Madison Graves is pursuing her passion for dance at the 小蝌蚪APP.
From the beginning of her student career, Madison小蝌蚪APP檚 classes and experiences in the dance program have helped her significantly.
小蝌蚪APP淢y favorite classes were my freshman and sophomore modern classes because, even though I had studied modern for seven years, these courses gave me the background and context of the techniques to fully understand not only what I was doing with my body, but why and how,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淭hey opened my mind to a world of dance outside of the boundaries of strict technique.小蝌蚪APP
Another big help for Madison is how small and intimate her dance classes are.
小蝌蚪APP淚 know every dance major personally and our professors know each of us," she said. "The program is very well-rounded and allows the student to use it to their strengths and their desired career path whether that be performance, teaching, choreography, or work behind the scenes.小蝌蚪APP
Getting Experience on Stage and Off
Madison has worked on four productions during her time on campus, both on the stage and behind the curtain.
小蝌蚪APP淚 was injured halfway through the rehearsal process and unable to perform in State of La Danse (one of two annual productions in the program), but I was still able to be involved in the show by working backstage,小蝌蚪APP she said.
小蝌蚪APP淚t was the first time I experienced the production of a concert without being a performer. It gave me a whole new perspective on what it takes to put on a show.小蝌蚪APP
Her experiences performing were not easy work, either.
小蝌蚪APP淓ach piece in each concert rehearses four to four and a half hours a week 小蝌蚪APP on top of daily ballet and modern classes. When the concert comes around, we are in the theatre for eight days for tech rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and performances,小蝌蚪APP she said.
小蝌蚪APP淲e perform four nights in a row, Thursday through Sunday, which was a big shift 小蝌蚪APP even as someone who grew up dancing and performing. In a local studio or company setting, you would probably have two dress rehearsals and two performances at the most.小蝌蚪APP
Living In and Loving Lafayette
While keeping up with the work required in the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 dance curriculum, Madison also does a lot of dance work outside of the classroom.
小蝌蚪APP淚 have been involved with the dance honors society Chi Tau Epsilon since my freshman year and currently serve as events coordinator,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淭his organization has given me the opportunity to become more connected with the Lafayette arts community and the courses it offers as well as performance opportunities at places like , the , and many local nursing homes.小蝌蚪APP
Her favorite part about being on campus, though, is the wide array of diversity and cultures surrounding her.
小蝌蚪APP淕rowing up in Shreveport, my family wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 Cajun at all. It was so cool to move to a new city within my own state and experience a degree of culture shock,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淚t is also very diverse for a school in the deep south. Walking around campus, you hear students speaking a variety of languages and there is a wide range of cultural organizations on campus.小蝌蚪APP
While at the 小蝌蚪APP, Madison has discovered a plethora of possible career paths as a dance major.
小蝌蚪APP淚 always thought I was limited to a big company in New York or commercial work in Los Angeles. The dance program at UL Lafayette showed me that that is not the case,小蝌蚪APP she said.
小蝌蚪APP淭here are a million opportunities for work in the field of dance outside of the realm of performance, including teaching, choreographing, arts administration, dance history, lighting, and costuming. UL Lafayette showed me how to find these opportunities, network, and market myself as a working professional in the field of dance no matter which avenue I decide on.小蝌蚪APP
