Brigham Young University’s Ballroom Dance Company has danced the globe performing their internationally award-winning routines. From April 26--—May 17, 2011, the company traveled on their first-ever tour to Vietnam and their fourth tour to Thailand. The company performed in venues ranging from university performance halls to a theme park in Hanoi, Vietnam. Because of the variety of show locations, the team entertained equally diverse audiences that included Thai ballroom dancers, orphans, and even Thai Royalty.
“The dances in our show Capture the Magic are well- rounded and can be enjoyed by all,” said Linda Wakefield, artistic director for the company. “Because there are no gender or age limitations, it’s appreciated by everyone, including families and children.”
Because of the versatility and talent of the company, a few select numbers were requested at the Seventh Blackpool Fever Dancing Stars Night, an annual Thai ballroom competition. The Ballroom Dance Company’s eager reception at the competition was surpassed when the dancers combined efforts with the Father Ray Foundation to take their show to orphans and people who suffer from disabilities and blindness in Pattaya, Thailand. The same show was later performed for a charity event, which the Royal Princess Soamsawali of the Thai royal family attended. While in Hanoi the dancers were the featured performers at the Bao Son Paradise Park, the largest theme park and tourist spot in northern Vietnam. This show-stopping performance was filmed for later broadcast by Vietnam TV, which has over 85 million viewers. Members of all social classes and backgrounds enjoyed the excitement and magic of the company’s routines, which broke cultural boundaries.
“Dance is a universal language that works well for our group,” said Lee Wakefield, artistic director. “The ballroom team works hard so our audiences can be impressed with our performances and dance capabilities. When they feel good about our show they are more inclined to learn about us as individuals and representatives of BYU. When we do well in a performance, that’s when we are able to touch lives.”
The tour’s success is attributed to its educational and artistic value. During its performance at the prestigious Khon Kaen University, the company attracted the largest audience in the history of the University’s Golden Jubilee Hall. The anticipation was evident hours before the show began as individuals began lining the street. The performance hall, which has a maximum occupancy of 5,000, was filled with over 6,300 individuals excited to watch the show. The isles were crowded and some audience members stood for the entire 90-minute performance.
After each performance audience members did not wait to be invited before rushing the stage to personally meet the dancers. Cameras, autographs, flowers, hugs, and smiles were how the Thai and Vietnamese people showed their appreciation.
“Although we had obvious language and cultural barriers keeping us from communicating well with the people of Thailand and Vietnam, dance had a way of connecting us,” said Christina Pendleton, a member of the Ballroom Dance Company. “Each night before a show we would pray that the people we performed for would feel and know the message we were trying to communicate. The positive responses and the efforts made by the Thai and Vietnamese people proved that through dance we can close cultural gaps and understand one another.”
Source: Performing Arts Management