Tours Archives - BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications

A Bridge to China

admin — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 22:43:54 +0000

A bond forged 40 years ago was renewed this year by BYU’s largest-ever performing tour. In the most unlikely of long shots, BYU’s Young Ambassadors became the first Western performing group to enter communist China in 1979, finding sudden fame and forging an improbable bond with the Chinese people—a friendship now 40 years strong. It’s a relationship marked by academic and cultural exchanges, faculty collaborations, long-standing study-abroad programs, and 30 repeat trips by BYU performing groups. In nearly six decades of sending student performing groups abroad, BYU had taken on some pretty ambitious tours, but the 2019 tour exceeded them all with eight groups combined for 167 performers in total. Throw in the tech crew, directors, and other support staff, and the company numbered more than 200. For two years Janielle Hildebrandt Christensen, producer Michael G. Handley (BS ’83), and others worked to craft a show around various Chinese audience interests—including Broadway, Riverdance and American clog, ballroom dance, a capella, and an addition of BYU’s dunk team for basketball-crazed Chinese audiences. Wanting more than just a variety show, the creators wove together a theme of shared values—family, learning, friendship, harmony, and love. Calling it BYU Spectacular, they built a show to live up to the name, with pump-up lighting for the dunk team’s acrobatics, laser projections for a John Williams fanfare by the Chamber Orchestra, larger-than-life lion puppetry operated by Cougarettes for a Vocal Point cover of “Circle of Life,” and stilts and a Segway for a dreamlike Greatest Showman number by the Young Ambassadors. When technical director Travis L. Coyne arrived in Beijing five days before the first performance in May, he expected his 20 pallets of lights, sound equipment, scenery, staging, projectors, puppets, and trampolines to already be in country and working their way through customs. However, the shipping company told him there had been a delay, but—not to fear—it would all arrive shortly. Two days later, the equipment still not in China, the company admitted that the load had been bumped from its flight and sent instead to Newark. New Jersey. USA. There was no way it could arrive and pass customs in time for the Beijing performances. “We were praying for a miracle,” said Christensen. Read more at magazine.byu.edu

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BYU’s Synthesis Has Unique Musical & Service Opportunities in Caribbean

Morgan Reis — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 22:18:52 +0000

BYU student jazz group Synthesis traveled to the Caribbean to learn from native-Caribbean jazz legends and bless others through musical performances and service in the local communities The BYU jazz band Synthesis is known throughout the world for their performances that combine the best of swing, blues, jazz, Latin and fusion to create something truly spectacular. This summer, the group left Provo and headed to the Caribbean for the unique musical and service opportunities that awaited them in Florida, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. “This tour in the Caribbean helped me to see that people are people, and they love their culture and music,” said Beth Campbell, a vocalist in Synthesis. “It was amazing to see the kind of music and dancing that they enjoyed. I wish we experienced more of that in the United States!” In addition to sharing their musical talent with audience members, they were able to give service and interact with locals. During their time in the Dominican Republic, Synthesis members stopped at La Victoria National Penitentiary in Santo Domingo to render service. Six students from the group were chosen to perform various songs from their tour program to 300 inmates. After their performance, members of Synthesis passed out hygiene kits to the inmates who were touched by this gesture of goodwill and generosity. Read the full story at music.byu.edu.

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BYU Student Uses Language to Build Bridges in China

admin — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 16:53:23 +0000

McKenna Wright had an unexpected opportunity to speak the language she learned on a volunteer assignment for her church when BYU invited her to perform in China. Brigham Young University invited the Young Ambassadors, a dancing and singing group, to perform as part of the BYU Spectacular tour. Wright, who is a performer in the group, excitedly accepted the invitation. When Wright received her volunteer assignment to Taiwan in 2014, she had no idea that years later she would be going to China and have the opportunity to use the language she spoke while in Taiwan. While living in Taiwan, Wright enjoyed learning about the Taiwanese culture and studying Mandarin Chinese. She shared that it helped her develop a love for the Taiwanese and Chinese cultures, which gave her a desire to integrate them into her life after her volunteer experience was completed. “It was like a springboard where I was like, ‘Of course I want to make Chinese my minor at BYU,’” she said. “I want to learn everything I can and associate myself with people who are from China or Taiwan.” Read the full story at universe.byu.edu.

