LaQuet - A Work In Progress
This nation is full of young women, who set their goals and get to work. An outstanding example is LaQuet (la-kwet) Sharnell, a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (BTWHSPVA) within the Dallas (Texas) Independent School District. LaQuet's training was in the dance cluster of the school. Her story is one of priorities, sacrifice, communication between parent and child to make a dream a reality.
LaQuet Sharnell
As a youngster, LaQuet had seen "The Wiz" in Chicago and an awesome world opened before her eyes. She had been a competitive cheerleader from the age of five. A lightning bolt moment occurred when she saw the film, "A Chorus Line," and her life changed its course.
She entered BTWHSPVA as a ninth grader without formal dance technique training. Many studios and schools won't enroll teenage beginners, but the generous admission policy of the high school worked to LaQuet's advantage. For two years LaQuet says that she lived at the school, which today she recommends to any ninth grader who is seriously considering a professional dance career and has the opportunity to attend a performing arts high school. Besides her academic responsibilities, she took advantage of free studio space, watched videos, made the most of rehearsal experiences, listened to her teachers and absorbed their professional experiences. She says that she submerged herself. By her junior year in high school she began taking class in private studios.
LaQuet and her mother, Sumatra Thompson, share an extraordinarily close relationship. As the daughter of a single parent, LaQuet says "there are just the two of us" and "a lot of give and take." Her mom is employed, but available income required priorities and sacrifice. LaQuet never had her own car, but she was able to attend summer intensives. She needed private lessons to "catch up" for age-appropriate technique. She spent time during the summer in New York City to take class, to see concerts and to widen her experience. Yes, there were choices she and her mother had to make; LaQuet sees them as realistic and beneficial.
After graduating from high school in 2003, LaQuet attended North Carolina School of the Arts. At the end of her first year she went to New York City to study and to just have fun. Then she decided to take auditions. She got a job!
"Ain't Misbehavin'," "Footloose" and "Chicago" are among the shows in which she was cast. LaQuet made her Broadway debut in "Sweet Charity" in 2005 with Christina Applegate in the title role. As the mighty and energetic 5'1" tall performer, LaQuet is easy to find on stage.
She went into rehearsal for the national tour of "Sweet Charity" in the summer of 2006 and the tour itself began that August. LaQuet says, "It was an amazing honor to be in the cast" with the three different performers playing the role of Charity: Christina Applegate, and on tour Molly Ringwald and Paige Davis.
LaQuet says that Applegate is so naturally gifted with such great comedic timing, that she nailed the part. Ringwald's characterization was as if you were walking down the street and saw the real Charity out and about. Davis brought the energy of a dancer and such heart to the role.
The inevitable questions of what is the best and worst part of touring brought these responses:
Plus: Seeing the country, going places, and getting to do "The Frug" performance after performance.
Minus: living out a suitcase and attempting to exist in a whole different world.
Since LaQuet is based in New York, the subject of dance videos in Los Angeles came up. "Videos are fantastic! Wonderful!" LaQuet exclaimed. She is supportive of the dancer who has trained extensively and is hired to dance. In contrast she cautions the dancer, often younger and more eager to please, who is doing basic hip-hop moves in a bikini or less. Her concern is that the difference between the two jobs is often not apparent to the newcomer and can turn into an exploited career path.
LaQuet Sharnell
As a musical theatre performer, LaQuet says that she is "extremely blessed." As a youngster during Black History Month, she sang in public for the first time doing a rendition of Body and Soul and "it didn't sound bad," LaQuet laughs. Her choir teacher talked with her mother and offered encouragement to develop LaQuet's potential.
While in high school, LaQuet auditioned for Broadway Theatre Project. She had to submit a song. She listened to CD after CD and finally selected Take Me or Leave Me from "Rent" as her audition piece. LaQuet credits Adrienne Angel with opening the vocal world to her and continues studying even now with Angel.
The "Sweet Charity" tour ended in August 2007. This fall LaQuet carries on with auditions, plus taking dance, acting and voice lessons. She is teaching modern dance at Flash Pointe Dance in Connecticut as well.
LaQuet writes, "I'm a work in progress. I'm finally having fun and enjoying being a young adult. I love being open to new things and I can't wait to see where my career and life takes me."
Amanda Stone participates and observes dance in Texas.
Her email is amandastone4@aol.com
Photos: From private collection of LaQuet Sharnell