Ashlyn Rogers has been in a bit of an unfamiliar place these days.
Specifically – she’s got more time on her hands than she’s used to.
“I’m so used to getting up and having to go, go, go,” Rogers said. “And I’m just going to do that, but I get to choose my tasks now.”
That schedule is going to fill up quickly this fall, when the Hahnville grad heads to LSU, where she’ll major in microbiology. A full schedule is what she knows, balancing her time at HHS between the classroom, dance and her other activities.
And over her time at Hahnville, the Hi-Steppers team captain helped lead her team to three national dance championships – the first three in school history. HHS secured a “three-peat” National Championship in Small Varsity Team Performance at the Dance Team Union Nationals competition in Orlando, making it a trio of national crowns in as many years. Hahnville also secured second place in Medium Varsity Spirit Showdown and fifth place in Jazz.
That takes incredible commitment, and Rogers said she’ll always be proud of what she and her teammates accomplished – the Hi-Steppers lifted their program to national acclaim.
“To see how far we’ve come – when I first joined to now, the huge expectation from what was expected to what is expected and what it takes to be part of the team,” Rogers said. “It’s a huge difference. I take a lot of pride in that. It’s very unique and special, and it’s something not many people get to experience.”
Rogers first began dancing 15 years ago, when she was just 3 years old. Its been a central part of her life ever since.
“I think what’s so special about it is you can create something so beautiful and so meaningful,” Rogers said. “But you also have to have the athleticism, the grace and the strength to make it happen, not just physically but mentally. A lot of these dances are like sprinting for two minutes straight. It can be very difficult. I’ve always enjoyed that challenge. And I also get to do it alongside my best friends – I’m lucky to have found my closest friends through dance.”
It’s also ingrained discipline and a very strong work ethic within her.
“I love the structure it’s created for me my entire life. The week-to-week schedule is always the same,” Rogers said. “It also made me an incredibly hard worker. I would not be the same person without dance. It pushed my work ethic to another level and that’s something I’m incredibly grateful for.”
With her time with the Hi-Steppers behind her, Rogers admits it feels strange at times.
“It is definitely different being on the outside,” Rogers said. “I truly love each one of those girls. I know we’re leaving the program in good hands.”
While at Hahnville, Rogers has also been part of the Interact Club and the student council. She and the Hi-Steppers raised more than $1,200 for Grace Girls Home, an orphanage that cares for girls who have lost parents through tragedy.
Volunteering and finding other ways to give back are also quite important to her, something she said became a focus after she felt so much support and love from the community for she and her Hi-Stepper teammates.
“My freshman and sophomore years, it just really opened my eyes … I could see how much our community was doing for us, be it through sponsorships or supporting us at all kinds of events. They supported us so much and so it became really important for me to give back to them,” said Rogers.
Earlier this year, she helped out with Luling Realtor Regina Allemand’s Go Red campaign for heart health and CPR awareness. Rogers choreographed a dance for a “Flash Mob” performance on Feb. 20, and she recorded an instructional video for participants to learn the dance beforehand.
Rogers also had the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. after winning first place in Louisiana for her essay in the Voice of Democracy contest. Rogers wrote about the freedoms and opportunities Americans celebrate and how the United States’ founders would feel walking around America today.
“It was an incredible trip,” said Rogers, who made the trip during her Mardi Gras break. “The coolest part were we were there with veterans and were able to hear their stories. We got to see the national archives, the Capitol Rotunda … it was a great experience.”