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International Folk Dance Ensemble Featured on KUED PBS’s “This Is Utah”

Morgan Reis — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 18:55:33 +0000

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.

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China Spectacular Technicians Learn to Adapt, ‘Lift Where You Stand’ On Tour

Martha Duzett — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 19:59:09 +0000

Assistant stage manager Susan Kupferer discusses lessons learned on tour Behind 160 student performers, eight performing groups and an anniversary celebration 40 years in the making was a small — but resilient — crew of technicians. BYU’s China Spectacular wrapped on June 3 after six performances in Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai. Though BYU is known for its international reach and well-traveled ensembles, a tour of this scale was unprecedented for the university. For now-graduated theatre student Susan Kupferer and her husband Matthew, the tour also meant an unprecedented chance to grow as technicians. “We decided that it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Kupferer, who served as the show’s assistant stage manager under theatre professor Jennifer Reed. “Everyone was talking about the collaboration involved and the celebration of 40 years of friendship between BYU and China, and we knew that we wanted to be a part of it.” Kupferer was no stranger to BYU tours — having worked behind-the-scenes for the Ballroom Dance Company the year before — but the China Spectacular presented her with many new experiences and challenges, including the task of packing and repacking hundreds of costumes to meet the 50-pound luggage limit for air travel. After countless hours of production meetings, rehearsals and painstaking technical preparation, Kupferer and the rest of the crew felt they had covered their bases. BYU was ready to take on China. Only there was a hitch. While the technicians, performers and supporting staff safely made the trip, many of the show’s technical elements failed to arrive with them — including the majority of the sound equipment, key lighting equipment, projectors and irreplaceable puppets that had been crafted specifically for the Cougarettes’ collaboration with Vocal Point — forcing both cast and crew to adapt, and adapt quickly. Though Kupferer’s duties as assistant stage manager were less affected than other technical roles, she felt compelled to step up and help those who were essentially starting over from scratch. “It was a major adjustment for everyone,” she said. “It was just one of those ‘lift where you stand’ times to try to help those people who were struggling to make the show happen. The equipment delay was stressful and complicated, but our production team was so awesome, so experienced and so talented.” Kupferer gives special credit to the problem-solving and perseverance of technical director Travis Coyne. Under his leadership, the crew rented all the equipment that could be replaced and worked to recreate the programming they had practiced in their campus performances. While their last-minute efforts were universally deemed worthy to be called a China Spectacular — and their original equipment did eventually arrive for the final two performances — Kupferer acknowledged that it was difficult to know what the show could have been. “We had planned and prayed about this show,” said Kupferer. “We made this show for these people, so why didn’t our equipment come through? Why couldn’t we give them the show that we planned?” In the end, the setback provided Kupferer with some of the most important career and life lessons that she will take from her time at BYU. “I think it’s so important to be able to recognize your potential, but it’s sometimes frustrating that you can’t be there quite yet,” said Kupferer. “This experience taught me that you have to work toward your potential — that’s what we’re all here to do. Heavenly Father requires a lot of hard things of us, but sometimes those things are put in our path so that we can learn from them. It’s our job to overcome them prayerfully and be able to learn and grow from them.” From a lesson in persistence to hiking the Great Wall to seeing friendships blossom across disciplines, Kupferer feels that the China tour truly was the trip of a lifetime she had hoped for. “I think people don’t realize how unique it was and how big of a difference it made to people over there,” she said. “You become family with the people you’re touring with, and we were there with 200 people. It was so cool to see everyone collaborate, share and connect. I learned how to be a support to others, to really bear each other’s burden and what it means to do that. One of my favorite things was to see the joy that we can find in each other.”

