The internationally-acclaimed performance group Living Legends will be performing in Prince Rupert for the first time in their 40-year history in May.
Based at the Department of Dance in the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah, the Living Legends performance group consists of more than 40 members renowned for putting on an exhilarating show comprised of dances, music and traditions representing Native American, Latin American and Polynesian cultures.
“Prince Rupert is very fortunate to host this colourful and unforgettable spectacle. Imagine the artistic imagination and spell-binding performances of Cirque du Soleil, but woven into the tapestry of real human heritage. Living Legends is a cultural tour de force,” said Evan Smithanik, chairman of the volunteer committee that worked to welcome the group in Prince Rupert.
All members of the group are of Latin American, Native American or Polynesian heritage, being selected through an intense audition process. These performers will pay tribute to their ancestors in the show, Seasons, which showcases some of the features of each of the cultures.
“Unique dances are thrown together, but you can see some of the similarities,” said Smithanik.
“One of the objectives of the performance … is trying to show we can each have pride in our culture and put it on display. And that we can also work together with other cultures in trying to find the similarities and commonalities among us.”
The BYU Living Legends have travelled the world performing over the years, including for a global audience during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Prince Rupert was selected as the ensemble’s final Canadian stop on its west coast tour, set to perform in the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre on May 8.