Dance Camp 2012?

We would like your ideas on what we can do to replace/change dance camp. How about an urban camp held in the city of Portland. We want to have dancers from outside our area but when less that 1/3rd of the attendees are local we recognize something is wrong. We hope one of you might have the answer. Please email Terri Jo Bonbright (President) with your suggestions at tbonbright@gmail.com. Come on now get creative. Please submit your ideas by March 1st.

Over for Another Year

Dance Camp is over for 2011. What a great time. The bands were really good and it was an all-around good time. What about next year? Who knows?

It takes a team to put on such a great event. We need a volunteer to do the overall organizing. Thanks to Dick Brainard for doing that and more this year. Now who will step up to the plate for next year. Are you willing to help out? There will be no camp without YOU. Contact cascadezydeco@gmail.com

Guess it's time to add my comments about dance camp.

Personally, I thought it was the best dance camp I have attended--and I have been to many (Vortex, Buffalo Jambalaya & numerous Cascade Zydeco). The two band format worked well--both Andre Thierry and Horace Trahan played so well. All the instruction was awesome. Erin did a fantastic job, along with her partner Sean--they made it so much fun, and the moves were quite easy to learn. Ali & Adam got the beginners up and running in short order, so as to join the larger group. David did a supreme job of teaching an intro to tango--what a great addition to camp.

The individual presentations/talks by Horace and Andre were very informative. I did not know the meaning to the song "Got a Paper in My Shoe." I always assumed it meant a piece of paper covered a hole in one's shoe. Having the Cajun jam group play before dinner was icing on the cake.

The decorations committee outdid themselves again. The Saturday table décor was fabulous. The Sunday Cascade des Amis brunch setup was so much fun--and making the dance floor smaller added to the atmosphere. All the volunteers--and there were many--did a wonderful job, from providing homestays, bedding for fly-ins, rides to/from camp, set-up, clean-up, and more.

To thank everyone who helped, I would have to include all your names. You made it such a grand event. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Dick

Two Bands for 2011

What: The only remaining dance camp in the USA. Y’all come!'

Dates: September 16-17-18, 2011.

Horace Trahan and the Ossun Express

Horace Trahan & the New Ossun Express is a highly acclaimed zydeco band which plays at zydeco festivals around the country and weekly club gigs at home. This 6-person band plays a mix of Beau Jocque, Boo Zoo Chavis, and 1950’s rock & roll to a zydeco beat. The addition of a saxophone & flute gives their music a unique danceable rhythm.

LSUE's Central Acadiana Gateway reviews the music of Horace Trahan. http://web.lsue.edu/acadgate/music/htrahan.htm

Listen to the music: http://www.horacetrahan.com/store/

Horace Trahan, the maker of the hit single, “That Butt Thing,” is a world renowned Cajun and Zydeco artist, respected for his ability to pull the hell out of an accordion and belt out vocals that will give you chills. Having over-stepped boundaries and bypassed the stereotypes of naysayers, this native of Ossun, Louisiana, has made a huge and highly anticipated comeback on the music scene!

Read more ...

Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic

Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic plays at festivals & weekly dance events throughout California. He was a great hit at the Portland Waterfront Blues Fest last July. Andre began playing accordion at a very young age and is currently only in his twenties, as are the rest of his band members. The band provides a hard-driving danceable rhythm.

Andre Thierry is a phenomenal talent who has been capturing the attention of other musicians and music lovers since he was a toddler. Andre’s French Creole heritage is deeply rooted in Louisiana although he was born and reared in northern California. Michael Tisserand, author of The Kingdom of Zydeco, considered the definitive book on the history of Zydeco music, wrote, "In America, great migrations produce great music.

Instructors

Erin Brandt

Erin Brandt is a well-known dance instructor now living in the Bay Area. She has her own dance studio in which she teaches a number of dance styles. She is a popular zydeco dance instructor at Gator-by-the-Bay & other California zydeco events.

If you aren't familiar with zydeco music, there are lots of resources on the web. Here are few we have listed. What is Zydeco?

http://www.erintherapy.com/www.erintherapy.com/Welcome.html

Sean Donovan

Sean Donovan has taught zydeco and other dance styles since 1999. Positive and playful, Sean creatively communicates the essence of dance. His web site is http://www.gatorboyproductions.com and you can read his postings on Seattle Zen postings on Portland Sideways.

Beginning Dance Instructors

Adam and Ali Ali and Adam Grimshaw are long-time swing-lindy-waltz-zydeco dance instructors in Portland and regularly teach at local zydeco dance events.