BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble celebrates 70 years of global heritage

2026 marks 70 years since the BYU folk dancing team was established.

The International Folk Dance Ensemble was established in 1956 by Mary Bee Jensen.

She directed the program until 1985 and was artistic director and initiated the first international tour that went out from BYU in 1964, Jeanette Geslison, artistic director, said.

In 2011, Geslison became the artistic director for the ensemble.

Our folk dance program focuses on preserving cultural heritage, teaching students about what it means to embody dances from different cultures, not just our own, Geslison said.

The ensemble includes dancers and musicians who provide live music.

One of the requirements for these festivals is live music, because they believe that cultural dance is not just dance by itself, said Geslison. But the music is such an integral part of the dance and the music coming together.

Bailey Tucker and Levi Hancock are members of the ensemble.

I'm actually a third generation member of the international folk dance ensemble, Tucker said.

Tucker says that the ensemble has a strong sense of community.

Folk dance is the place to be if you like to dance. If you like to get to know fun people, this is that, she said.

Levi Hancock has been a member of the team for 4 years.

We have the opportunity to talk to a lot of people from all around the world, he said.

This summer, the ensemble went on tour to Romania, Belgium and Hungary.

Somehow dance brings us all together and its been amazing to me to see how we can connect with people from different cultures that are so different from us, Hancock said. It's an amazing community because we all love performing and dancing and making people smile.

Folk dance fosters understanding and connection worldwide.

I'm always excited to come into rehearsal and to work with the students. They make things amazing, Geslison said.

The BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble has performances all over the world.