living legends

Janielle Christensen, artistic director In a performance of extravagant dancing, culturally-inspired music and intricate costumes, Brigham Young University’s Living Legends celebrates the Latin American, Native American, and Polynesian cultures in Seasons. Each year, hundreds of BYU students audition for the opportunity to pay tribute to their ancestors through music and dancing. The audition process is competitive–accepting only the best singers and dancers–but all Living Legends members are of Native American, Latin American, or Polynesian heritage. Spectacular choreography, colorful costumes, and heart-pounding music bring to life the skill, beauty and authenticity of these traditional cultures. From the graceful Hawaiian hula and Mexican fiesta dances to the excitement and beauty of a Native American pow wow, this year’s Living Legends performance reflects the cycle of civilizations through the portrayal of changing seasons and weaves together legends of the past with the reality of today. Performance Information Feb. 21-22, 7:30 pm Age 2+ admitted to this performance with a ticket.

Living Legends, a performing group at Brigham Young University celebrating the Polynesian, Native American and Latin American cultures, will perform Friday and Saturday, Jan. 15-16, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall.

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Fine Arts and Entertainment Calendar January 2004 All month: 'On the Road with C.C.A. Christensen: The Moving Panorama' at the BYU Museum of Art. Carl Christian Anton (C.C.A.) Christensen, a Danish immigrant who worked and lived in Utah, was one of several Utah artists to use this popular art form. Christensen produced four panoramas, two of which are being exhibited in the Museum of Art. The exhibition presents two large moving panoramas. Accompanying the exhibition is a re-enactment of the 19th-century performance given by Christensen when he traveled his panorama to localities throughout Utah and Idaho. The 40-minute panorama performance will be presented every Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. and every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the gallery. The exhibit is free and the public is welcome to attend. '150 Years of American Painting' at the BYU Museum of Art is a permanent installation of paintings by renowned artists such as Frederic Edwin Church, Maynard Dixon, John Singer Sargent, and many local Utah favorites such as Mahonri Young. Admission is free. 'Outside Inside: Fragments of Place' continues on display at the BYU Museum of Art. This ambiguous exhibition title refers to a project in which seven Australian artists were commissioned to examine the extended community that has gathered along the Wasatch Front. These artists were selected for their ability to sensitively analyze cultures, social behaviors, geographic spaces and historical foundations, and manifest their research in thought-provoking ways. 'Outside Inside' is on display through April 27, 2004. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend. 'Contemporary Spaces, Underlying Culture' remains on display at the BYU Museum of Art. The exhibition brings together five artists who use photography as a means of exploring ideas related to a sense of place, cultural identity, human interaction and the nature of artistic expression in contemporary life. 'Contemporary Spaces' is on display through Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend. Thursday, Jan. 8 The Utah Symphony Orchestra will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. The performance will feature Britten's 'Sinfonia a Requiem,' Vaughn Williams' Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis; and Dvorak's Concerto for orchestra and cello in B Minor, op. 104. The concert will be conducted by Keith Lockhart and will feature Shauna Rolston, cello. Tickets at $20 and $4 off with BYU or student ID are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hafc. Wednesday, Jan. 14 through Friday, Jan. 16 BYU's Living Legends, a celebration of Native American, Polynesian and Latin American music and dance will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets at $10 and $2 off with BYU or student ID are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hafc. Saturday, Jan. 17 The Intercollegiate Band, the finest musicians from Utah's colleges and universities, will perform under the direction of guest conductor Jerry Junkin from the University of Texas at Austin beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. The performance is free and the public is welcome to attend. Saturday, Jan. 17 The Amadeus Trio, one of the most dynamic chamber music groups performing today, including Timothy Baker, violin, Jeffrey Solow, cello, and Marian Hahn, piano, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. A free master class will be offered Saturday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Tickets for the concert at $9 with $3 off with BYU or student ID are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hafc. To learn more about the Amadeus Trio visit www.amadeustrio.com. Tuesday, Jan. 20 Dallas Brass, directed by Michael Levine, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a performance tour that includes BYU. Dallas Brass is recognized as one of America's foremost musical ensembles. A unique blend of traditional brass instruments with a full complement of drums and percussion creates a performing entity of extraordinary range and musical challenges that the entire family will enjoy. Featuring Jason Ayoub, horn; Brian Neal, trumpet; Jose Sibaja, trumpet; Michael Levine, trombone; Deanna Swoboda, tuba; and Daniel Hostetler, percussion. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m., in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets at $9 and $3 off with BYU or student ID are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hafc. To learn more about the Dallas Brass visit www.dallasbrass.com. Wednesday, Jan. 21 through Saturday, Feb. 7 Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller, directed and choreographed by Pat Debenham, with music direction by Randy Boothe will be presented at the Pardoe Theatre. You'll have reason to celebrate the heyday of rock 'n' roll when you are at Smokey Joe's Café, where the American pop that defined an era is transposed into exciting musical theatre. When you hear 40 favorites like 'Hound Dog,' 'Love Potion No. 9,' 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Stand by Me' and 'Yakety Yak.' You won't just be strollin' down memory lane, you'll be dancin' in the aisles. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Previews are Wednesday, Jan. 21, and Thursday, Jan. 22. A matinee performance will be given Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. There will be no performances Sundays or Mondays. Tickets are $14 and $4 off with BYU or student ID. Tickets for previews and matinee performances are $5. Tickets are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hafc. Wednesday, Jan. 28 The Q'd Up Faculty Jazz Quintet, features Ray Smith, reeds; Ron Brough, percussion; Steve Lindeman, keyboards; Jay Lawrence, vibes; and Matt Larson, bass. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. The performance is free and the public is welcome to attend. Thursday, Jan. 29 through Saturday, Jan. 31 The Dancer's Company will appear in concert, with artistic direction by Rebecca Wright Phillips. 'Song of Deliverance,' dedicated to LDS pioneer heritage, is a tribute to the past, along with a beautiful piece by Bill Evans, 'For Betty,' to music by Antonio Vivaldi. 'April,' choreographed by guest artist Nana Shineflug of the Chicago Moving Company, is structurally based on the bell curve. 'Wheelenese Waltz,' a Viennese waltz like you've never seen before, is sure to bring a laugh, and the dancers' own choreographic premiere will bring us up to date as dancers use stunt stilts to leap, jump, and flip into the 21st century. Performances are in the de Jong Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. All tickets at $5 are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hfac. Thursday, Jan. 29 The Special Collections Motion Picture Archives Film Series presents 'Angels with Dirty Faces' at 7 p.m. in the Harold B. Lee Library auditorium. The mannerisms that made James Cagney famous (and earned him an Academy Award nomination) were established in this exciting crime drama that features the Dead End Kids, later known as the Bowery Boys. The final scene is a movie milestone. Directed by Michael Curtiz with movement and flair, it co-stars Pat O'Brian, Humphrey Bogart and Ann Sheridan. Admission is free. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Early arrival is recommended as seating is limited. Children ages 8 and over are welcome. Saturday, Jan. 31 The American Piano Duo featuring Jeffrey Shumway and Del Parkinson will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. The performance is free and the public is welcome to attend. Source: BYU News

