The Brigham Young University Living Legends cultural performing group performed to an appreciative audience of around 900 people last night at Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Guests included Elder Kevin W. Pearson, president of the Pacific Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, also of the Pacific Area Presidency. Both leaders were accompanied by their wives, June Pearson and Wendy Nielsen.
The show, titled “Seasons,” included dance from Latin and North American cultures, as well as Polynesian dances and songs.
One guest, Sandy Wynands, said, “the show was awesome and the costumes were amazing.”
Another attendee, Euclid Fong, descibed the evening as “a colourful and thoroughly enjoyable cultural journey delivered with passion and vigour.
"We were dazzled by the rapid-fire performances, beautiful costumes and different types of themes, music, songs and dances. What a treat for the whole family. If we had a chance to see the show again, we definitely would!”
Teresa McNamara, from the Catholic Diocese of Auckland, said, “It was an amazing show. Very hard to believe that those dancers are students who balance dance practice with their studies. The show was definitely of a standard you would expect from professional dancers. I loved the way that they came out to mix and mingle with the crowd after the show—just awesome.”
Geoff Beissner from the Adventist Education Office of the New Zealand Pacific Union Conference said the show was "a real inspiration—so colourful, energetic and well produced and choreographed. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute."
After the performance Elder Pearson said “the young people represent all that is good in the world, such as faith in God, love of family and our neighbour, the active pursuit of education, the development and sharing of talents, and the reaching out in love and kindness to people of all cultures and nations.”
Elder Nielsen said he and his wife were also delighted to attend the performance, and to meet the young performers from Brigham Young University.
“These young people are very special. They love God and Jesus Christ, they love the peoples of the South Pacific, and they want to share with and learn from all whom they meet. And as they have chosen to attend a university that values high standards of morality, education and general living, they have beautiful faces and spirits that reflect those choices.”
Read about one BYU Living Legends performer, Mele Lokalesia Fifita, in Kaniva Pacific. Get to know other members of the group.
The BYU Living Legends performance tonight at Vodafone Event Centre in Manukau is sold out. Further shows will follow in Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Porirua, Nuku’alofa and Apia.
Watch a video featuring performer Adam Conte talking about his experience in the group: