Jordan Halterman and Ruth Lyons Speak at Convocation
Speakers at the School of Music, Department of Dance and Department of Theatre and Media Arts Convocation reflected on growth, empathy and purpose in the arts, drawing on personal experiences and training at Brigham Young University to address graduating students. Jordan Halterman, a dance education major, and Ruth Lyons, an acting student, emphasized the role of discipline, collaboration and perspective in shaping both artistic work and individual development.
Jordan Halterman- Dance
Jordan Halterman, a dance education major with a contemporary emphasis, reflected on personal growth, discipline and the role of art in shaping identity during her convocation address, “Art Creates Dreamers.”
Halterman began by describing her early relationship with dance, recalling, “When I was little, I loved to dance. But I quickly developed the need to dance perfectly. If I made a mistake in front of an audience, I was often overwhelmed, in tears and running off the stage.”
She contrasted that experience with her present moment, adding, “If that little girl could see me right now, I think she would be shocked. And then I think she would be proud.”
She credited dance with expanding her abilities beyond what she had anticipated.
“Dance has increased my capacity in ways I never imagined possible,” Halterman said. “It has taught me to overcome mountains of fear and challenge and has pushed me to do more than I ever thought I was capable of.”
She pointed to a lesson learned early in her college experience: “You can almost always push your body further than you think. Often, the only real limitation is the mindset you bring to the challenge in front of you.”
As that idea took hold, she said, it became visible in her daily work.
“Once that principle clicked, I began to see it play out every day in rehearsal,” Halterman said. “Slowly, but surely, I found myself accessing movement skills and artistry that I had once convinced myself were out of reach. Through rigorous practice and daily discipline, my capacity as a dancer grew.”
That growth extended beyond performance.
“I began to realize that my capacity could grow in other areas of my life,” she said, citing “moments of leadership and teaching, moments of performance, moments of connection, and moments of personal confidence.”
She added, “Standing and speaking at the front of a classroom was once an Everest for me, and now, as a dance educator, it is the means through which I pursue my dream.”
Halterman incorporated a scriptural reference to frame her understanding of growth, quoting, “Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me.”
She connected this idea to personal development, stating, “As we abide in the Lord, He increases our capacity to overcome mountains.”
She then emphasized the passage of time as a constant: “Time passes regardless of how we choose to engage with our own growth—so the question becomes: how can we use that time to continue increasing our capacity as artists and as people to overcome our mountains?”
Halterman also described a long-term goal formed early in her college career.
“When I was a freshman, I watched the Contemporary Dance Theatre concert. One piece in particular captured my imagination. It was titled ‘Vanish,’” she said. “As I watched the movement unfold on stage, I thought to myself, ‘I am going to be in that company one day.’”
Over several years of auditions, she said, “For four years, I auditioned. And in those four years, I built resilience. I developed patience. I learned to perform with deeper artistry.”
She later achieved that goal, stating, “This semester, I stood on the RB stage performing that same piece, “Vanish,” as a member of Contemporary Dance Theatre. I achieved my dream.”
Halterman described artists as individuals driven by aspiration and persistence.
“I believe that artists are able to increase their capacity so much because they are dreamers. They are dreamers who strive to achieve impact and connection,” she said.
She acknowledged challenges within the field, noting, “Being an artist is challenging—and it always has been. Artists must have the capacity to keep trying and keep dreaming. Often, we must convince the world that our work has value.”
She also addressed the broader cultural context, saying, “But I truly believe that in a world increasingly shaped by technology and artificial intelligence, experiences in the arts will only become more meaningful. In a world quickly devaluing humanity, art can provide space for communities to reconnect.”
Halterman emphasized the collective nature of artistic work.
“As artists, we create shared moments, shared stories, shared humanity, and shared dreams,” Halterman said. Addressing graduates directly, she added, “By sitting here today—prepared to step into the world as artists—you are already proving the value of art. You are entering the world with empathy, creativity, compassion, and openness.”