Santa Claus got a little extra help spreading Christmas cheer in Alaska in November from Brigham Young University's cultural dance group Living Legends. Instead of traveling via reindeer and a red sleigh, Alaska's Air National Guard flew the Native American section of Living Legends in a National Guard C-130 to St. Michael and Wales, two small villages on the Bering Sea that rub shoulders with the Siberian Coast. This special partnership was formed as part of Operation Santa Claus, a 47-year tradition in which National Guard troops deliver toys, food and school supplies to rural villages in Alaska. This year, members of Living Legends, a performing group specializing in cultural and ethnic dances, accompanied them, giving a performance in each of the community's schools and interacting with children there. Performances highlighted ceremonial dances of Native North Americans including Eagle, which embodies the sacred bird that flies highest and nearest to the Creator and its courage, strength and wisdom, and Butterfly, reminding all people to live a life strengthened by beauty. Community members appreciated the moving performances, said Ed Blaser, director of BYU Performing Arts Management. Perhaps most touching was the dancers' ability to identify and connect with the Native Alaskans. 'The dancers were sincere in their intent to share their cultures and learn about the culture of the Native Alaskans,' said Blaser, who accompanied the group. 'The other volunteers we traveled with were amazed at how quickly our students related with the Native Alaskan people. The dancers' sincerity showed.' This sincerity was a result of genuine interest in learning about the cultures of Native Alaskans and Native Americans. Members of this section of Living Legends, who are descendants of Native Americans themselves, often feel personal connections with their audiences. Preparations for the Alaska tour began long before members packed their bags. Not only did they schedule hours of rehearsal, but the students also researched and studied the peoples they would be visiting. Cultural handbooks, produced for students before each tour, give background on the countries they will visit, the customs they will encounter and the people they will interact with. The reading helps students acquaint themselves with and understand the lifestyles of the Yup'ik and Inquiat tribes, said Blaser. The tour actually began in Anchorage with an outreach activity in an area high school. Bartlett High School hosted Living Legends for a performance and discussion about smart life choices. 'Our students often become role models for the kids they visit,' said Blaser. 'They take pride in who they are and their heritage.' An outreach activity planned for the Native Student Services Center at the University of Alaska became a time of cultural sharing and understanding. At the university, Living Legends dancers first performed for the gathered crowd of students and faculty. Then, members of the audience, including a young man who danced professionally, showed the visiting performers dance steps and played folk music native to Alaska. Veteran's Day fell on the Tuesday after Living Legends arrived in Anchorage offering two unique performance and community outreach opportunities. Framed by the stars and stripes of an immense American flag, the dancers performed 'Go My Son,' at the National Guard Armory to honor Alaska's war veterans, and then had the audience join in singing 'God Bless America.' Here, Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski accompanied by Lt. Gov. Loren Leman and military brass, watched the performance. 'Everyone there recognized we were part of a monumental, emotional experience,' said Janielle Christensen, artistic director of Living Legends. Later that same day, Living Legends performed for the Alaska Military Youth Academy offering a message of cultural diversity and smart living. After the show, audience members mingled with the cast, shaking hands and discussing the performance. 'We try to portray a message to young people that we not only take great pride in our heritage, culture and traditions,' said Christensen, 'but we also show them the importance for every person to get an education and lift themselves so they can reach out and lift others as well.' Throughout the tour there was a transcendent sense of charity, understanding and human connection. 'We didn't want to leave,' said Blaser. 'We met people who live simple lives and are completely happy.' 'These are people for whom daily life is full of tradition,' said Christensen. 'To see other Native American people who cherish their own traditions was something I think they really enjoyed. They were moved by it and they learned from it.' The tour, though brief, touched the lives of everyone involved. 'Every young BYU Native American I took realized what a precious experience it was,' said Christensen. 'Not one of them took it for granted. It was one of those wonderful experiences where young people really tuned into what was happening and had a great sense of respect and gratitude for the experience.' Source: BYU News