Under a pavilion at the Father Ray Children’s Village in Pattaya City, Thailand, language and cultural differences were forgotten as BYU’s Ballroom Dance Company danced with schoolchildren. “Music and dance are languages that transcend barriers,” says artist manager and tour director Karson B. Denney (BS ’06, MA’11).
The dancers say their most meaningful moments on tour in Southeast Asia happened between performances, when serving in the communities. “You often realize, ‘Wow, we’re a lot the same,’” Denney says. “We’re all children of God.” Students became ambassadors, spreading Christ’s light with each performance and service opportunity.
“An important part of our identity as a program is to fulfill the mission of the Church,” Denney explains. “Much of what we do is tied to missionary work. It’s pretty fun.”
