By Laura Arnold
It may sound strange to say that dance has changed the way I see the world, but that is exactly what I’ve experienced as a member of BYU’s International Folk Dance Ensemble. I had been dancing for years before I attended BYU, my primary training being in Irish dance. When I came to the university as a freshman, I was immediately drawn to the folk dance program. I already knew I loved Irish dance, and I suspected I would enjoy other folk dance styles as well.
I had no idea how true that would be.
Celebrating Cultures
At first I stubbornly insisted that Irish dance was the best of all cultural dances; but it wasn’t long before I became enraptured with the dances of other countries. I discovered the strength of Russian dance, the dignity of Mexican dance, and the vivacity of Chinese dance.
I began to find joy in celebrating the uniqueness of people from different parts of the world. I soon noticed that any time I met someone from another country whose dance style I was familiar with, I had an instant connection with them. The love I felt for their culture’s dance style extended to love for that person, even if I had just met them.
Making Friends through Folk Dance
I’ve come to appreciate this unifying effect of dance in my travels with the BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble. While we were in France for a performance tour, we connected with the youth of the area during a mutual activity. In Belgium for a dance festival, I stayed in the home of a Belgian family whom I still refer to as my Belgian mom, dad, brother, and sister. When we were in China as part of the 2019 BYU China Spectacular, I befriended the Chinese students who performed for us when we visited their university dance classes.
The beautiful thing is that, in each of these encounters, it didn’t matter if we spoke the same language or not; we were united through our love of dance. In fact, to me, dance is a universal language. I may not know how to say “let’s be friends” in French, Dutch, or Chinese, but I do know how to join hands with someone in a dance circle.
Sharing Joy in Folk Dance
There is one aspect of dance that all cultures share, and that is joy. Be it through the sacred temple dances of India or the lively national dance of Ukraine, people all around the world dance to express joy.
When I dance, joy is the engine that propels all my movements. And when the audience sees my fellow dancers and I experiencing this joy, they feel joy themselves. It is joy that unites us as a human race and makes us realize that we aren’t so different after all.
Sharing Light and Love
Perhaps the greatest blessing cultural dance has brought me is the ability to share the light of God’s love with others. Alma 26:37 says, “Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth.”
I know that God truly loves all His children, wherever they live and whatever culture they’re from. When I dance, my greatest hope is that someone will more clearly understand God’s love for “every people” and the truth that we are all His children.
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Laura Arnold is a student at Brigham Young University who participates in the BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble.
All photos are credited to Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo.
Kevin Theriot PhD says
Excellent article!
Grant H Taylor says
Thanks SO MUCH, Laura for sending the article! It has brought
back wonderful memories of when we saw you in the various costumes.
We loved reading your descriptions of the events and places where
you performed.
Thanks, again,
Marlene Kay says
Thanks for your beautiful comments Laura. I’ve loved watching the BYU Folk Ensemble for decades. They are truly a special group with a unique mission of knitting hearts and cultures together. I never leave a performance without feeling the joy, wonder and universality of dance.
Kathy Littlewood says
You are amazing Laura, and all the
BYU Folk dancers! Don and I loved
watching you dance last Friday! You are so entertaining !!
Trina Boice says
I just now shared this with my nephew, Tanner Long, who danced on the BYU Folk Dance team for a few years. He absolutely LOVED his experiences on the team and misses it. What’s especially cool is that his dad also danced on the Folk Dance team back when he was a student at BYU! What a wonderful opportunity for BYU students!