Members of the Brigham Young University (BYU) Living Legends performing group visited French Polynesia during their recent tour to the South Pacific.
BYU Living Legends includes 30 student dancers and technical support crew from Brigham Young University. Members of the BYU faculty accompanying the group included Jamie Kalama-Wood, Artistic Director; Karson Denney, Artist Manager; Renata Forste, BYU International Vice-President accompanied by her husband Michael Forste; Kevin Anthony, Technical Director; Stacey Darais, Tour Leader; and Jaren Wilkey, University Photographer.
Ameet Kumar and Tania Torea of the Pacific Area office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints supported the group.
BYU Living Legends are story tellers celebrating the histories and cultures of their Native American, Latin American, and Polynesian ancestry through performing arts.
On their first evening in French Polynesia, BYU Living Legends enjoyed an exchange of cultural and Christian music and dancing with young adults at the Farapiiti meetinghouse in Papeete, Tahiti.
DOWNLOADThe next day, the group travelled to communities in the southern districts of Tahiti.
As their bus arrived to Matairea school, a loud cheer erupted from the children.
The mayor of Teva I Uta, Tearii Te Moana Alpha, greeted the BYU visitors and introduced them to the school principal, teachers, and children. Members of the Teva I Uta municipality were also in attendance as the performing group began the story telling dance exchange.
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Later that day, the mayor organised a traditional Tahitian welcome at Vaipahi, an historical place of significance to the local people.
Jaime Kalama Wood, Artistic Director, said, “The chance to be welcomed in a traditional way is huge for the students. They are taught many things on campus, but here they get to be surrounded with the experiences.”
Teva I Uta was a unique outdoor setting for BYU Living Legends’ eighth show in the South Pacific. The venue known locally as “the tent” started filling with people two hours prior to the sell-out show starting.
The mayor attended along with council members of Teva I Uta municipality, and following the show he presented a special gift on behalf of the municipality and the people of Teva I Uta to the BYU Living Legends, which was received by Karson Denney, Artistic Manager.
DOWNLOADThe next morning the visitors featured live on Polynesie 1 Television.
That evening, the group gave its final performances in the Grand Theatre in Papeete. Following two back-to-back full house shows, the audience responded by shining their mobile phone lights and singing “Mauruuru” (thank you) to the BYU Living Legends performers.
DOWNLOADThe group travelled by boat to Moorea the next day to support the work of “Fare Natura”, a local effort to care for the land and sea. Joining with members and friends of the Church, members of the BYU Living Legends group cleared weeds and planted banana and papaya trees. Following the service project, the students danced and sang for the community.
On their last day in French Polynesia, members of the BYU group had the opportunity to visit the Papeete Tahiti Temple.
DOWNLOADHelaman Sosi, a member of the Polynesian section of the group, said, “We finished our tour in the temple and I think that’s the perfect way to end it, because in the temple we work to connect our families, not only our blood family but also our human family, as one.”
Jaime Kalama Wood said, “We felt very loved and welcomed in all the places we have been and it has invigorated us. Although we have had a busy and intense schedule it’s been fulfilling and enriching and a ton of fun."