Living Legends dance group to perform in Gallup

The Brigham Young University dance group Living Legends will perform in Gallup on Wednesday evening. Tickets can be purchased at the Gallup Performing Arts Center, which is sponsoring the show. [Courtesy Photo]

By Independent staff

GALLUP — Brigham Young University’s Living Legends, a dance group formerly known as Lamanite Generation, will perform in Gallup on Wednesday evening.

Living Legends, with their stunning display of Native American, Polynesian, and Latin American dances, will perform their 90-minute show “Seasons” at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Gallup High School Auditorium. The performance is being sponsored by the Gallup Performing Arts Center.

Authentic choreography, intricate costumes, and heart-pounding music bring to life the beauty of traditional cultures. From the graceful Hawaiian Hula and Mexican Fiesta dances of celebration to the excitement and beauty of a Native American Pow Wow, this year’s Living Legends performance reflects the cycle of civilization. The dances portray the changing seasons experienced by ancient cultures, weaving together legends of the past with the reality of today.

Two Gallup residents are former members of the Living Legends. Mac and Tara Lucio danced with the group during the mid-1990s. Between the two of them they toured all across North America, Central and South America, China, Thailand, Eastern Europe, and the South Pacific.

“I loved dancing with Living Legends,” says Tara, a native of Hawaii. “I had opportunities to share my culture with people around the world, and I learned so much about other cultures as well. I also met my husband in the group, which makes Living Legends that much more special to me.”

Mac was the Native American section leader during his final year with the group. “Living Legends provided an avenue for me to express my appreciation for Native culture through song and dance.”

Janielle Christensen is the artistic director of both the Young Ambassadors and Living Legends performing groups at BYU. Christensen hopes that through their travels, members of Living Legends will inspire people of all cultures to take pride in their own unique heritage.

“It is a moving experience to work with these performers because I see the sincere respect they each hold for one another’s ancestry was well as their own,” she said.

Tickets for the Living Legends show are on sale at the Gallup Performing Arts Center, 1500 S. 2nd St. Advance tickets are $11 or $15 at the door. Children ages four and under are free.

Information: GPAC, (505) 722-2258 or contact Tara Lucio, 879-6175.