Lagniappe: A Little More Cajun at Wesleyan

File under shameless self-promotion.

Saturday at 4 pm, the Wesleyan Center for the Arts will present a showing of Dewey Balfa: A Tribute Concert at the CFA Hall (formerly the CFA cinema). Admission is free. The showing is in conjunction with last night's concert with Balfa Toujours, a cajun band from LaPointe Louisiana which was founded by Dewey Balfa's daughter Christine.

I produced the one-hour music documentary in 1992, one month before legendary Cajun fiddler Dewey Balfa lost his life to a battle with cancer. The show features a concert held at the Liberty Theater in Eunice Louisiana, where dozens of musicians gathered to perform for a man who had been an inspiration and guide in their musical careers. Glenn Orkin directed the film, and the concert was produced by Peter Schwarz, who was a founding member of Balfa Toujours.

The Balfa Toujours show at the Crowell Concert Hall brought Cajun music for the first time to the series, and was followed by a dance in Fayerweather Hall.

Johnny Peut Pas Danser - The Cure

Always envious of those who could two-step and waltz to Cajun and Zydeco music?

Well, now's your chance to erase that envy. The Cajuns sing a song "Johnny Peut Pas Danser (Johnny, Can't Dance)" but if Johnny went to the dance workshop Friday, 4:30 at the Theater Studios in Fayerweather Hall on the Wesleyan campus, they just might have to write another version of that song.

From Emily Troll

Our first event this year is a dance party with Balfa Toujours, an awesome Cajun band, check out their website or find them on youtube. The Center for the Arts is sponsoring a concert at Crowell, followed by our dance party in Beckham Hall. Get your tickets for the concert at wesleyan.edu/cfa/boxoffice. The dance part is FREE!

There's also a free dance workshop with Matt Greene from New York. Come learn an easy two-step and waltz Cajun style. Not a pre-requisite for the dance party - just some extra info for the curious. Cajun music is fun to dance to any way you like.

This Friday, September 18th!
Dance workshop 4:30, Theater Studios in Fayerweather Hall (below Beckham)
Concert 8:00, Crowell Concert Hall
Dance 10:30, Beckham Hall

Balfa Toujours is a big deal and a lot of fun- and we are so lucky to have them coming! Please spread the word, bring friends, and get your tickets soon for the concert part.

Upcoming contra dances: save these dates!
October 2nd, November 13th, and December 11th. More info coming.

Folk jamming will start up in a few weeks, meeting on Friday afternoons. Stay tuned for more info on that.

Hope to see you on the dance floor!