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

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Dancers enchant parish library with their ‘Night Moves’

    The dancers of La La Tribal Belly Dance performed before a crowd at the Hammond branch of the Tangipahoa Library last Wednesday as part of the long program “Night Moves,” an event part of the summer Dream Big, Own the Night” program.
    “I wanted to create a weekly program that would incorporate movement that would bring energy and excitement to the Library,” said Branch Manager Misty Noble-Hodge. “I used to take classes with April at La La Tribal, and to begin ‘Night Moves’ I wanted something that we hadn’t done before, something our patrons have never seen.”
    April Stovall has been belly dancing for eight years and teaching for about a year and a half.
    “At La La Tribal we use an American Tribal style of dance based on improvisation and bodily queues, which made up a lot of the choreography you saw tonight,” said Stovall.
    The troupe performed the dances “Ampersandstorm,” “Moon over Alamar,” “Shashkan” and “Nari Narain.” The performance featured the talents of advanced and “beginner-mediate” students, several of which attend Southeastern.
    Erica Morse, a senior Spanish education major, has been dancing since August and was inspired to take up belly dancing after seeing a performance.
    “After I saw the performance, I decided to research it, and I found La La Tribal online,” said Morse. “At first it was difficult to go because I had a Thursday class, which was when we practice. But the next semester I scheduled my classes around my belly dancing classes because I loved them so much.”
    Advanced student Lindory Dyson, a senior mass communications major, has been dancing for three years.
    “With this style of dance, I love that I’m able to express myself,” said Dyson. “Most of the time we follow other dancers but sometimes we follow our own choreography. It’s more modern overall and its about moving the entire body, not just the hips or hands. It’s a fusion, you mold it to what you want it to be.”
    This performance was the first of several programs planned for Wednesday nights throughout the summer, which are designed to inspire a love of reading, physical activity and health and fun for all ages, including a demonstration of Tai Chi by Szabi Varga on June 13 at 6 p.m. and “Zombie Prom/Apocalypse Preparation Party” on June 14 at 10:30 a.m. At the end of the summer, a drawing will be held for a gift basket.
    “We have a drawing for a gift basket that has all sorts of wonderful things to get people moving,” said Noble-Hodge. “For every book the participants read and review they submit their name entered into the drawing and it’s an unlimited amount of times they can submit their name. In the basket, we have a yoga mat, an exercise ball, a month long membership to Spoga Fitness and much more.”
    Noble-Hodge expects to hold the drawing on July 23, at the end of the summer reading programs.
    According to Stovall, any interested in learning dance with La La Tribal should email [email protected] or check out the troupe’s Facebook page. For more information about “Night Moves” and other events hosted by the Hammond Library you can contact the library at 985-345-3909.

    Leave a Comment
    Donate to The Lion's Roar
    $600
    $1000
    Contributed
    Our Goal

    Your donation will support The Lion's Roar student journalists at Southeastern Louisiana University.
    In addition, your contribution will allow us to cover our annual website hosting costs.
    No gift is too small.

    Donate to The Lion's Roar
    $600
    $1000
    Contributed
    Our Goal

    Comments (0)

    Comments and other submissions are encouraged but are subject to The Lion's Roar Comments and Moderation Policy. All views expressed are those of the author and should not be interpreted as the views of The Lion's Roar, the administration, faculty, staff, or students of Southeastern Louisiana University.
    All The Lion's Roar Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *