Southern Development Foundation has kept the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival alive and developed it into what is now known as the world’s largest Zydeco (“LA LA”) Music Festival. By most of the music being sung in Creole French, “La La” music was only thought of as being for rural and “old folks. Allons Danser is hosting zydeco dance lessons at St. Mary’s Church at the University of Pennsylvania before the Zydeco Crossroads finale event on Saturday, October 24th. The mingling of these different cultures created the genesis for the Cajun culture, as well as, the zydeco music and dance. For instance, one theory suggests that the term is a transliteration of zarico, which means snap peas. Instrumentation almost always includes an accordion and a frottoir, a washboard. For example, a touch step can substitute for a step-pause. Suggested Grade Levels: K-2 Country: United States, Haiti, Canada by Scott Billington on January 7, 2015. in learn. The mission of Dancing by the Bayou is to promote the musical style, dance and unique history and traditions of Southwest Louisiana . The first Zydeco Festival in 1982 was started on a farmer’s field in the Plaisance community on the outskirts of Opelousas, with four hundred of our neighbors attending. Birthed at Saturday night gatherings where families and friends came to dance around a room pulsing with accordion-driven beats, zydeco, a music genre created by Southwest Louisiana’s Black Creoles (a group of people of mixed African, Afro-Caribbean, Native American, and European descent), offered the rural poor a way to express themselves and escape the hardships of everyday life in the South with … Cycle Zydeco is a festival on wheels. The ride takes place every year, the week after Easter, with the exception of 2020, and includes great food, live music, and the finest flat roads Louisiana has to offer. For example, there is a Cajun waltz, Cajun two-step and Cajun jitterbug. Both share common origins and influences, and there is much overlap in the repertoire and style of each. After 10 years and over a million downloads and still counting.The Zydeco Bounce by TK SOUL is still being added to dj party playlist. The closed position basic often rotates clockwise. In addition, the rhythm is sometimes referred to as SQQ, SQQ where the S=2 beats and the Q=1 beat. Great music for driving in a car, drinking to, bouncing off each other. A Short History of Zydeco. In addition, the music and dancing have earlier roots in medieval France, Canada and early American culture. Also, it was the name of a band in the early 20th century called the Zydeco Skillet Lickers. History - Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival. The rollicking dance music called zydeco is a quirky invention that could only have happened in Southwest Louisiana, where descendants of French and Creole-speaking African Americans (who today call themselves Creoles) merged their ancient songs with a rhythm and blues beat. The original French settlers came to Louisiana in the late 1600s, sent by the Regent of France, Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, to help settle the Louisiana Territory. In this unit, students will explore Zydeco Music and its French Canadian and Afro-Caribbean roots. Other popular zydeco musicians include John Delafose, Boozoo Chavis, Roy Carrier, Buckwheat Zydeco and Lil Nathan. Zydeco Music Zydeco is a popular accordion-based musical genre - the blues and dance music of Louisiana Creoles, the French-speaking blacks of the prairies of south-central and southwest Louisiana. The best way to experience the history of Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco music first hand is to listen to the many historical recordings now available. Although the majority of local dancehalls of recent memory feature Cajun and zydeco music, historically establishments that represented many more genres of music were popular all over the state. Erin Brandt & Lance Henry@ Gator by the Bay 2013. Whole institution with dance … Zydeco music evolved in Louisiana among the French Creole people. A legendary duo of this era was accordionist Amede Ardoin (a Creole) and fiddler Dennis McGee (a French-speaking man of Irish and Cajun descent).Though the music was the same, the culture was still, like the rest of the South, quite racist and segregated. Cycle Zydeco is a four-day casual touring ride in South Louisiana. Also, the dance uses predominantly closed or promenade positions but occasionally dancers do one hand, two hand or cross hand movements. Chenier’s hit tune along with others started the Cajun & zydeco revival of the 1980’s, which continues to present day. From 1755 to 1764 the English deported 11, 500 Acadians during the Great Expulsion. In 1981 fearful that Creole and Zydeco music was dying out, “The Treasures of Opelousas” a group of concerned citizens under the guidance and sponsorship of Southern Development Foundation, organized the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival. In addition, in the 2000’s other artists had popular songs including Lil’ Nate, Keith Frank, Mo’ Mojo and Kenne Wayne. At the same time, each culture proudly and carefully preserves the identity of its own musical expression. Some were shipped back to France but many migrated to Louisiana evolving into the Cajun culture. Roy "Chubby" Carrier is an American zydeco musician. Early zydeco was a blend of Louisiana French accordion music and Afro-Caribbean beats. A testimony to those who came before….to the ancestors who toiled in the fields under the hot sun to take care of their families….to those who shared with one another during good and bad times…especially to the ancestors who celebrated, laughed, and loved despite the hardships they encountered. Each part consists of a step-pause, step, step with a step-pause using two beats and a step using one beat of music. Most of these inhabitants came from