More than meets the eye - BYU Cougarettes – Going about doing good   

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This is the third news release that reports on the 12 days that the BYU Cougarettes drill and dance team spent in Japan.  The prior releases tried to capture the energy, synergy, delight, and pure joy that were the product of the exchanges with the Chibi Unity dance crew in Niigata and the Budahlia Sangyo University High School dance crew in Osaka. 

Within minutes of meeting the host dance crews, these extraordinarily talented dancers bridged differences of all kinds.  They recognized in one another a shared and powerful kinship.  They were, magically and amazingly, instant friends and sincere mutual admirers.  Language barriers became irrelevant.  Cultural differences, personality differences, and barriers of all kinds simply dissolved.   These virtuoso dancers quickly discovered that they are kindred spirits, and any hesitancy was replaced by enthusiasm and joy over that discovery.   With Chibi Unity, the collaboration resulted in a joint dance performance video that garnered over 1.4 million likes!   According to a news article in the Deseret News a week or two after the posting, the video went “viral” with more than 8.0 million views.

The itinerary and agenda for the time not involved with Chibi Unity and Budahlia was also full.  The Cougarettes, their coaches, tour managers, BYU Administrators, other support personnel, and some family members were blessed with time to see and sample many aspects of Japan and things Japanese.  They visited a wide variety of sights and locations that demonstrated Japanese life, history, and culture in Tokyo (Kanto), Niigata, and Osaka. 

While in Tokyo, the Cougarettes visited the Tokyo Temple in Minato Ku and participated in Temple ordinances while there.  They attended Church services in the Niigata Branch on the Sabbath Day in Niigata and one of their group, Abby Gray, was a speaker in the Sacrament meeting.   Abby’s address, consistent with the conduct of all her teammates, centered on the uniting truth that we are all “children of God.”  

On three occasions, the Young Single Adults and other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hosted the Cougarettes and those traveling with them for social gatherings, enjoyable activities, treats, and food.  These events included an YSA sponsored activity at the Chiba Stake Center in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo; a social gathering with members after Church at the Niigata Ward in Niigata; and a mingle and social activities with the YSA and other members at the Ibaraki Ward in Osaka. 

Tokyo included Team Labs Borderless, Senso-ji Temple, Shibuya Crossing, and a full day at Disney Sea.  They visited the Northern Museum in Niigata, and explored Osaka Castle, and Dotonbori shopping in Osaka.  They visited Hiroshima, sobered by a tour of the Peace Memorial Museum, and enjoyed the peace and beauty of Miyajima.  

They rode the Shinkansen and became familiar with the unique and amazing wonders of Japanese convenience stores (“convenies”).

On the final evening in Japan, the Cougarettes performed a full dance concert at the Toyonaka Arts and Culture auditorium in the Osaka area.  The performance was open to all with specific invitations to all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their family, friends, and other invitees in the three regional units (called “Stakes”) surrounding the Osaka Area.  The Budahlia dancers and their families and friends were also invited.  The auditorium was filled.  The U.S. consulate general in Osaka attended as well as other Church and government officials.  The performance was spectacular – clearly representative of the national champion status that the Cougarettes hold in the United States.

The members of the Tokyo-based support staff who had the privilege of traveling with the Cougarettes were consistently impressed by the charity, kindness, faith, and joy that was consistently on display by the Cougarettes.  They were easy to approach, always open, kind, and complementary to all.  They were sensitive to their surroundings and all people around them and never hesitated to make others feel their attention, love, and care.   These disciples of the Savior truly went about “doing good.”  In all aspects of their life and conduct, the light of Christ was evident in their personalities and character.  They began each day’s journey with prayer and a spiritual thought.  The team members took turns making those presentations and offering the prayer.  The spirit and substance of what was shared was insightful, spiritually compelling, and filled with testimony of the Savior – a being whose influence and reality was always evident in each of these accomplished souls.  There was a consistent light emanating from each of them.    

Beyond their shared love of dance, the Cougarettes, Chibi Unity, and Budahlia are united by values that emphasize teamwork, selflessness, and using their talents to bless others. Their experiences together highlighted a common commitment to serving their communities, strengthening relationships, and doing good in the lives of those around them. Through these friendships, the participants discovered that while they come from different backgrounds and cultures, they share many of the same ideals and a desire to make a positive difference in the world.