2023 | Celebrate Dance
Members of the Krewe of Romany and their guests joined Ball Captain Tara Schwartz to “Celebrate Dance” at their annual ball Saturday at the Raising Cane’s River Center.
Queen Romany LXXIII Mary Elizabeth Barksdale, daughter of Drs. Phillip Barksdale and Sharon Lee Barksdale reigned over the “Celebrate Dance”-themed evening along with King Romany LXXIII Timothy Joel Seilhan, husband of krewe member Cyndy Seilhan.
The ball captain was attended by page Henry Michael Anding, son of Brad and Claire Anding, grandson of krewe member Jenny and Mike Anding, and the ball captain's nephew. Other pages were Jane Nora Beal, daughter of Avery and Allen Beal and granddaughter of krewe member Jeannie Powers and Willie Beal, and Kennedy Elizabeth Corkern, daughter of Karen and Marc Corkern and granddaughter of krewe member Karen Corkern.
Attending the queen were her pages: Corrine Olivia Bourgeois, daughter of krewe member Jolie and Adam Bourgeois, and Caroline Hazel Hammatt, daughter of krewe member Kristi and Blake Hammatt.
The king's pages were Brooks Lee Buco, son of krewe member Rebekah and Daniel Buco, and Luke Joseph Vaughn, son of krewe member Adrienne and Matt Vaughn.
Each of the maids represented a dance especially chosen by the ball captain. As the maids entered, videos of their themed dances were played on the large screen.
Abby Lynn Schwartz, daughter of Ball Captain Tara Schwartz and Paul Schwartz, represented the Paso Doble.
Karah Laine DiVincenti, daughter of krewe member Bliss DiVincenti and Mike DiVicenti, represented the Salsa.
Representing Ori Tahiti was Camille Paige Duvernay. She is the daughter of krewe member Jennifer Duvernay and Jack Duvernay.
Brenley Ann Murry represented LeGong. Her parents are krewe member Cindy Murry and Trey Murry.
Representing Disco was Juliana Antonina Arrington, daughter of krewe member Toni Montelaro Arrington and Dr. David Arrington. She was escorted by Sam Hart.
Maid Teagan Hope Griffin represented the Samba. She is the daughter of krewe member Trista Beckman Henson and Dwayne Henson.
The maids were escorted by their fathers unless otherwise noted.
Recognized were members of the 2021/2022 court: Ball Captain Maria Rowland, Queen and King Romany LXXII Kelsey Marie Richard and Bobby Mitchell, and maids Hannah Catherine Tranchina, Andee Kathryn Alexander, Amelia Catherine Lambert, Elizabeth Caroline Benoit, Caroline Nicole Arrington and Morgan Nicole Oktavec.
The krewe board members also were introduced, including President Kim Mitchell, Vice President Heather St. Germain, Treasurer Ashley Fabre, Secretary Colette Lambert, Members at Large Chelsea Lemieux and Carla Brown, Special Advisor Jenny Anding and past Ball Captain Maria Rowland.
As is tradition, the Ladies of the Krewe regaled the audience with freestyle dancing, moving to the song “Perm.” The krewe couples presented a hip-hop routine to the song “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now).” A final dance was performed by the Ladies of the Krewe, the ball captain, Mike Anding, the ball captain's father, and krewe choreographer Jerisse Grantham to the song, “Dance Like Your Daddy.” Grantham choreographed all the dances.
Robert Chandler was master of ceremonies. Stage attendants were: Neil St. Germain, Jeremy Lemieux, Travis Fabre, Danny Cavalier, Steve Losby and Mike Anding.
Maid Abby Lynn Schwartz designed and sketched the court's costumes, which were constructed by Jenny Anding and D&D Creations, Inc. Tony Arieux, of American Audio Visual, executed stage design; sound was by Bill Bennett of Sound South.
Following the tableau, the ball continued with dancing to music by Beaucoup Boogie.