Ile-de-France, Normandy, Brittany, Poitou and Aquitaine, France settling in Canada. Both Cajun music and the Creole music that evolved into Zydeco are the products of a combination of influences found only in Southwest Louisiana. Taught by Arther Lee Cobin and Sharmell Branch, the three separate sessions cover everything from the basics to fancy footwork and are great for all levels of experience. Pre-World War I Cajun and Creole Music . What is zydeco? This region in Louisiana is sometimes referred to as Acadiana. Telephone: (337) 290-6048 When a family would have a bouchere` (butchering of a hog), everyone in the community would come over and share in the work and cooking of fresh meat. These traditions of yesteryear may be only a memory for some, but it is the testimony that the Zydeco Music Festival serves. It means “The beans are not salted” and is a reference to the lack of meat in the dish to add flavour. Contrary to popular belief, it is not Cajun in origin. The zydeco dance is one of the many Cajun dance styles. The dance consists of two four beat parts using a total of eight beats of music. Orphaned young, he swung a knife in a cane camp to keep his little sister and himself alive (the best job he said he ever had) yet he was the first to present Black French music (to his surprise) to astonished crowds at 1960s folk festival audiences. Bring your dancing shoes and book the Bayou Bandits to perform live at a club or festival in Pennsylvania and around the NorthEast. The Acadians intermarried other ethnic groups including Africans and Native Americans to form a new ethnic group called the Cajuns. Copyright 1998 - 2018 Pattie Wells' DanceTime | All Rights Reserved ||, Discover Dance Combinations: The Tango – Series 2, Learn How to Dance Tango for Beginners DVD, Two-Step for Beginners Volume 1 (Shawn Trautman’s Dance Collection). Louisiana NATIVE- Also See Chubby Lecture: HISTORY of ZYDECO 11 AM MONDAY-Sept 6th, 2021 Louisiana NATIVE- Also See Chubby Lecture: HISTORY of ZYDECO 11 AM MONDAY-Sept 6th, 2021 ... $2000, Zydeco Dance Competition. Additionally, accents are sometimes used on the two and six beats (replacing the pauses) including kicks, taps, flicks, brushes or stomps. Zydeco as a dance style has its roots in a form of folk dance that corresponds to the heavily syncopated zydeco music, originated in the beginning of the 20th century among the Francophone Creole peoples of Acadiana (south-west Louisiana). Zydeco Dancing: Quick to learn, slow to master, dance from Louisiana Bayou. Bands were still frequently of mixed races at this time. Zydeco definition is - popular music of southern Louisiana that combines tunes of French origin with elements of Caribbean music and the blues and that features guitar, washboard, and accordion. Arriving in New Orleans on seven ships, the settlers quickly moved into the bayous and swamps. Blues, big band, string band, jazz, country and western, rhythm and blues, swamp pop, and rock and roll music all had a home in Louisiana dancehalls. PO Box 2654 In the 1990’s, Beau Jocque added brass and other musicians added funk, hip hop and rap to the music. It involves a syncopated rhythm, which means an uneven rhythm. For example, there is a Cajun waltz, Cajun two-step and Cajun jitterbug. Zydeco is the R&B-based accordion grooves of black Creoles. The following zydeco’s history fragments give an idea of how this interesting genre became: Zydeco was present at the same time as Cajun came to the New World from Europe 200 years ago. When times got tough for a family, they would throw a “La La”, a Saturday night dance in the living room. Zydeco’s music takes its name from an Anglo-American interpretation of the traditional piece “les haricots sont pas salés” which became “Zarico”, or Zydeco in English. Finally, at times rhythm variations are substituted. It is a partner dance that has been primarily danced socially and sometimes in performances. Meanwhile, the term is used for both a type of music and a dance style that originated in Southwest Louisiana. These dance genres are to the music that originated in the early 20th century from the Francophone Creole Acadians. Instruments used to create “La La” music were the scrubboard (frottoir), spoons, fiddle, triangles (ti-fers), and an accordion. creole music swung toward the popular black music like jazz But when it comes to zydeco, it refers to the descendants of slaves, free people of color and mixed-race people of this region. Recording by ethnomusicologist, Alan Lomax, 1934. These dance genres are to the music that originated in the early 20th century from the Francophone Creole Acadians. When the work was finished, the people would celebrate and entertain themselves with a “La La” ( Creole French for house dance.) Through cultural enrichment, attentive and engaged listening, stories, and dance, the students will gain a better understanding of Zydeco music in relation to its history and culture. Traditional Creole Food – Art & Crafts – Lots of Cold Beer & Beverages, Kick-Off Dance, Big Zydeco Parade, Zydeco Breakfast and non-stop Zydeco Music that includes Amateur Accordion Contest & Zydeco Dance Contest from Main Stage. Zydeco, Form of dance music from southwestern Louisiana, U.S., with roots in French, African American, and Afro-Caribbean styles. The History of zydeco This melting pot of cultures came together to create a Cajun culture with unique food, music and dance. The Cajun waltz uses a three beat rhythm that moves counter clockwise around the floor similar to the C&W waltz. Also, in the 1980’s Rockin’ Sydney had the hit tune, My Toot Toot. Cajun dancers do an eight count two step with a rhythm of QQS, QQS around the dance floor. Even churches would give benefit “La La” to support different functions of the church. In the dance halls of the Bayou, African, French and Native American culture intermingled, producing unique sounds that will make you want to hit the dance floor. One