Dance Styles
The Cultural Dance program is the largest dance program of its kind in the United States and has been at BYU for over 65 years. It is the home to the International Folk Dance Ensemble and Living Legends performing groups. In addition to the two principal performing companies, the Cultural Dance program supports preparatory dance ensembles that also perform in the community and at various BYU dance events.
Students have the opportunity for mentored learning with expert faculty, as well as to interact with guest artists and scholars invited to campus from throughout the world to teach, choreograph and lecture. All courses offered in the Cultural Dance program are open to both dance majors and non-dance majors. A Cultural Dance minor is available (16 credits).
International Folk Dance Ensemble
IFDE performs an extensive repertoire of dance and music from around the world in stunning traditional folk costumes. This program provides dancers with rigorous technical dance training in recreational and staged cultural dance through practice and theory. Performance opportunities for the IFDE are abundant, locally, nationally and internationally. Performance tours occur annually, which may include performances at international folk dance festivals or in professional concert venues. Full and half tuition scholarships are available to selected students who participate in this ensemble.
Living Legends
A culture does not die when it dies, it dies when it is forgotten. Your show rescues culture and heritage.
Living Legends captures the essence of ancient and modern culture in a celebration of Latin American, Native American, and Polynesian song and dance. Traditions come to life as talented descendants from these cultures blend authentic choreography, intricate costumes, and heart-pounding music into one captivating show. Members of this company also have the opportunity to travel in the US or abroad on tours during the summer months.
Traditionz
Traditionz, a folk dance performance outreach program, provides cultural education through dance assemblies at local Utah schools for children during the month of May. Members of this company also perform in folk dance concerts held on or off campus during the winter semester. Traditionz auditions are held in November and are by invitation only.