Crystal Schayot, senior and veteran of the dance and theatre program, has begun preparing for her final senior performance in the fall. Starting early, she began scheduling auditions two weeks following the end of the Spring semester, hoping to lock in her crew. Her most recent audition took place Friday, June 7 in the Kinesiology building. Since her start at Southeastern in 2009, Schayot has been involved in several theater and dance performances, taking the responsibility of several roles including choreographer, director, playwright, actress and dancer. During the spring, she assumed roles in many productions including “Alice the Brave,” “The Magic Flute” and “7 Deadly Sins.” Schayot’s performance will showcase several different styles of dance ranging from ballet to hip-hop. She is hoping to select a minimum of 20 dancers to fill her planned 8-10 numbers. “I need at least 20 dancers; I’m planning on choreographing at least 8-10 pieces,” said Schayot. “I went into each audition with an open mind and ready to work. I had the dancers participate in some group choreography, then had each of them perform solos in a couple different styles of their choice. It was an exciting experience overall. It was nice to see everyone dance in their own element that they felt comfortable in.” A few dancers away from her goal, she has already selected 18 dancers, but is planning to schedule future auditions to add to her crew. Dancers from her last audition have not yet been notified. Those who made the cut will receive a congratulatory email followed by the choreographed pieces for which they were chosen and a rehearsal schedule. “I will definitely have a lot of variation in the show,” said Schayot. “I’m planning on having styles that range anywhere from ballet en pointe, to hip hop, to musical theatre to contemporary, and even more aside from those styles. I’m also doing my very best to play to everyone’s strengths. I have some extremely well trained, technical dancers, along with some great dancers who can act and more.” Rehearsals for Schayot’s Senior Showcase will begin during the first week of fall classes and continue until the night of her finale November 26, including 12-13 rehearsals for each number and a technical and dress rehearsal prior to the showcase. Although the presentation is nearly five months away, she is excited about her show and planning to “go out with a bang.” “I can’t wait to get into the studio in August and start working with the dancers,” said Schayot. “At the moment, I am in the process of getting as much of the book work and paper work done as I can. As my mentor for the show, Skip Costa even said to me during our meeting last week that I was way ahead of the game and that he is not worried about my show at all. I have a very good feeling about the show. I think it will draw a lot of attention and will be a success.” Housed in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, students are offered the option to gain a bachelor of general studies with a concentration or minor in dance. The curriculum offers an array of courses teaching and advancing students through various aspects of dance including technique, choreography, history, pedagogy and performance. Schayot credits her growth as a dancer and performer to her experiences with the department and feels prepared for her professional career. “The dance program has been a vital part of my development and growth as a student and dancer,” she said. “I feel as though my abilities as a dancer have improved drastically. The dance program has prepared me for my future as a performer and choreographer, and I feel confident to go out into the entertainment world and make a name for myself. I have learned more than I would even try to venture and explain, met so many people and made some amazing friends. I consider it a blessing to have worked with so many fantastic professors in the dance and theater departments, some of whom I can now even call my friends.” For more information on the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, visit www.selu.edu.