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Students Recognized Across the World for Dedication and Accomplishments

Morgan Reis — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 22:00:42 +0000

Students from the College of Fine Arts and Communications travel internationally on study abroads, competitions and internships to gain real-world experience and share their talents Each year, students in the BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications take the knowledge and skills they have learned in the classroom and make their mark on their local and global communities. From China to Brazil, these students are having inspiring learning opportunities all over the globe while having real-world experiences. Read more about how students from the College of Fine Arts and Communications answered President Kevin J. Worthen’s call for inspired learning during May: China Spectacular (Courtesy of BYU Photo, Susan Kupferer, Tyler Persson, @byu_folkdance, Jonathan Tanner, McKenna Wright and Drew Duncan) Dozens of students from across the college traveled to China this summer for the China Spectacular. They performed in multiple cities and experienced some of the most iconic places in China, including the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs. “As I reflect on my time in China, it’s clear that all of my knowledge and ability means very little without people to share it with,” said Tyler Persson, a member of the International Folk Dance Ensemble. “This tour was about people, not about performances. The interactions that we had with people in lobbies, on the streets, or in any other daily comings and goings were poignant reminders of this.” The groups that toured in the China Spectacular included Ballroom Dance Company, Chamber Orchestra, Cougarettes, the Dunk Team, International Folk Dance Ensemble, Living Legends, Vocal Point and Young Ambassadors. “Because there were eight different performing groups on the tour, we were able to meet others and become friends,” said Susan Kupferer, the assistant stage manager on tour. “Art is a medium that transcends language.” In addition to connecting with others through art while on tour, a few BYU students were able to use their knowledge of the Chinese language to further build relationships. “I speak Mandarin Chinese, and I feel so blessed for that. Every opportunity I had to talk to a child, talk to a member of the audience or to translate allowed me to increase my love for the Chinese people,” said McKenna Wright, a member of Young Ambassadors. “The feeling that I was being used as a tool in God’s hands was apparent to me throughout the whole tour.” Communications Mentored-Learning Experience in Spain (Courtesy of Natasha Ramirez and Dale Cressman) Five communications students and three professors traveled to Spain to capture the experience of Spanish language majors walking the Camino de Santiago, a network of pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in northwestern Spain. The footage will be turned into a documentary about the Camino de Santiago, why people walk it and what it means to be a pilgrim. “Our communications students conducted themselves so professionally. They are passionate about the project and hardworking,” said professor Dale Cressman. “We were very fortunate to have this experience. I believe it begins to fulfill the vision of our school’s director, Ed Carter — to get our students out into the world in mentored learning situations where they can do challenging but exceptional things.” BYU communications students shadowed and interviewed BYU Spanish students on the Camino de Santiago study abroad while they were making the pilgrimage as well as others they met along the way. Additionally, they learned about Gregorian chants from Spanish monks and sang hymns from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint hymnbook for people in the cathedral at Silos. “Everywhere I went on the Camino, people told me they had met one or more of our students,” said Cressman. “In every single instance, those people told me how impressed they were with them.” Theatre Ballet (Courtesy of Ryan Hatch and @byutheatreballet) BYU Theatre Ballet students spent a week in Spokane, Washington at a ballet conference participating in masterclasses, working with professionals and networking. Some dancers even received scholarships to attend other workshops and conferences. “Going to Regional Dance America allowed me to network with some of the best ballet teachers in the country,” said Ryan Hatch, one of the touring students. After the conference, the group went on to perform throughout the Pacific Northwest. “The Theatre Ballet tour gave me the opportunity to perform and share my talents with others. It was amazing to meet the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from around the world and introduce them to the BYU Dance program,” said Hatch. London Theatre Study Abroad (Courtesy of Caylee Gardner, TMA newsletter and Megan Sanborn Jones) Students and professors traveled to London on a theatre study abroad during spring term for the London Theatre study abroad. Students had the opportunity to see numerous shows — including “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Romeo and Juliet” and “Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love songs)” — which will help inspire them in their own creative pursuits in acting and playwriting. Outside the theatre, students have experienced other tourist attractions in England such as hiking the Cliffs of Dover, visiting parks and touring museums. Ballroom Dance Company (Courtesy of Landon Anderson and @byuballroom) The BYU Ballroom Dance Company toured several European countries, including England, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Spain. BYU won the British Latin Formation Championships while competing in Blackpool, England. “What a blessing it was to win the British Formation Championship at the Blackpool Dance Festival! I am so thankful to my teammates, coaches, choreographers and to our Father in Heaven for this talent we have of dance,” said Landon Anderson. Additionally, students were able to visit church history sites, eat fish and chips, go on a tour of the Ribble River Valley and experience life throughout Europe! Internship with the Late Show with Stephen Colbert (Courtesy of Zoe Taylor) BYU TMA student Zoe Taylor interned for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert this spring. Taylor has been able to learn from industry professionals while enhancing her personal skills in the field. “My favorite part of the internship was the sheer number of people I met and interacted with — celebrities, the costume and wardrobe department, the band members and so many more,” said Taylor. “The office was full of amazing people.” While she entered the internship with strong problem-solving and [...]

