Cajun Dancing

By Rand Speyrer, Cynthia Speyrer, Ormonde Plater

Long before there ever was an "Achy
Breaky" or even a "Boot Scoot Boogie", there was Cajun dancing.
More than just a here-today, gone-tomorrow line fad, Cajun dancing is a
preserved and rapidly growing folk art form. Versatile and fun to learn, it
fits in at just about any event, from festivals to dance halls to cowboy
saloons.
In recent years, the dances of the Acadians have come to life outside of the
bayou. Artists like Mary Chapin Carpenter have brought the Cajun beat and
instruments to the mainstream in No. 1 country music hits. Demand for dances
that fit the rhythms has turned the hobby of folk dancers Rand and Cynthia
Speyrer into a business as professional Cajun-dance instructors. In New
Orleans, just on the outskirts of deep-in-the-swamp Cajun Country, they teach
courses year-round to students of all skill levels.
With the help of Ormonde Plater, they have created Cajun
Dancing, a step-by-step guide to learning the folk art. Beginners can
learn the basics while trying the Cajun Waltz and the Two-Step. These
adaptations make for a lively alternative to the originals. For the
intermediate and advanced dancers, the book also covers the intricacies of the
Cajun Jitterbug. Teaching twenty-five moves and variations to be used
interchangeably, the advanced section shows die-hard dancers how to put some
real hot sauce in their boots The final chapter is devoted to traditional
group dances, while the appendix of Louisiana dance halls helps guide the
reader to hot dance halls throughout Cajun country.
Two videotapes are also available for use with or without the book.
Introduction to Cajun Dancing
shows students the basics of the
Cajun Waltz and Two-Step. Advanced Cajun Dancing
focuses on the
details of the jitterbug routines. Both tapes are excellent not only as
instructional guides but also for their wonderful soundtracks.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0882899708
• ISBN13: 9780882899701
• Release Date: April 1993
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.0" x 9.9"