Amid the estrogen-dominated world of dance lies Ivore Rousell’s passion for choreography and creating a medium of self-expression.
Rousell is the only male in the newly recognized LSU dance organization, Legacy.
“We wanted to establish an outlet for dancers in Baton Rouge,” said Rousell, English junior and Legacy founder. “There really isn’t anywhere to dance around here.”
Alongside his friend and fellow co-founder of Legacy, industrial engineering junior Brettany Bell, Rousell is dancing to the beat of his own drummer – which in this case happens to be a Missy Elliot and L.L. Cool J remix.
Legacy originated in the summer of 2003, but LSU did not recognized it as an official organization until March 8, 2006.
Bell said the original four founders came up with the idea to form Legacy while they were in a study hall.
“It was so random how it all started,” Bell said. “We were in study hall and were like, ‘We should have a talent show.’ I made Ivore dance, and he had never danced before, and we didn’t know he could dance. We started the group that year we were in Showtime the first year, and we came in second place.”
While the group had a successful first performance, Bell said it did not stay motivated for long.
“The group died down for a little while, but then we got serious,” Bell said.
Bell and Rousell are the last of the four original founders who remain in the organization. They said it proved difficult to form the group and become recognized as an official LSU organization.
Bell said Legacy used facebook.com to advertise for its auditions and recruit members. Through Facebook, Legacy has recruited seven dancers, and the Legacy Facebook group now has a group membership of more than 100.
Rousell said the best part of Legacy are the different members.
“We have a very diverse group,” Rousell said.
Tamika Jett, mass communication sophomore who transferred to the University from UNO after Hurricane Katrina, has danced since she was 6 years old and was looking for a place to dance in Baton Rouge. Jett said she found out about Legacy from Facebook.
“After Katrina, I came here. I was lonely and missed dancing,” Jett said. “I found Legacy through an ad for auditions on Facebook.”
Legacy currently has 15 members with six technical dancers, six hip-hop dancers and three gymnasts.
Even with official recognition, the group still faces many obstacles when trying to find places to practice and perform.
“We have had a hard time trying to find practice venues,” Ivore said. “We really have to fight for somewhere to practice, and we keep getting bumped out of every room we do find. We also keep losing members, so that makes it pretty hard.”
Bell said that even when Legacy has been able to perform, there have been problems hindering its performance.
“We always end up performing in places where there’s not enough space, and there is always a problem with the lights and the music,” Bell said. “Our gymnasts can’t even do everything full out because there is usually not enough room.”
Rousell said he had to change the formations at the recent Showtime at the Cotillion event right before the performance because of a lack of space.
“I had to change all of the formations right before the curtains opened at Showtime at the Cotillion this year,” he said. “It is impossible to adjust to that.”
Rousell is the choreographer for Legacy, and he said he has been choreographing for other events, such as the upcoming Delta Sigma Theta sorority fashion show.
Bell said that while Rousell is quickly gaining notoriety for his choreography, he had never danced before forming Legacy. Bell has been dancing her entire life and was in three professional ballets in New Orleans.
“I started him,” Bell said. “He can watch something and pick it up really easily. He’s a quick learner.”
While being the only male on a dance team does have its perks, Rousell said he would like to recruit more male dancers to join the team.
“I don’t want to be the only boy anymore,” Rousell said.
Legacy has jumped the largest hurdle – becoming a recognized organization at LSU – but the team members agree that their goals do not end there.
“I want us to compete in hip-hop competitions,” Bell said.
Regardless of where this year takes Legacy, Rousell said it is important to him that the group stays together.
“That is why we went through becoming an official group is because we want it to still be here after we are gone,” Rousell said.
 
Contact Kelly Caulk at [email protected]