PROVO — Adhering to a school motto, "The World is Our Campus," performing arts groups at Brigham Young University toured the globe during 2006, visiting nearly a dozen countries from England to Latvia.

Student performers, in a variety of dance and music groups, presented 385 performances for almost 311,000 people, said Ed Blaser, director of performing arts management.

The performers will continue to showcase their talents during the weekend events associated with BYU's Homecoming today and Friday.

"It's closest to professional performing, night after night in different venues," said Chamber Orchestra conductor Kory Katseanes, whose group visited London, Wales and Scotland. "Students learn about their craft in ways that performing in your home venue doesn't teach you. Culturally it's just a smorgasbord. They've had an introduction to the world ... that goes beyond what you can get in classrooms."

The International Folk Dance Ensemble visited Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The university's premier jazz band, Synthesis, went to Spain and Portugal for a three-week musical tour. Living Legends, a multicultural dance group, wowed Germany and Austria.

"For the audience, it's an opportunity to see not only the costuming and dances but to see ... (the combination) of these three cultures, Latin American, Native American and Polynesian," said Living Legends artistic director Janielle Christensen.

The German people are especially interested in Native Americans, Christensen said, and usually know more about their costumes and cultural backgrounds than many of the dancers.

BYU's Synthesis performed in a handful of jazz festivals from Lisbon to Barcelona, with many performances taped to be rebroadcast on Spain's national television station.

"(There's) always big reactions," said director Ray Smith. "They really get into jazz overseas."

It was the first tour for trumpet player Julie Ellison, who said the experience was great, despite busy schedules and late-night concerts because of the cultural mid-day siesta. But all in all, it helped Ellison develop as a well-rounded musician.

"I think going anywhere to experience different cultures is beneficial," Ellison said. "And then just seeing how the same music can affect different people."

Next year's international trips include the Young Ambassadors visit to China, the Ballroom Dancers trip to England and the Dancer's Company's stop in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Living Legends will visit Native American reservations in the Dakotas and into Canada and Synthesis will tour the British Isles.

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