Halterman encouraged reflection on past aspirations.
“As dreamers, we rarely stop to notice when our dreams come true—because another dream quickly takes its place,” she said. “I would like each of you to reflect on your dreams from ten years ago. It is very possible that you once dreamed of this exact moment. That is worth celebrating.”
She concluded by recognizing the audience’s identities and looking ahead.
“You are musicians, actors, artists, designers, dancers and creators because you had the courage to keep moving forward,” Halterman said. “Art creates dreamers. And dreamers increase their capacity to impact the world. So now we get to ask: where will the next dream take you?”
Ruth Lyons- Theatre and Media Arts
Ruth Lyons, a graduating acting student, reflected on empathy, collaboration and responsibility in her convocation address, “Act Well Thy Part.”
Lyons opened by describing her grandmother’s connection to the university.
“70 years ago, my grandmother graduated with a Bachelor's in English Education from BYU. She met her husband here — but she refused to marry him until she had her diploma, determined to finish her education,” Lyons said. “Grandma Barbara passed away in March this year and was reunited with her Savior and husband, leaving behind a legacy that has affected generations.”
Reflecting on the scope of her experience at BYU, Lyons said, “Four years is difficult to sum up into 5 minutes, and an entire lifetime infinitely more so. Graduation from Brigham Young University means more than a Bachelor's degree or a Master’s degree. Enter to Learn; Go Forth to Serve.”
She incorporated a theatrical reference, quoting, “All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.”
She then applied the idea to her audience, stating, “Our time together at BYU has been one of these parts—and this is our exit.”
Lyons described her education in acting as extending beyond performance.
“I like to think that to major in Acting isn't just a degree in pretending—because part of it is! But I also believe that I've got a degree in empathy,” Lyons said. “Empathy is how I'm able to take words from a script and use them to understand how a character thinks and feels in a specific moment.”
She then connected that idea to religious belief.
“The greatest empathizer to ever live died for our sins, and rose again three days later, after having felt every single feeling, or pain, or emotion that any of us have ever felt,” Lyons said. “This empathy, or in other words, this charity, is what I believe gives Christ such powerful and personal love for each of us.”
She emphasized that this principle extends beyond artistic practice.
“Our studies at BYU have taught us that same virtue, not only how to apply it to the arts we practice, but also with the people around us,” Lyons said. “The proficiency we've gained isn't simply meant to carry us into successful careers as filmmakers, performers, or painters.”
Referencing her grandmother again, she said, “My Grandma Barbara was more than an English teacher. She was a mother, a wife, a friend, a caretaker, a savior on Mount Zion: She was a disciple of Jesus Christ! We are destined for so much more than we think, if only we're willing to use the skills we've been developing, and trust the road that God takes us down.”
Lyons highlighted collaboration as a central part of her experience.
“We've learned to communicate and collaborate through our studies in the arts, and now we get to apply all we've learned in the real world!” she said.
She shared a story from the time she was cast in the 2025 production of Men on Boats at BYU.
“During one rehearsal, a castmate related an experience and subsequent advice she had received from one of our professors. She said she had been complaining about how difficult this role was for her, and how she felt she was doing a terrible job,” Lyons said. “The professor just grinned at her and cheered, ‘Great! That means you're learning!’”
Lyons related that lesson to her own experiences at BYU.
“I have spent plenty of my time at BYU coveting belonging, achieving it and becoming comfortable—but never did I learn so much as when I reached out to someone new, or pushed myself out of my comfort zone, trying to excel in a difficult class or learn a new skill.”
Lyons concluded by encouraging graduates to move forward collectively.
“Let's move forward together, in a collaborative effort with our peers and with the Spirit, as we go forth and begin to serve our brothers and sisters with the skills we've gained.”
She closed with a final request to her graduating peers: “Let us ‘Act Well Our Part.’”
