The Lake Area’s Dance and Performance Collective, Breathe, Bring It Full ‘Circle’

By Jessica Ferguson
Asst. Editor, The Times of SWLA






Breathe, the Lake Area’s Dance and Performance Collective, was created two years ago when a young woman—Jillian Ardoin—gathered her passion for dance and choreography, contacted some friends with the same interests, and ‘followed her dream.’ Ardoin has been dancing since she was three years old. It’s safe to say it’s in her blood, her heart, and her soul.

Ardoin graduated from St. Louis Catholic High School then attended the University of Texas in Austin where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

She absorbed her dancing and choreography classes, then took off to California where she participated in the Courage Group, a contemporary dance company committed to creating original dance works fusing classical art and architecture with metaphoric and resonant movement ideas. Ardoin also studied and danced with ODC which is considered one of the most active centers for dance on the West Coast.

Ardoin’s impressive resume shows a vast amount of experience.

She has studied in Texas, New York, Florida, North Carolina and California. In addition to being a certified dance instructor and a member of Dance Masters of America, Jillian Ardoin is a Licensed Massage Therapist at the state and national level.

These are the credentials that her peers said yes to when Ardoin placed that original phone call and asked, “Do you want to dance?” Otherwise, why would eight or nine people who hold full-time jobs and lead busy, active lives, invest themselves in yet another very demanding project?

The answers are: Passion for dance, passion for expressing themselves, passion to be creative, and respect and faith in Jillian Ardoin and her abilities.

Meet the Dancers
Lindsey Ardoin, Jillian’s sister has been a massage therapist for six years and has taught massage for two. She holds a Bachelors Degree from McNeese and is currently working on her nursing degree. As if that isn’t enough, she practices no less than twice a week for three performances in the up and coming Circular Connections.

Frances Fazzio began dancing at the age of three at Glenda Moss Academy of Dance. She holds a BFA from LSU with a concentration in painting and drawing. Frances has been an art teacher for four years.

Another native of Lake Charles is Elizabeth Gates who graduated from North Carolina School of the Arts. Elizabeth currently resides in Lafayette and comes to Lake Charles twice a week for practices with Breathe.
Tracy LeMieux serves on the board of directors of ACTS theatre and has performed two plays in 2009. For the past ten summers, Tracy has conducted her own Einstein art camp.

Colleen Locklin is a member of Lake Charles Civic Ballet and teaches for Lady Leah LaFargue School of the Dance. Locklin has performed with ACTS theatre, Houston TUTS Theatre and Fort Bend Theatre.

Lacy Vinson is also a product of the Glenda Moss Academy of Dance and has been dancing since she was three. She is a new home sales consultant in the field of real estate.

Lindsay Quebedeaux is a French teacher at SJ Welsh, a board member at ACTS Theatre and sings on her church praise team.

Sara Syron has been dancing for 23 years and works for Starbucks.

Chris Shearman, a personal trainer, is also a musician, songwriter, and singer. He currently
works at Smoothie King.

Let the Show Begin
Under the leadership and instruction of Ardoin, her small group of people who were all very interested in moving and dancing, collected together and started moving and breathing together. Their first performance was P.L.A.C.E.—performing local artists collaborating exhibition, and then there was THRILLER at the Poor Pony Music Festivals.

These performances put Breathe in the spotlight and gave them the confidence to expand further in an attempt to perform throughout the community.

They have since performed in events such as Poor Pony Thank You Party, V-Day and Pardi Gras as well as their annual fundraiser at Luna’s Bar and Grill.

Choreography, their first show, was such a success that they decided to continue entertaining and communicating the performing arts to the community.

This year, thanks to a DAF grant from the Arts and Humanities Council, and support from the Lake Charles Community Ballet, Breathe is able to perform bigger and better at Rosa Hart Theatre.

Breathe’s Circular Connections is the second annual showcase, and consists of modern dance with the help of some props, collaboration and a little aerial dancing.

Ardoin says the pieces in Circular Connections are definitely more near and dear to her heart. “They all have something to do with me and my past experiences in all types of relationships I have had since I’ve moved back home—there are moments of happiness and a lighthearted atmosphere throughout the show, ” said Ardoin.

Ardoin said while choreographing Circular Connections she focused on clarity in an attempt to relate her relationship experiences and the things that are most important to her. “Things such as Strength, Trust, Relaxation, Honesty, Engagement, Being Connected,” said Ardoin.

“We all go through these times in our lives and experience them very differently,” said Ardoin. “I hope our audience can feel and see how he/she is connected to everyone around them, even if it’s by the simplest thing as our Breathe, which is a continuous Circular Movement.”

Jillian Ardoin has done exactly what Mayor Roach and many parents and grandparents have hoped and dreamed for their children: she’s brought her talent, her dreams and expertise home—back to Lake Charles, Louisiana. She’s giving back to her community by being an integral part of the community.

The six dances Breathe will perform are called, Relax, Support, Strength, Connections, Honesty and Trust, and while each performance shares a huge chunk of Ardoin’s heart and soul, it’s the third dance called Strength that exhibits much of Jillian Ardoin’s character.

“This dance portrays how powerful we can be together and individually,” says Ardoin, “and how understanding the importance of our own strength can get us far in reaching our personal goals.”

BREATHE, the Lake Area's Dance and Performance Collective presents "Circular Connections," at 8 p.m. on Aug. 21-22, at Civic Center's Rosa Hart Theater. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Expressions and Gordon's Drug Store or at the door.