Department of Dance

In 1983, a student at the Beijing Dance Academy named Jiamin Huang waited in line all night to see an American performing group called the Young Ambassadors. This spring, 28 years after that introduction to BYU’s performing arts programs, Jiamin was back in China again, this time representing Brigham Young University in a stirring performance by another BYU performing arts group.

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BYU Contemporary Dance Theatre was recently chosen to perform two dances, including dance major Catherine Taggert’s choreographed piece, Life's a Bench, in a professionally adjudicated performance for the American College Dance Festival. [The ACDF] is a really important organization,” said Pat Debenham, artistic director of BYU’s Contemporary Dance Theatre. “It’s about preparing students to perform, choreograph and share their work to other schools.”

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In collaboration with the School of Music, Theatre Media Arts and Visual Arts Department, BYU Theatre Ballet recently commemorated its 40th anniversary with an original full-length ballet production of Cinderella.

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Kinnect is a BYU contemporary dance company that provides community outreach services. The company gives its members a variety of teaching opportunities and helps them develop creative choreography and performing skills. Kinnect members teach dance workshops to elementary school children, encouraging them to learn and express themselves through movement.

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Working together on a collaborative and revolutionary project, animation professor Ryan Woodard, Dance Department instructor Kori Wakamatsu, four dance students and a film student produced a stirring choreographed dance routine which was in turn animated into a “short” depicting the struggles and joys of finding love. According to the seven participants of the project, sharing their talents through Thought Of You opened their eyes to the arts and its ability to combine various elements and disciplines into something special.

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Marilyn Berrett has been appointed as the new chair for the Department of Dance at Brigham Young University. "I love the students that come to BYU," she said. "They are eager, they are hard working. It’s been such a joy to be a teacher, and to teach people how to become teachers."

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World of Dance is an annual dance tradition held at the beginning of fall semester. The performance is one of the few times talented students involved in International Folk Dance Ensemble, Theatre Ballet, Ballroom Dance Company and Contemporary Dance Theatre perform together. The performance helps students gain a respect for other dancers’ unique talent and ability. It also illustrates the strength of the program.

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Although difficult to master, plies and pirouettes, choreography and improvisation, anatomy and analysis are all necessary when learning the art of dance. For Kathie Debenham, however, it comes as naturally as breathing. The California native has been dancing her whole life. Her deep involvement and contributions to the world of dance have also led her to be chosen as a BYU Honored Alumni. Debenham will represent the College of Fine Arts and Communications this fall during Homecoming week.

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The Ballroom Dance Company from Brigham Young University took first place in both the British Modern Formation and the Latin Formation Dance Championships at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, England. They competed against dance companies from China, Germany, Great Britain and the United States.
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