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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Z is for Zydeco

Zydeco is a heavily syncopated dance originally danced throughout Louisiana but has become popular all over the United States. It is not included in the competitive dance program but can be recognized as a specialty dance. The Zydeco is more often danced in the Zydeco and Cajun clubs, where they hold their own competitions.

The dance is a blend of Creole, French and American traditional.

Zydeco is characterized by a lot of fast stomp'n that must be great for the cardio vascular as, especially in Louisiana, the elderly can out-dance the young ones. For an exhilarating syncopation of social fun find yourself a Zydeco club and dance the night away.

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74 comments:

  1. I wonder if they have Zydeco out here. I could find a club and just watch, that should elevate the heart rate a bit.

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    1. River
      Or look for Cajun. I had to use the Zydeco for the letter "Z" of course. LOL

      Delete
  2. zydeco...who knew...i wouldn't be able for it!

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    1. Poke the Rock
      It's got that "down home atmosphere."

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  3. Looks like everyone's having a good time here too.

    This was a fun series, and you did great w/the alphabet!

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    1. Rosey
      Thanks. It's been a fun run and it's been a pleasure to get to know you better.

      Delete
  4. Wow!! there is sure some foot stompin going on there. Can't believe you found a dance for every letter in the alphabet. I don't know if I could have stuck to it every day like you did.

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  5. I hate to remind you, but you did. You were here cheering me on and all the rest of your bloggie friends.....every single day. I love you to pieces for being my friend.

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  6. Fun! Some west coast seen in some of the clips? right? Did I learn something??? well it looked like it to me??? This series has been wonderful.......!

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    1. turquoisemoon
      Thank you for being a follower of the dance. I always feel I get to know people a little better with this challenge. I don't think I had one of WCS because I had Waltz for the "W." I think I just mentioned it. That is a fun dance for a couple. You and the BF should get in some lessons, it would be a blast for the 2 of you.

      Delete
  7. Congrats on completion of the A to Z!! I learned more about dance than I ever thought possible :)

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    1. Keith
      Thanks for being such a great follower. I appreciate it. I saw ballroom dance was on your bucket list. Now I've given you a good start. Wish I lived closer, I'd be happy to teach you BR. I don't crack the whip tooooo hard. :)

      Delete
    2. How fortunate that there was a form of dance beginning with the letter Z! I must admit that I have never heard of Zydeco. Anyway, many congratulations, you've completed the Challenge and did a good job with it.

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    3. Thisisme
      Thank you for all the great comments during this journey. The Zydeco originates from New Orleans and is mostly danced in that neck of the woods.

      Delete
  8. Never even heard that word, looks all country though

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  9. Replies
    1. Holy Ghost Writer
      Have you been to New Orleans? That is where it is really popular.

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  10. Quite a Z!

    Certainly a work out.

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  11. Down to the hey feel
    With such zeal
    As they dance and prance
    Looks like a rain dance lol
    Congrats on another year too
    Here at your zoo

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    1. They're a stomp'n and a romp'n and a have'n fun
      Down by the hay fields, run, run, run
      Take the winding path, it may be quickah
      Stop by the still and bring the likkah
      nyuck nyuc nyuck

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  12. That looks like fun! Happy dancing! Congratulations on making it from A to Z!

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    1. Donna
      Thanks and congrats to you too .... we all made it!!!!

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  13. I love this dance!! It looks fun and yet most co-ordinated!! Lovely!! Thank you for a most toe-tapping A-Z, Manzanita!! Yay! take care
    x

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    1. Old Kitty
      Yes, the formal style dancing is great to watch but you can't beat just plain old getting out on a dance floor and stomping to a good ole beat.

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  14. Hi Manzanita .. amazing fun to watch .. they're all having such a good time ... and I endorse Old Kitty - these A-Z of yours have been such fun - and I'll enjoy coming back to look again .. cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary
      Thankee Maam... we had a good time. Now we can all do our happy dance. See ya later.

      Delete
  15. This is a new one on me but anything that looks such good fun is fine by me. Now all I have to do is find a group.
    Well done us! I'm sending those high fives right back at ya'!!

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    1. Ros
      This is like Cajun, mostly done in New Orleans. Maybe we'll all take a little rest and think of spring and flowers and sing some of your songs.

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  16. Such fun and they do have such rich music traditions in Louisiana. Congrats on completing the A to Z once again.

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    1. Inger
      Thanks and congrats to you. I vividly recall our first year. You asked if it had started yet and it had so you quickly put your posts together and got the whole month in. You really worked hard to get it together in a couple of days.

      Delete
  17. That guy in the blue shirt has a great pair of hips!!

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  18. I had this very strong feeling that Zydeco was going to be your last entry. Way to go Manzanita. Another year under our belts... or in your case, under your feet. :)

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    1. Bish
      The way everything goes south when old, I think my belt may almost be down to the feet. Hahaha

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  19. sounds like fun...

    hope you enjoyed the a to z

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  20. Leslie
    It looks like the perfect dance for an outside festival.
    Than you for dropping by.

