CALENDAR OF FLORIDA DANCE EVENTS
Your Source for Cajun-Zydeco Dancing in Florida
Welcome to FloridaCajunZydeco, a website dedicated to people who love to dance to Louisiana-style music. This site features a calendar page of Cajun and Zydeco dance bands and events in the state of Florida (below), and a Festivals page of major Cajun and Zydeco events anywhere in the United States -- even Louisiana! Check out my blog on page 3 for stories from my monthly news magazine, Florida Cajun Zydeco Update!, and select posts from our Facebook group page, Florida Cajun Zydeco Dancers. And in the spirit of the dance community that embraces this joyful music, "If you're smiling, you're doing it right!"
Friday, March 22, 2024 --- Roshin's Wake, 1 hour performance (Gulfport, FL)
"Doors" open at 7:30 and the play starts at 8:00: 5814 23rd Ave S, Gulfport, FL 33707 (private residence)
Enroy Foundation, Inc. presents its first backyard play "Roshin's Wake”, a one hour play written and performed by Gulfport's Dorothy Hershman. It was originally produced by ZaZu Productions, LLC. and debuted at The Studio 620 in St. Petersburg. This tale takes place during the journey of Irish immigrant grandmother Oognah Donohue across the western frontier in 1864. But it's also one woman’s very human journey through tragedy. Oonagh's tales, sometimes humorous, sometimes courageous, sometimes mysterious are shared with the audience as if they were themselves her fellow travelers. The play is heart-warming and heartbreaking. Ms. Hershman’s performance is engrossing.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a one-hour play with no intermission. As a courtesy to the artist and audience members NO ONE WILL BE SEATED AFTER THE PLAY BEGINS. Please arrive between 7:30 and 7:50 p.m.
Your suggested $10+ admission donation will go entirely to Ms. Hershman. PLEASE tip more if you can.
Bring: whatever you would like to eat or drink. Many chairs are provided but you are welcome to bring your own.
Parking: at Regions Bank (58th at Gulfport Blvd.), on 23rd Ave. S. west or east of 58th St S, or at Hoyt Field (23rd Ave. S. at 57th St. S.). Please help us stay on good terms with our neighbors by not blocking driveways, parking on lawns, or blocking access on 23rd Ave. And: If parking on street in Gulfport, be sure to park facing the direction of traffic. Gulfport may ticket you if you park facing into traffic. Please note: Entire property is non-smoking. This will be a backyard concert, so you are encouraged to dress comfortably. Questions? Contact enroy@yahoo.com or call (404) 822-4327.
- - - - -
Friday, March 29, 2024 --- The Villages Cajun Zydeco Dance (The Villages, FL)
7 to 9 p.m. Location: Big Cypress Recreation Center, 3110 Hendry Drive, The Villages, FL
Note: These dances are planned for the fourth Wednesday of the month. Email Jango at janko32163@gmail.com to confirm.
- - - - -
Saturday, April 6, 2024 --- Backyard Concert: Townsend Beach — McKayla Townsend & Pat Beach (Gulfport, FL)
RSVP for time and info: enroy@yahoo.com or call (404) 822-4327
- - - - -
Saturday, April 6, 2024 --- CJ Chenier and Marcia Ball Park Concert (Hollywood, FL)
7 to 10 p.m. Location: ArtsPark at Young Circle (1 North Young Circle, Hollywood, Fl 33020)
Bring a chair or blanket to enjoy this free concert from the giant lawn at the ArtsPark.
A double bill: C.J. Chenier & his Red Hot Louisiana Band, and Marcia Ball.
Both artists will also appear at Gator By The Bay festival in San Diego over Mother's Day weekend.
- - - - -
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 --- The Villages Cajun Zydeco Dance (The Villages, FL)
7 to 9 p.m. Location: Big Cypress Recreation Center, 3110 Hendry Drive, The Villages, FL
Note: These dances are planned for the fourth Wednesday of the month. Email Jango at janko32163@gmail.com to confirm.
- - - - -
Saturday, April 27, 2024 --- Backyard Concert: Gulfport Swamp Opera (Gulfport, FL)
RSVP for time and info: enroy@yahoo.com or call (404) 822-4327
Welcome to FloridaCajunZydeco, a website dedicated to people who love to dance to Louisiana-style music. This site features a calendar page of Cajun and Zydeco dance bands and events in the state of Florida (below), and a Festivals page of major Cajun and Zydeco events anywhere in the United States -- even Louisiana! Check out my blog on page 3 for stories from my monthly news magazine, Florida Cajun Zydeco Update!, and select posts from our Facebook group page, Florida Cajun Zydeco Dancers. And in the spirit of the dance community that embraces this joyful music, "If you're smiling, you're doing it right!"
