From Student to Artist: How LSMSA Shaped Dance Alum Alyse Huguet

 

“All of my past performances played in my head while performing this lovely duet with Maddie, and I was reminded just how much I have grown since,” Huguet said. “Visiting felt like coming back inside after a long, cold day; it was a warm, familiar, and comforting experience.”

Huguet is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performing Arts with a concentration in dance at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL), where she is a recipient of the Evelyn Lockman Dance Scholarship. Her days are filled with technique classes in Modern and Ballet Dance, academic courses in Dance History, Dance Anatomy, and Dance Philosophy, as well as rehearsals for ULL’s upcoming student choreography showcase, Evening of Dance. This spring, her own choreographic proposal was selected for performance at the showcase, a significant milestone. Outside of school, Huguet teaches classes at Machita Dance Company in Plaquemine, Louisiana, and travels the country each spring as a Dance Competition Tabulator with Believe National Talent Competition. She is also in the process of obtaining her Mat Pilates certification through Fletcher Pilates, a pursuit she sees as fundamental to her growth as a movement artist.

Reflecting on her time at LSMSA, Huguet shared how she traces much of her growth to LSMSA dance instructor Crystal Lewis, whom she credits with reshaping how she understood her potential: “Taking improvisation for the first time with Ms. Crystal opened my eyes to the wonders of movement invention,” Huguet said. “She instilled in me so much hope for the future and encouraged me to dig deeper into my creative voice. Without her encouragement and her insistence on pushing me outside of my comfort zone, I might have stopped dancing altogether, and I am so grateful to have had such a wonderful instructor and guiding force in my high school years.”

Huguet continues to pursue ambitious long-term goals for her dance career. After graduation, she plans to travel as a freelance choreographer and artist. “My ultimate dream is to open a dance studio alongside my three siblings, who are also dancers,” shared Huguet, a vision rooted in family and in their shared love of artistic expression.

When she thinks about what LSMSA gave her, Huguet also points to something less tangible than technique and performance experience: “I recognize the value of the personal skills I have gained in my time at LSMSA,” she said. “The independence, responsibility, and self-discipline all helped prepare me for future success while many of my classmates were struggling to adapt to the demands of college.”

Her advice to current students considering a future in the performing arts is equally direct: “If you want it, you should go for it,” Huguet said. “Do not listen to anyone who tells you it is not a 'real' career path. You can excel in whatever path you choose if you put in the work. For me, being a part of the preservation of the artistic side of humanity is a core reason for my love of dance. While it can seem, at times, that there is little appreciation for the arts, I believe they are the backbone of society.”

We are incredibly proud of all that Alyse has accomplished and look forward to seeing her continue to grow as an artist, educator, and choreographer. We also look forward to the day she opens the doors of her own studio, where the next generation of dancers will also be encouraged to find their own creative voice.

LSMSA is a tuition-free, public residential high school serving high-achieving sophomores, juniors, and seniors from across Louisiana. Financial assistance is available to ensure access to its 43-year tradition of a rigorous, college-level living and learning experience. 

Learn more at LSMSA.edu.