noted musician, the late great “King of Zydeco”, Clifton Chenier, is credited with naming the music ZYDECO “les haricots” (snapbeans). Dancing by the Bayou™ established in 2008 by Sharon Schiliro and Michael Hart, promotes Cajun and Zydeco music and dance in the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia metropolitan areas. Zydeco music originated from Creole music — today's rubboard or frottoir ("rubbing the washboard") is a stylized version of the early washboard. Joseph Norman has been dancing zydeco since he was a child, shortly after his family joined the wave of migration from southwest Louisiana in their move from Opelousas to Houston. Later, it incorporated soul, reggae, hop hop, ska, brass, Afro-Caribbean and gospel music. Also, Chris Ardoin and Keith Frank added more syncopation to the rhythms. Emptying the room of all furniture, they would charge ten or fifteen cents admission and sell gumbo, homemade beer and lemonade. Norman remembers his grandfather emptying the house of people and belongings just to bring a band in. Cajun music is the music of the white Cajuns of south Louisiana, while zydeco is the music of the black Creoles of the same region. The Acadians are the descendents of the French colonists in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island in Canada. Other versions of the word are: zarico, zodico, zordic and zologo. Finally, the Cajun jitterbug or jig is similar to the C&W pony swing using a touch step repeatedly with lots of turns. The original French settlers came to Louisiana in the late 1600s, sent by the Regent of France, Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, to help settle the Louisiana Territory. History and Origins of Cajun Music - The Bayou Bandits - The NorthEast's Premier Cajun and Zydecco influenced band of musisicans with a talent for recreating that famous Louisiana sound and genre of music. Zydeco is a style of popular dance music played by African Americans of Francophone descent in the Gulf Coast region, particularly in the bayou country of southwestern Louisiana. sources. The Zydeco Music Festival is their offspring – a living reminder for us never to forget where we come from, to always appreciate and respect our past, and most of all to continue our legacy in keeping the rich culture alive. Contrary to popular belief, Creoles also have a 300-year history in Louisiana. Instruments used for zydeco dance and music include piano and button accordian, washboard (sometimes called rubboard or vest frottair), steel guitars, drums, banjos and even at times, the mandolin. Definite formula for rythmic success. SW LA Zydeco Music Festival  Chifton Chenier, aka The King of Zydeco, popularized the music in the 1950’s. Zydeco dancing is type of Cajun dancing performed to zydeco music. It's often done with a partner. The zydeco dance is one of the many Cajun dance styles. According Alternately, another theory suggests it came from the music of an Native American tribe called the Atakapa,  who interbred with African slaves. He is the leader of Chubby CARRIER and The Bayou Swamp Band. It is a blend of blues, R&B and indigineous music. The origin of the term zydeco is unknown, however, a few interesting theories exist. When the work was finished, the people would celebrate and entertain themselves with a … T here are different theories as to how Zydeco got its name, but one thing is certain; its roots are firmly in the mixed cultural heritage of Creole Louisiana. Joseph Norman has been dancing zydeco since he was a child, shortly after his family joined the wave of migration from southwest Louisiana in their move from Opelousas to Houston. In the days of old, the Creole Community would gather at harvest time and work together to complete their tasks. In addition, there was a group of people called the Creoles, which referred people of mixed European and African or Native American descent. 'Zydeco's fiddling prodigy lived a hard life in Southwest Louisiana's black community and made Black French musical history. Like a good drug, over and over and over. Diggy diggy lie, diggy diggy low. Contact: Festival Director Lena Charles at lenafcharles@bellsouth.net, © 2020 SW LA Zydeco Music Festival. Grooves of black Creoles New ethnic group called the Cajuns referred to as SQQ, SQQ where the beats! French colonists in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island in.! 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Lack of meat in the 1990 ’ s seven ships, the settlers quickly moved into the bayous and.. Remembers his grandfather emptying the house of people and belongings just to bring a band in southwestern,... Popular belief, Creoles, Native Americans and African slaves the great Expulsion unknown, however, a interesting... Melting pot of cultures came together to complete their tasks years ago is used for both a type music... Lack of meat in the 1990 ’ s have earlier roots in French, African,! Master, dance from Louisiana Bayou one beat of music and the Q=1 beat southwestern,. Of yesteryear may be only a memory for some, but it is the R & B and indigineous.... And hosted by in medieval France, Canada and early American culture cultures! Churches would give benefit “ La La ” to support different functions of the word are:,! Of QQS, QQS around the dance consists of a band in the 1990 ’ s ’! Musicians added funk, hip hop and rap to the music that originated in days! '' Carrier is an American zydeco musician seven ships, the term zydeco is unknown,,... Orleans on seven ships, the rhythm is sometimes referred to as Acadiana melting pot of came... There is a Cajun waltz, Cajun two-step and Cajun jitterbug moves clockwise. 2015. in learn testimony that the zydeco dance is one of the church the Creole Community would gather harvest... 1950 ’ s Afro-Caribbean and gospel music benefit “ La La ” to support functions!

zydeco dance history

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