Friday, March 22, 2024 --- Roshin's Wake, 1 hour performance (Gulfport, FL)
"Doors" open at 7:30 and the play starts at 8:00: 5814 23rd Ave S, Gulfport, FL 33707 (private residence)
Enroy Foundation, Inc. presents its first backyard play "Roshin's Wake”, a one hour play written and performed by Gulfport's Dorothy Hershman. It was originally produced by ZaZu Productions, LLC. and debuted at The Studio 620 in St. Petersburg. This tale takes place during the journey of Irish immigrant grandmother Oognah Donohue across the western frontier in 1864. But it's also one woman’s very human journey through tragedy. Oonagh's tales, sometimes humorous, sometimes courageous, sometimes mysterious are shared with the audience as if they were themselves her fellow travelers. The play is heart-warming and heartbreaking. Ms. Hershman’s performance is engrossing.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a one-hour play with no intermission. As a courtesy to the artist and audience members NO ONE WILL BE SEATED AFTER THE PLAY BEGINS. Please arrive between 7:30 and 7:50 p.m.
Your suggested $10+ admission donation will go entirely to Ms. Hershman. PLEASE tip more if you can.
Bring: whatever you would like to eat or drink. Many chairs are provided but you are welcome to bring your own.
Parking: at Regions Bank (58th at Gulfport Blvd.), on 23rd Ave. S. west or east of 58th St S, or at Hoyt Field (23rd Ave. S. at 57th St. S.). Please help us stay on good terms with our neighbors by not blocking driveways, parking on lawns, or blocking access on 23rd Ave. And: If parking on street in Gulfport, be sure to park facing the direction of traffic. Gulfport may ticket you if you park facing into traffic. Please note: Entire property is non-smoking. This will be a backyard concert, so you are encouraged to dress comfortably. Questions? Contact enroy@yahoo.com or call (404) 822-4327.
- - - - -
Friday, March 29, 2024 --- The Villages Cajun Zydeco Dance (The Villages, FL)
7 to 9 p.m. Location: Big Cypress Recreation Center, 3110 Hendry Drive, The Villages, FL
Note: These dances are planned for the fourth Wednesday of the month. Email Jango at janko32163@gmail.com to confirm.
- - - - -
Saturday, April 6, 2024 --- Backyard Concert: Townsend Beach — McKayla Townsend & Pat Beach (Gulfport, FL)
RSVP for time and info: enroy@yahoo.com or call (404) 822-4327
- - - - -
Saturday, April 6, 2024 --- CJ Chenier and Marcia Ball Park Concert (Hollywood, FL)
7 to 10 p.m. Location: ArtsPark at Young Circle (1 North Young Circle, Hollywood, Fl 33020)
Bring a chair or blanket to enjoy this free concert from the giant lawn at the ArtsPark.
A double bill: C.J. Chenier & his Red Hot Louisiana Band, and Marcia Ball.
Both artists will also appear at Gator By The Bay festival in San Diego over Mother's Day weekend.
- - - - -
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 --- The Villages Cajun Zydeco Dance (The Villages, FL)
7 to 9 p.m. Location: Big Cypress Recreation Center, 3110 Hendry Drive, The Villages, FL
Note: These dances are planned for the fourth Wednesday of the month. Email Jango at janko32163@gmail.com to confirm.
- - - - -
Saturday, April 27, 2024 --- Backyard Concert: Gulfport Swamp Opera (Gulfport, FL)
RSVP for time and info: enroy@yahoo.com or call (404) 822-4327
Florida Cajun Zydeco Update! #130: Feature: Louisiana Dancehall Gems (Part 1) — Featured artists: Beau Jocque, Bonsoir Catin, Boozoo Chavis, Brian Jack, Bruce Daigrepont, Buckwheat Zydeco, Chris Ardoin, Chubby Carrier, Clifton Chenier, Corey Ledet, Curley Taylor, Feufollet. Excerpt: “I put support beams underneath the dance floor for Beau Jocque. People danced harder when he played. It was almost hypnotic. He just grabbed dancers.” — John Blancher, owner of Rock’n Bowl
Florida Cajun Zydeco Update! #129: Cover: Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe. Main story: book review of Down Home Music; Dikki Du — It's All in the Family; new release from The Rolling Stones. Excerpt: He had made every kind of blues record, some many times, and the new blues musicians were all white, devoid of the cultural associations that made the music so attractive to Strachwitz. To him, blues was never a musical idiom; it was a way of life. And just as intriguing as the life of Lightnin’ Hopkins was to him, now these Texas-Mexican musicians with their accordions and bajo sextos captivated Strachwitz.”
Florida Cajun Zydeco Update! #128: Cover image: Steve Riley and Sherelle Mouton-Sinegal play a tribute to Clifton Chenier at Festivals Acadiens et Creoles 2023. Main story: Music review of box set Playing for the Man at the Door from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Other content: Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe to play holiday dance party in Pinellas Park, FL on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. Bad actors are lurking on Facebook. A tribute to plumbers: Sewer Cruising in Normal Heights. Festivals-O-Rama, your guide to the rest of festival season. Florida dance opportunities in November 2023. Excerpt: Mager was first recorded in 1928 and participated in only two recording sessions, but his songs are legendary. “Big Road Blues” is perhaps his best-known song. The rock group Canned Heat adopted the lyrics for their 1968 hit, “On the Road Again.”