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The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Senior to display dance, theater repertoire in final showcase

    When all is said and done, the final goal of every college student is the same: graduate with a degree in something that you love to do. For Crystal Schayot, that goal is finally within reach.
    Pursuing a degree in general studies with a concentration in the arts with a triple minor in dance, theater and psychology, Schayot will show off her dance skills in her recital on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the Vonnie Borden Theatre.
    Schayot has been a proud Lion since fall 2009. With graduation on Dec. 14 approaching, Schayot has been preparing for her final night on the stage at Southeastern, choreographing 20 dance pieces and dancing in seven, for her senior dance showcase entitled “The Fun House.”
    “The pieces that I will be performing in will consist of contemporary, lyrical, theater jazz, musical theater and contemporary jazz,” said Schayot. “Some of the music should and will be familiar to the audience, some will probably be new. Some are darker, some are uplifting, some will frighten, some will make you cry, some might mess with your head and some will be pure fun.”
    Of all her pieces, Schayot has a few personal favorites. One routine she choreographed is a duet inspired by Adam and Eve, but given a humorous twist. Another favorite piece in this recital was inspired by princesses and choreographed to the popular song “Royals” by Lorde.  
    “Another favorite of mine that I will be dancing in is a piece about the ‘reject Disney princesses,'” said Schayot. “This is definitely one of the more fun pieces. We all portray the different classic princesses, with myself as Ariel from ‘The Little Mermaid.’ I have been waiting my whole life to have the chance to be Ariel in a dance or theater show, and now I’ve finally gotten my chance. I hope the audience is as entertained by this one as we are as performers.”
    In addition to comical and fun routines, Schayot also tackled choreographing a few serious stories. One routine is a duet with her boyfriend Brent, who is not a dancer but agreed to join her, and two others that hit her close to home.
    “Aside from the lighter, more fun end of things is another piece about my mom and I,” said Schayot. “It is about my relationship with her due to more recent circumstances. This should be one of those pieces that can tug at the audience’s heart strings.”
    Schayot’s solo performance is one that she hopes the audience will be able to relate to.
    “Everyone deals with heartache and pain at some point in their life,” said Schayot. “The piece is honest, and it will be difficult for me to get through it, but that’s part of the beauty behind it. I hope I am able to touch someone through this one on a deeper level and really make a statement about myself as a person.”
    As she prepares to leave Southeastern, Schayot looks on to a bright future in the arts.
    “I hope my dance and theater training and potential can take me somewhere,” said Schayot. “I may try to make something of myself in New York, but only for a short period of time. There are plenty of things I can and will be creating down here in Louisiana. I plan to open a studio eventually, most likely a general art studio. I want something that will incorporate all of the arts in one place and intertwine them. I think art is at its best when the different areas of the field work together. One day I will establish something fantastic like this for artists. I think it’s an idea that can really develop and evolve.”
    Schayot notes that dance has always been and will always be a part of her life. She has been dancing since she was three years old and has been teaching dancing at Galloway’s Studio of Dance in Slidell for several years.
    “Dance is way more than something that I like to do. It’s something that I have to do. It has been a part of my life since I was born. It runs through my blood and makes me feel alive. My passion has grown so much over the past few years, in a way that I cannot fully and exactly explain through words. You would just have to see me dance. It is my passion, my drug, my escape, my outlet, my safe place and my curse all at the same time. I could never picture myself not dancing.”
     

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