By Angelina Carini
Guest dance instructors from Quebec visited the International Folk Dance Ensemble over the weekend of Friday, Nov. 9 to prepare the dancers for Christmas Around the World. The visit was Quebecois Caroline St. Martin''s second to BYU, where she shared her expertise as art director of the Mackinaw folk dance company.
This time she brought with her Martin Lamglais, co-choreographer of 'Sur la Grande C?te', the dance BYU''s folk dancers will perform in December.
The new dance piece tells a boy-meets-girl story, which is typically French-Canadian, St. Martin said.
However, contrary to traditional dance performances where the music accompanies the dance, this dance features the musicians, she said.
Jeanette Geslison, rehearsal specialist with the International Folk Dance Ensemble, said Lamglais will return to perform with the BYU dancers at Christmas Around the World.
He will not only dance, but he will also play and sing the traditional French-Canadian music featured in the piece, Geslison said.
St. Martin said she has been involved with Mackinaw since 1984.
The company travels the world to perform folk dances from many cultures, specializing in French-Canadian dance and music.
Josh Probert, 25, a graduate student from Scipio, Millard County, studying public administration, is the student administrator with the International Folk Dance Ensemble.
He said the great advantage to having the instructors come directly to work with the company dancers is it eliminates the middleman.
'We know it''s authentic because the dances come from the native people,' Probert.
He said the company will videotape the instructors to make sure the dance remains authentic, even several years down the road.
'Quebec has its own unique culture. There''s such a spirit that''s so rich and full,' he said.
Probert said the Mackinaw dance group and BYU''s own folk dancers have shared years of friendship and collaboration.
When they are at folk dance festivals overseas, Probert said they look forward to seeing their friends from Mackinaw.
'We mix with other groups, but we ''hang out'' with Mackinaw,' he said.
For some, folk dancing isn''t just about dancing.
'At the bottom of it all, folk dance is a celebration of life, culture and rich heritage that fills in gaps between map boundaries,' Probert said.