International Folk Dance Ensemble
Dates
- Existence: 1956-
Administrative History
The Brigham Young University International Folk Dance Ensemble (est. 1956) presents a concert program of dances from more than a dozen nations, including Ukraine, Russia, Korea, Poland, Mexico, and the United States.
The Ensemble was founded in 1956 by Mary Bee Jensen when she was asked to organize Scandanavian dances for a congregation meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Janie Thompson, the director of BYU's Young Ambassadors performing group, aided Jensen early on in the development of the program. In 1959, the ensemble established the annual "Christmas Around the World" concert. Since 1964, the ensemble has represented the United States and American culture at folk dance festivals throughout the world, including the festival held in conjunction with the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the festivals in Haifa, Israel; Confolens, France; and Billingham, England. In addition, the group regularly presented its international repertoire throughout the United States and Canada. Regardless of focus, international or American, the BYU Folk Dance Ensemble is acclaimed for their skillful dancing and energy. They celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006, visiting the Baltic States and the Mondial des Cultures de Drummondville, an international folk dance festival held in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada.
Since 1994, the International Folk Dance Ensemble has been administered under Performing Arts Management, which schedules performing groups on campus. Directors for Performing Arts Management have included Edward L. Blaser (1994-2015) and Rex L. Barrington (2015- ).
Citation:
International Folk Dance Ensemble website, viewed Jul. 11, 2011 (International Folk Dance Ensemble; dances from more than a dozen nations, including Ukraine, Russia, Korea, Poland, Mexico, and the United States; founded in 1956; visited the Baltic States and the Mondial des Cultures de Drummondville in Quebec, Canada; since 1964 the ensemble has represented the United States and American culture at folk dance festivals throughout the world, including the festival held in conjunction with the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the festivals in Haifa, Israel; Confolens, France; and Billingham, England; United States and Canada)BYU organizational history project website, viewed Jul. 11, 2011 (Administered under the Performing Arts Management since 1994; directors for Performing Arts Management, Edward L. Blaser, 1994-)
Personal communication with Edward L. Blaser, July 6, 2020 (director from 1977 to September 2015; prior to 1994, the department was called Performance Scheduling with same functions and job descriptions)
Performing Arts Management website, viewed July 6, 2020 (Rex L. Barrington director since 2015)
Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:
BYU Photo photographs of International Folk Dance Ensemble, approximately 1975-2000
Mary Bee Jensen scrapbook on the International Folk Dance Ensemble
Materials include a photocopy and two digital copies on a compact disc of the scrapbook for the Brigham Young University International Folk Dancers, dating from between 1951 and 1964. Also contains the original scrapbook from which the photocopies were made.
Performing Arts Management records on the International Folk Dance Ensemble, 1974-1977, 1985-1999
Includes slides, correspondence, schedules, itineraries, financial records, contracts, and other materials concerning tours in North America, Scandinavia, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Russia, China, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Greece, Turkey, Israel, and Poland, 1974-1999.
Photographs of performing arts, approximately 1920-1980
Contains photographs relating to the performing arts of Brigham Young University including photographs of BYU singers and choir, acting and drama, dancing and folk dancing, and the posture parade, circa 1920-1980.
University Relations Division records, 1965-1967
Contains correspondence, reports, meeting minutes, and other material related to the operations and programs of the University Relations Division, including Program Bureau performing groups and the International Folk Dance Ensemble. Materials date from between 1965 and 1967.