Madilyn Cashio lives to dance Ӱר and she came to UL Lafayette to make a career of it.
ӰרI dance all day, every day,Ӱר she said. ӰרDancing is fun to me. ItӰרs not a chore. So, I have to make sure that my hard work stuff is done Ӱר doing my math homework, doing dishes, all of that is done before I can do the fun stuff. ItӰרs like my reward.Ӱר
Madilyn grew up taking dance classes and performing on a dance competition team at a studio in Livonia, La. until she was a senior in high school. That year, she was accepted into the Joffrey Ballet School in Dallas.
MadilynӰרs family let her move to Texas for her last year of high school under one condition: that she return to Louisiana after the year was over.
ӰרMy dance teacher (in Louisiana) who gave me my passion for dance Ӱר she actually graduated from UL LafayetteӰרs dance program,Ӱר Madilyn said. ӰרSo, when I came back home, I was like, I want to go to college. I want to make sure I have a grounded degree, and I knew nothing else would fit besides dance.
ӰרIn Louisiana, UL LafayetteӰרs dance program is the most high-quality dance program you will find, so there was no question about coming to UL Lafayette,Ӱר she said.
Attending the Joffrey Ballet School gave Madilyn a different perspective about dancing as she started college.
ӰרGrowing up, I always thought the dance world was like what they have on Instagram: all the hip hop and L.A. But going to the conservatory opened my eyes to concert dance,Ӱר she said. (Concert dancers are part of a company and are paid to be full-time dancers, including traveling and rehearsing on top of performances.)
ӰרThatӰרs UL LafayetteӰרs strong background: concert dance,Ӱר Madilyn said. ӰרI knew from the get-go it was going to be a good choice.Ӱר
A Commitment to Dance
While Madilyn loves studying dance at UL Lafayette, there are still challenges.
ӰרItӰרs hard knowing all of your friends have a lot of time, and dance takes a lot of yours,Ӱר she said. ӰרBut your work ethic and your determination and the passion you have Ӱר that really determines if you want to do it or not.
"It does take a special person to say, ӰרI canӰרt celebrate because I have rehearsals this weekend for my production in the spring.Ӱר That does suck sometimes, but I like to think of the bigger picture, and dance is always in my bigger picture.Ӱר
Through her dance classes on campus, Madilyn is preparing for her future as a professional dancer.
ӰרThereӰרs a different, professional side to dance,Ӱר she said. ӰרItӰרs how to go in to take a professional class and how to act in auditions and things like that. UL Lafayette has one of the most professional atmospheres Ӱר I mean, yeah, theyӰרre fun and chill, but they really show you how to apply dance etiquette in every aspect of life and do it efficiently. I think thatӰרs one of the main things that I didnӰרt learn growing up.Ӱר
Looking to her future, MadilynӰרs excited about spending her life doing what she loves.
ӰרEvery day, you go into a dance class, and thereӰרs something new that can challenge you,Ӱר she said. ӰרI like looking in the mirror and feeling accomplished but knowing that I wonӰרt get bored with it.
ӰרI know there are so many different things in dance that I could try to do: I could take up ballroom, salsa, teach at a high school in Japan,Ӱר she said. ӰרThereӰרs so much variety in dance, and most people donӰרt really know that. But when youӰרre in college, they open those doors for you.Ӱר
