related to the beginning of missionary work in England. They visited the River Ribble, the sight of the first baptisms in England. And the group also went to nearby Downham, England, a quaint village, which still looks and feels much like it did in the mid-1830's during the time of the early missionaries. The group members completed their day enjoying dinner together on the shores of the Irish Sea.
The Ballroom Dance Formation Championships will take place today, Wednesday, May 29, and the Latin Formation Dance Championships will be held on Friday, May 31. This is an exciting week for the BYU Ballroom Dance Company.
For more information regarding BYU performing groups, visit pam.byu.edu. To book a performance, contact Performing Arts Management at (801) 422-3576 or perform@byu.edu.
