Southeastern Dance Performance Project concert to honor victims of New Orleans New Year tragedy

Southeastern’s Department of Music and Performing Arts’ dance company, Dance Performance Project, will present “LA STRONG: 14 Victims.” Scheduled as part of Fanfare, Southeastern’s annual fall arts festival, the concert is Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, at 7 p.m., in Pottle Auditorium.

Director of Dance and Dance Performance Project Artistic Director Keith “Skip” Costa said the concert is dedicated to the lives of the 14 victims who were innocently killed on New Year’s Day in New Orleans and the strength of our state to stand together as explored through dance, video projections, and music for the one hour performance.

“Some of our students knew a few of the victims that were killed in this tragedy, so we invited one of the victim’s mothers to the concert, and we sent sympathy cards in the hope that if she can attend our performance maybe we can help her find more comfort in her time of grief,” he said. “Dance is a powerful form of art that heals, gives clarity and truth, and brings people together in times of chaos, especially when many of our students are with heavy hearts from all the violence going on in the world right now.”

Dancers performing in the concert include Cali Boudreaux of Lutcher, Trinity Brown, Giavonnia Cervini, and Holly Frisch of New Orleans, Carlie Dodd of Houston, Lauren Drouet of Hammond, Kalleigh Encardes of Covington, Erin Claire Fernandez and Angelina Neal of Baton Rouge, Gabriella Gregg of Lafitte, Lilianna Gregory of Slidell, Janae’ Martin and Natalie Orgeron of Kenner, Olivia Reeves of Laplace, Kairah Senegal of Lafayette, and Gabrielle Woodall of Denham Springs.

Video editor for the concert is Stephen Gerhardt.

Tickets to the concert (cash only) are $10 for students, seniors, children, and military, and $15 general admission and will be available one hour prior to the performance in the Pottle Auditorium lobby.

For more information, contact Costa at [email protected].