Sylvia Labourdette

1936 - 2022

Sylvia Ann Labourdette passed away peacefully on October 17, 2022 at the age of 86. She was born on February 16, 1936 in New Orleans to the late Peter Jules Labourdette and Genevieve Elsensohn Labourdette. She is survived by her sister, Sandra Labourdette Brooks, her nephew, Kenneth Joseph Brooks, Jr. (Stephanie) and their children, Allison and Matthew. Sylvia attended Our Lady Star of the Sea Elementary School and graduated from Francis T. Nicholls High School. She attended Emma Pembo School of Dance where her love of dance began. She received her teacher's diploma at the age of 16 and the following year began her lifelong dream of teaching the art of dance by opening her own dance studio. Amazingly as a teenager, she had the passion and drive to build a dance studio that would not only be a place to educate students but would ultimately become a dance family. Once her sister Sandra graduated with her teacher's diploma, Sylvia accepted her as partner creating the Sylvia and Sandra Labourdette School of Dance, which over 68 years taught thousands of students of all ages and presented teacher's diplomas to 244 students. Their studio entered numerous competitions throughout the United States and received many regional and national awards. She leaves behind a legacy of four generations of dance students. Sylvia once served as President of the National Association of Dance and Affiliate Artists and was a member of Louisiana Association of Dance Masters and Dance Masters of America. When not teaching dance or attending competitions (which was not very often) she loved visiting Disney World, snow skiing, taking cruises, and beach vacations with family and friends. She also enjoyed attending Broadway Musicals in New York and New Orleans with her sister. But her greatest joy was watching her students perform on stage in the annual dance recital. The family would like to give their special thanks to all those who loved her, especially her cousins, godchildren and the Labourdette School of Dance students, who filled Sylvia's life with joy and purpose. The family suggests donations be made in Sylvia's honor to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Alzheimer's Association. A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 10:30 am followed by a Funeral Mass at 2:00 pm in the Chapel of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, Louisiana 70124. To view and sign the guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.