Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Weekend

April 2-4, 2004    Lake Fausse Pointe State Park

Saturday, April 3, 2004



The Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Weekend, held April 2-4, 2004, at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, was a gathering of people from across the nation interested in learning more about the music and culture of Southwest Louisiana. The photos taken by LSUE cover only a portion of the activities over the course of a beautiful spring weekend that featured workshops, master musician sessions, jam sessions, cooking demonstrations, nature walks, and trips to area night clubs, plus a street dance in St. Martinville. Shown at top left leading a workshop is Michael Doucet, the virtuoso Cajun fiddler and leader of the Grammy-winning band BeauSoleil. The other photo shows Jimmy Breaux, accordionist for BeauSoleil, giving a workshop.

The event was sponsored by Louisiana Folk Roots, which also sponsors individual classes and workshops through the year, jam sessions, and other events.

In spring 2005, Louisiana Folk Roots will sponsor the Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week at Chicot State Park near Ville Platte. Be sure to check the Louisiana Folk Roots web site for more information as plans develop.

 

In the column above are photos of Dirk Powell leading an accordion workshop.  Mitchell Reed is shown immediately above with a couple of the younger workshop participants.

In the left column, Dexter Ardoin helps a camper with accordion fingering. He is also shown under a canopy leading a Creole accordion workshop.

Michael Doucet teamed with Mitchell Reed in the afternoon to lead a workhop on the twin fiddle style of Dennis McGee and Sady Courville.

D'Jalma Garnier led a workshop on the Creole fiddling style of Canray Fontenot, assisted by Cedric Watson, a young fiddler from Houston who has learned to play and sing Canray's music.

Herman Fuselier, entertainment editor of The Lafayette Daily Advertiser, is shown below at the start of a workshop he gave on zydeco music: yesterday and today,

In the bottom photo, Christine Balfa Powell is shown working with campers on the vocals to the "Balfa Waltz."

 


Posted 4-12-04

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