The Dance Department enchanted audiences by spinning the traditional fairtytale, "Cinderella," during "Bayourella: A Story of Forgiveness." "Bayourella" put a Cajun spin on Cinderella, complete with lively jazz music and a mock second line to incorporate elements of Cajun history and culture.
Imari Simmons/The Lion's Roar

“Bayourella: A Story of Forgiveness” was told through movement creation and developed by Artistic Director and dance instructor Skip Costa.

The dance department presented their performance as a part of Fanfare on Oct. 5-7 at 7:30 p.m. in Vonnie Borden Theatre.

“In this production, one of the aspects that Costa focuses on is the complexity and cruel mess of Bayourella’s stepmother’s life in order to define her treatment towards Bayourella,” said Dance Coordinator Dr. Martie Fellom.

The performance was directed by Costa. He used different elements of dance, music, theatre and visual arts to provide an emotional experience for the audience.

The music that was used during the performance was composed and performed by students.

“Bayourella” is the story of a young girl whose father left her mother when she realized she was pregnant. This resulted in the stepmother treating Bayourella with resentment rather than love. Evangeline and Josephine, Bayourella’s stepsisters, also treated Bayourella poorly. The stepsisters got Bayourella in trouble for things she did not do and her stepmother did not believe her.
The performance continued on just as the traditional Cinderella story goes. However, at the end of the story, the stepmother learned to forgive and let go of the events that occurred in the past. She chooses to love and treat Bayourella the way she treats her own daughters.

Students featured in the dance have been preparing for the show since the first day of the fall semester.
“We put in about a few hours for two days a week,” said Alexis May, a junior with a double major in psychology and general studies with a concentration in dance. “Total production time was about eight weeks total.”

Lindsy Brown, a general studies major with a concentration in dance, also helped choreograph a few of the dances in “Bayourella.”

“One of the pieces that I actually did was the actual theme of the whole entire performance which was forgiveness,” said Brown.

Brown was not always a dancer or choreographer and did not begin until her sophomore year at the university.

“Costa saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself and he gave me critiques and construction to grow and I loved it,” said Brown.

For Ashley Barbarin, freshman general studies major with a concentration in dance, this was her first performance on campus.

“It was really great,” said Barbarin. “This is a really great cast and everyone’s really professional.”

Although elements of "Cinderella" were changed to bette suit a Cajun princess, the mean stepmother remained a crucial part of the story. Hayley Jordan, a junior double majoring in history and general studies with a concentration in dance and minor in French, played Acadia, the mean stepmother in the production. 
Imari Simmons/The Lion's Roar

Actresses in the production, Haley Jordan, left, and Hannah Davis, left, embraced during the final scence of "Bayourella: A Story of Forgiveness." Jordan who played the mean stepmother Acadia also served as choreographer during the dance production. Davis, a freshman general studies major with a dance concentration played the role of Bayourella during the production that included wordless music. 
Imari Simmons/The Lion's Roar