The 11th annual Women in the Arts Celebration was not just an entertainment event — it was evidence of the immense amount of talent among women in the LSU community.
Candice Godwin, a biochemistry senior, said she loved the performances.
“There were a variety of performances,” Godwin said. “And it’s good that LSU has an event like this where we can celebrate the achievements and view the talents of LSU’s women.”
Musicians, poets, dancers and pianists were among the night’s performers.
Rebecca Florek, one of the event’s emcees, said Women in the Arts was founded in 1993 to promote fellowship and the work of the women of LSU.
The program opened and closed with the Radical Cheerleaders.
The cheerleaders describe their performances as “alternative cheerleading that educates” with cheers that convey messages of feminism and self-love.
A performance of “Inconspicuous Repair” by Lucretia Hydell, a dancer and choreographer, left the audience breathless and roaring with applause.
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Anna Byars said it was her third year to perform in Women in the Arts.
She performed an original song while playing the guitar.
DeHaven, a poet, shared a collection of poems and dedicated them to the crosses looming over Super Wal-Mart.
“Baton Rouge is not a Christian city,” she said. “It’s agnostic at best.”
The audience laughed out loud at her third poem, “Driving Ms. Pipsy.”
In the poem, she describes an agonizing car ride with her boyfriend’s cousin.
DeHaven left the audience with a story about a classmate who made derogatory comments about the Women in the Arts program.
She told the audience to know themselves and encouraged them to remain true to that knowledge.
“Freedom is expression,” she said.
Four members of the MLK Dance Ensemble performed a dance to “Four Women” by Nina Simone.
In the performance, each dancer took on the persona of one the four women, their style of dress and movements coordinating.
Jennifer Smith performed three prose pieces about imagery in society.
“Bigotry is not limited to racism,” she said. “Beauty is also subjective.”
Her first piece, “Live Report,” was delivered in a newscast fashion.
It explored America’s war on obesity and pointed out the discrimination directed toward obese individuals.
“I’m here tonight to make people think, and I will probably piss some people off,” she said.
Dancers Jessica Donley and Daniel Dominique made audience members laugh with their performance.
“Fickle is Love” showed the turbulence of love triangles.
“Women in the Arts is a program we look forward to every year. It gives the women on our campus an outlet for their creative talents,” said Amber Vlasnik, manager of the Women’s Center.