School of Music

Living Legends Celebrates 40 Years of Telling the Book of Mormon Story

by Daniel Ng

Everyone loves a good story.

That’s why we read books, watch movies, and tell each other secrets into the wee hours of the morning.

More often than not, the most popular stories are those that each and every one of us has a connection with.

For the Living Legends of Brigham Young University, its success as a performing group has come from its ability to tell audiences across the world from China to Chile a very important story through the spirit of dance and song ─ the story of the Book of Mormon.

Started 40 years ago in 1971 by Jamie Thompson, the group originally began as a scholarship opportunity for Native American students. Throughout the next few years, Living Legends added students from the Polynesian and Latin America cultures, essentially completing the three cultures that trace their roots back to the people of the Book of Mormon. With its growth came publicity and prestige as the group went from a little-known commodity that performed on campus and locally to an extravaganza that now tours around the globe.

Speaking of an extravaganza, if one were to peek into a Living Legends performance they would quickly become enthralled by the variety of dances, songs and costumes displayed.

Backed by the expertise of a tech crew, choreographer and artistic director, the theatrical display put on by Living Legends has always been considered top-notch in terms of quality.

“Just coming to see the costumes alone is worth the price of a ticket,” said the group’s artistic director, Janielle Christensen.

But according to Christensen, who has worked with Living Legends for 20 years, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to the importance of her work and the work of her performers.

“We are unique because we do tell the story of the Book of Mormon through the heritage and the children of the Book of Mormon,” Christensen said. “It’s also a universal story that any culture can relate to. Anyone can relate to choices and to seasons of promise, prosperity, pride and war. This is not just our story. It’s everyone’s story.”

The ability for any audience to relate to and even receive direction from the spiritual story they see on stage as Living Legends performs has given the group a unique aspect, an aspect that each member cherishes.

“That’s the main focus of the whole group,” said performer, Jerad Todacheenie, who is of Navajo and Tlingit [tribe from Alaska] descent. “People all over come up to us and tell us we are special and what we are doing is actually changing others.”

Amanda Quintana, another performer, agreed with Todacheenie noting that every day on tour there is an opportunity to influence specific people who view their performances.

“It’s amazing to see how we are put in the paths of people, specific people in specific situations where we are both learning and relating with each other,” Quintana said. “Every minute is a cool spiritual experience.” Carlos Madrid, a student at BYU majoring in political science, recognized the Spirit quickly in his first exposure to a performance by Living Legends.

“I was impressed,” Madrid said. “I hadn’t seen the show before but had heard about it. It was good to see people performing and being able to feel the Spirit as they portrayed the Book of Mormon through dance and singing.” Although each audience member of a Living Legends performance may not feel the spiritual impact from viewing a theatrical account of the Book of Mormon, Christensen emphasized that people are still impacted in other degrees.

“The mission of all BYU performing groups is to build bridges and to make friends,” Christensen said. “We have a remarkable opportunity that makes people think about their own heritage, their own choices and to just reflect on who they are.”

Along with its spiritual aspect, the ability for performers to connect with their Book of Mormon heritage and culture also makes Living Legends a special group to be part of.

“I’ve always been very proud of my culture and very connected to it,” said Quintana, who is half Mexican. “But Living Legends allows you to share that which you are so passionate about to others. That always keeps the connection strong.”

Todochennie hopes others will realize that there is nothing more important than knowing your heritage when it comes to understanding yourself.

“It’s neat to know things such as the symbolism behind your name or things about your people,” Todochennie said. “It gives you an idea of why you are the way you are. You can’t avoid who you are.”

Ultimately, Christensen said the students she usually takes are the ones willing to expound on their spirituality and understanding of their heritage rather than those who are gifted dancers.

It’s easy to teach dance steps. But teaching someone to be in tune with the Spirit or to love their culture is much easier said than done.

“It isn’t always a very accomplished dancer that we choose,” Christensen said. “Sometimes it is someone that just has such a strong spirit or desire to learn their culture that I can teach to dance. That spirit and that light they carry are crucial to the message that we take around the world.”

Living Legends will be performing on the 24th of this month in commemoration of their 40th anniversary. The performance will begin at 7:30 in the De Jong Concert Hall located in the Harris Fine Arts Center.

Alumni of the group will be joining in the presentation of the various numbers as well as in the finale number, Go My Son, a Native American song which has been performed by Living Legends since it began.

“It will be a terrific show but also very emotional and moving to see so many of our alumni on stage performing again as they bring back their spirit and talent,” Christensen said.