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Living Legends in Brazil

admin — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 20:07:27 +0000

With 50 students and more than 135 pieces of luggage, Living Legends arrived in Brazil ready to make a splash. The crowds were captivated by the choreography, stunning costumes, and unique cultural appeal. Audience members thanked the students for presenting the show completely in Portuguese. While in Brazil, the group visited the Associação Fernanda Bianchini, a one-of-a-kind ballet school whose student body comprises more than 300 blind dancers. Following a dance number, the blind students led the members of Living Legends in a group activity where each student was blindfolded and taught the process for learning how to dance while being visually impaired. In Foz do Iguaçu, the local stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints partnered with the mayor’s office to collaborate on a goodwill project in conjunction with the BYU performances. They offered one show ticket in exchange for a donation of a kilogram of nonperishable food, which would be given to local families in need. This food-ticket exchange took place at nine locations throughout the city. Additionally, the group was able to present and discuss the importance of higher education with more than 30 members of Brazil’s Congress and other important opinion leaders from the area. After meeting with the large congressional group, Living Legends members divided into smaller groups with local leaders to discuss how BYU fulfills the goal to be “spiritually strengthening, intellectually enlarging, and character building, leading to lifelong learning and service” — the aims of a BYU education. Read the complete stories: “Making Waves in São Paulo,” “Making History and Giving Charity” and “Leading and Loving in the Amazon.”

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BYU’s Living Legends Blends Cultures in China

admin — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 20:01:14 +0000

Living Legends, BYU’s Native American dance group, had the opportunity to share traditional Native American dances in China, where audiences included people who had no idea that Native Americans still existed. “Having this opportunity to share my culture with the people of China is something special just because in a lot of countries they don’t know that natives still exist,” said Adam Conte, one of the Living Legends performers. Besides being able to share his own culture, Conte also became immersed in the Chinese culture while on tour. Conte said blending the two cultures helped melt differences. “Being able to share that with people around the world, I think that unifies us more because I think you can always draw similarities between cultures,” said Conte. Read the full story at universe.byu.edu.

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BYU Ballroom Dancer Finds Similar Values In China

admin — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 19:51:23 +0000

Professional ballroom dancer Allie Spinder recently traveled to China to perform in the BYU Spectacular, a performing group tour. Spinder, a BYU graduate, said she felt honored to represent the university again. Spinder feels that the BYU Spectacular was an important step for BYU in finding common ground with China. “What’s amazing about this show is it’s showing how alike we are,” Spinder said. “I think right now the Chinese people sense a difference and maybe even a divide between our two countries, but yet this show is bringing this great merge.” Despite the cultural differences between the U.S. and China, BYU Spectacular performers said they found common ground through dance and music while on the tour. Read the full story at universe.byu.edu.

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BYU’s China Spectacular Tour Celebrates 40 Years of Friendship

admin — Wed, 08 May 2019 19:36:23 +0000

Forty years ago, a group of Brigham Young University student performers traveled to China and put on a show that made history. This summer, the University is celebrating that anniversary with a return tour that highlights the relationship BYU and China have shared since 1979. Following the aftermath of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, BYU’s initial tour made the Young Ambassadors and Living Legends among the first Western performing arts groups to enter the country. The tour was the idea of then-BYU President Dallin H. Oaks, who had met with President Spencer W. Kimball of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1978. President Kimball spoke highly of China’s high standards and family values and upon returning from the meeting, President Oaks asked BYU officials to begin making plans for a performing arts group to go to China, despite no established U.S.-Chinese diplomatic relations at that time. But the diplomatic relations did happen in early 1979 and the show fell into place. Newly-launched China Central Television asked to broadcast BYU’s live performance and, even after the group had left the country, the channel continued to rebroadcast the performance. In the past 39 years, BYU performing groups have returned to China 28 more times. Read the full story at news.byu.edu.

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