Cajun SpotlightCajun and Zydeco Music and Dance in the Upper Midwest March 2004 MARDI GRAS AT THE MEDINA BALLROOMThe
Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association (the Krewe de Walleye)
present a Mardi Gras Dance at the Medina Entertainment Center on Saturday,
February 28. Performing will be The New Riverside Ramblers, JJ's Zydeco
Paydirt and The Faux Playboys. There will be free dance
lessons with Maurine McCort: Cajun at 6:30 pm and zydeco at 7:00
pm. There will be a King Cake, costume contest and plenty of beads. Cost
is $12 for Krewe members, $15 for costumed nonmembers and $17 for nonmembers
without costumes. Music starts at 8:00 pm.
On
Friday, March 12 the Krewe presents Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas
at the Marian Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington. There will be a
dance lesson at 7:45 pm with Maurine McCort and the dance is from
8:30 to 11:30 pm. The hall is located at 1114 American Blvd. West (formerly
West 79th Street) in Bloomington.
Don't
forget that before zydeco dances at the Half Time Rec on Sunday night the
Krewe presents a zydeco lesson by Maurine McCort. To read more about
the Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association and see about
other events go to www.krewedewalleye.com.
ZYDECO DANCE LESSONS WITH MAURINEMaurine
McCort offers zydeco lessons again this spring. Classes are Held on
Saturday afternoons from 4 to 5:30 pm at the Oddfellows Lodge at 2382 Hampden
in Saint Paul. You do not need a partner; cost is $10 per person per class.
Here's
the schedule:
MARDI GRAS IN DALBO MARCH 13The
second annual Mardi Gras Dance at the Dalbo Town Hall will be on Saturday,
March 13 from 7 to 11 pm. This festive dance will feature three bands:
The Cajun Hot Soles, Black Bear Bayou and the Smokey Hollow Ramblers.
Look for Cajun, Creole, blues, country and New Orleans R&B. A
dance lesson is included. Costumes are encouraged but not necessary!
Everyone is welcome to attend; no dance experience is necessary. Admission
is $10 for adults; children are admitted free. Mardi Gras party favors
will be provided. The Town Hall is wheelchair accessible and smoke free.
First Street Deli of Princeton will sell refreshments.
Dalbo
is located about an hour north of the Twin Cities between Cambridge and
Princeton. From Dalbo, take Highway 47 north approx. 3.3 Miles to
County 16. Go west (left) 1.8 miles to Jaspar St. Go left 0.2
mile to 399th Ave. Go right 0.2 mile to Nacre St. Go left to
Town Hall. For information call Amy at 763-389-1536 or email asabrina@ecenet.com.
CAJUN WEEKEND AT FOLKLORE VILLAGEThe
Cajun Music Dance and Heritage Weekend at Folklore Village in Dodgeville,
Wisconsin is April 23-25. On staff for workshops in accordion, fiddle,
dance and culture will be Robert Jardell, Matt Cormier, Eric Mohring,
Charlie Terr, John Terr, Will Whedbee, Gene Losey, Karen Kleinspehn, Christine
Voigt, Maureen Mullen and Jackie Miller. There will be workshops
in three levels Of accordion, fiddle and dance as well as sessions
in guitar, culture and cooking. Expect time to jam also. You can
contact Folklore Village at 608-924-400 Or go to folklorevillage.org.
CAJUN/CREOLE WEEK AT AUGUSTAThe
staff for the Cajun/Creole Week (July 11 -16) at Augusta Heritage Center
in Elkins, West Virginia has been announced. Instructors include Marc
Savoy, Al Berard, Courtney Granger, Mitchell Reed, Joel Savoy, Charlie
Terr, Paul Daigle, Wilson Savoy, Jason Frey, Ann Savoy, Edward Poullard,
Michelle Kaminsky, Tracy Schwarz, John Terr, Jesse Lege, Mona Wilson,
Joely Bias, Chester Gremillion, Carol & Gerald Trahan and Jackie
& Larry Miller. Zydeco Force will be on staff, with
accordionist Jeffrey Broussard teaching zydeco accordion. For more
information call 1-800-624-3157 or check out augustaheritage.com
DANCE LESSONS WITH DAVE JORDAHLDavid
Jordahl offers regular dance lessons and occasional CD Dance Parties
at Four Seasons Dance Studio in Minneapolis. Zydeco lessons will be offered
on Sunday afternoons March 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 4 to 5:30 pm. Four Seasons
is located at 1637 Hennepin Avenue near Loring Park. For more information
go to bayoudancer.com
LOOKING AHEAD IN 2004Here
are the dates and lineups for area Cajun/zydeco weekends and festivals
in the first half of the new year.
CAJUN DANCE AT POLISH AMERICAN CLUBThere
will be a Cajun dance at the Polish American Club in Saint Paul On Saturday,
March 20. Doing an opening set for the Cajun Hot Soles will be Patrick
Harison & the Luckies. If you haven't caught this group yet you
should avail yourself of the opportunity, Music starts at 8:00 pm. The
club is located at 1003 Arcade Avenue in Saint Paul.
GRANDE PRAIRIE IN PLYMOUTHAs
part of the Winter Bluegrass Weekend at the Radisson Hotel & Conference
Center in Plymouth Grande Prairie will play for a dance on Friday,
March 5. Music starts at 8:00 pm. For more information call 1-800-635-3037
or go to minnesotabluegrass.org.
UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS
NOTE:
Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item on calendar.
MATERIAL GIRLRecently
several of our staffers found themselves in a fabric store. They were working
on some traditional Mardi Gras costumes and needed material for colorful
fringes and edging. They were surprised at the wide variety of fabrics
available, many of which they had never heard of before (pleather?). Back
at the office they related their experience to the rest of us, and our
Research Staff realized that here was an idea for the Music Quiz. Can you
match the song with the performer?
* Special Internet Bonus QuestionBack to Cajun Spotlight PageBack to Newsletter PageBack to Main PageNOTES & STEPS/CAJUN SPOTLIGHT is an independent newsletter
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E-mail: Notessteps@aol.com
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