Dance News Archive

The high-energy concert features original choreography by guest artists alongside Martha Graham’s historically significant “Dark Meadow”

Walking around campus in a durag and snapback, with tattoos peeking out from under his sleeves, Marc Cameron doesn’t look like a typical BYU instructor. Cameron is proficient in most hip-hop dance forms but has earned the most fame through popping, a street style dance where dancers flex their muscles in time with the music to create a popping effect. The two-time world champion popper teaches students about hip-hop dance forms and the culture surrounding them.

As she got older, Pam Musil, BYU’s associate dance department chair, had gradually removed herself from the performative and technical aspects of dance. And though she felt self-conscious about dancing on film, she did it, she said, because “this story needs to be told.” Kate Monson said it is commonplace for dancers to stop getting jobs or just bow out when they hit a certain age. “Dance has expectations similar to athletics in that you hit a prime in your 20s and then you quietly and graciously disappear from the stage in your 30s, or if you’re lucky, your early 40s,” she said. As such, Monson said, most dancers spend the bulk of their careers doing things other than performing.

For the first time, BYU’s Department of Dance is taking students to Europe to study Contemporary Dance.

A 76-year-old BYU custodian will be the most excited fan in LaVell Edwards Stadium at BYU’s last home game Saturday night against New Mexico State. Val Christiansen, of Orem, Utah, hasn’t seen a live BYU football game in over 2 decades. Yet he’s been cheerfully cleaning and waxing the very floors that are walked on by Cougar football players, coaches and cheerleaders in the physical education building on campus for the last four years.

One of BYU’s longest-standing Christmas traditions returns with new choreography, a pre-concert market and lots of Christmas spirit.

Sometimes words hinder communication. Virginie Mecene and Ari Mayzick (center), veterans of the world-renowned Martha Graham Dance Company, understand this, often teaching with movement only; here, Mayzick supports Mecene as she leans sideways, yearning outward while remaining rooted to the ground. In July, Mecene and Mayzick trained BYU students in the expressive Graham technique at a three-week contemporary dance master class.

Ballerinas present diverse range of ballet, including Raymonda Variations, contemporary ballet pieces, and original works.

Dancers of all skill levels will vie for titles in more than 40 competitive categories.

Ryan Hatch, a BYU dance major, talks about his gratitude for the Department of Dance and his training with the Martha Graham Intensive.

dancEnsemble facilitates student choreography and teaching opportunities.

BYU students, alumni, faculty and UTA personnel cooperate to create raised awareness of Utah’s air pollution situation through dance.

Former faculty member Leona Holbrook’s initial donation generates prolific endowment providing unprecedented opportunities for students and faculty

Lauren Halversen and other students visiting the Taj Mahal as part of a study abroad in India.

BYU sports fans are used to seeing their heroes on the field or court, but BYU dancers helped athletes experience a whole new world on the dance floor.

Noelani Schraedel and her husband, Adam, at the Brooklyn Bridge. Photo courtesy of Noelani Schraedel.