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  21. Cool dances. I've been coming here for a month now, and I'm wondering, Where's the Duck? I really want one. . .

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    1. Thanks for stopping. Sorry, the duck flew the coop. I thin he went south for the winter and didn't return. hahaha

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  22. I love this dance, Manzanita! It's fun!

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    1. Julia,
      This is the kind of dance that one does not have to know about the technical parts. Just get up and move your body to the music. You must be acquainted with the dance, right?

      Delete
  23. Well done..I was wondering what you'd come up with for a "Z" dance :)

    I've heard of Zydeco, but never have seen it in action. Great theme and I've enjoyed visiting here this month.

    Congrats on finishing up the A to Z challenge :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Mark.
      A big high five to all of us who hung in there. I know I've learned something I didn't know before. I'll, from now on, glance at comic books when I pass them.

      Delete
  24. I LOVE Zydeco. I fell for it when I saw the movie "The Big Easy."
    It seems to speak to me.
    Congrats on making it to the mighty Z. Well done.

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    1. Patti
      I loved that movie too. The toe-tapp'n music was easy to take also. Dennid Quaid was so adorable, now he is looking older but still handsome.
      Thanks. It was a fun run.

      Delete
  25. I was wondering if this was the same dancing they were doing in The Big Easy and then I saw Arkansas Patti's comment... Yep. It sure looked familiar. Hahahaha. Love that dance and that movie.

    Congratulations Manzanita. Thoroughly enjoyed these postings!!!

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    1. Robin
      Yup, the same. I have that old movie and watch it every now and then and I still love it.
      Thanks. This has been a fun one and it was fun to see all the friends. Thanks for following.

      Delete
  26. Congratulations. You finished the A-Z Challenge. It did not finish you.

    It's been fun dancing with you. See you again, soon.

    Blessings and Bear hugs!
    Bears Noting
    Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)

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    Replies
    1. Rob Bear
      I love that first sentence. Made me laugh.
      You have been a great dancer. Thanks for participating. It was delightful.

      Delete
  27. Went to a Zydeco show when I was in Nawlins. Lotta fun!

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    1. Al
      Oh that must have been a blast. That cajun music is so different, it kinda gets under the skin

      Delete
  28. I attended my first Zydeco concert at The Ordway in St. Paul, MN this year. We saw C.J. Chenier. It was a rockin' good time!

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  29. Mary
    That must have been fun and impressive. Always so much to see in the Twin Cities. I miss that some times.

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  30. Ooooo-eeee! The Husband and I gotta try dancing some Zydeco. Congrats to you, Manzi, on completing another A to Z!

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    1. Su-siee
      I think you 2 would have fun with this. I thought of you when I chose it. It's something you can dance in the "kitchen" too. Ha.

      Delete
    2. Yes. This would be a perfect kitchen dance. :-)

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  31. Looks like everyone is doing whatever, from line dancing to dancing by themselves to almost a jitty bug type dance, interesting.

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    1. Sandy
      Prob doing what the beat of the music feels like to them. Cajun music is a beat all of it's own.
      Thanks for stopping, Sandy.

      Delete
  32. Never heard of Zydeco.. thanks for sharing.. Pls do visit my site... http://parentingworkshop.blogspot.in/

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    1. Nilofer
      Zydeco is cajun and that is more popular around New Orleans area. Thanks for visiting and have a restful post-A-Z day.

      Manzanita
      Wanna buy a duck

      Delete
  33. Someone else posted about this dance/music style yesterday. I had never heard of it before, but it sure does look like great exercise. That guy in front was sure into it! :D

    Thanks for visiting Zoe Cottage. We love virtual visitors here! :)
    tm

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    1. Zoe
      That couple in front really had the beat. Fun fun fun. I like those outdoor dance festivals.
      Thanks for stopping.
      Enjoy a restful day.

      Delete
  34. Dear Manzanita, I've been away from reading blogs for nearly weeks because of a minor physical ailment. Because of that, I've missed almost all of your postings on dancing. I hope to get them read as May passes.

    But I wanted to give you this URL that shows the winners of one of the North Carolina Shag dancing contests: http://videos2view.net/shag-dance.htm

    Also, I wanted to learn what your opinion is of the dancers on this season's "Dancing with the Stars."

    And finally, I wanted to tell you that I'm doing some stretching based on dancer's stretching/yoga. The DVD I'm using is by Ann Smith and I'm feeling quite graceful and beautiful as I do the ten minutes of stretching. Peace.

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    Replies
    1. Dee,
      Thanks for the link. I actually started out (many years ago) doing the shag. Then the West Coast Swing was a branch-off and everybody up North did that. Both dances keep in a line, called a slot, but the shag swivels the feet. Love both of them.

      I hope your suffering has passed and you are up and sparkling again. The A-Z kept me running and I was always behind, as I wanted to be outside getting the gardens ready, too.

      I wasn't all that excited about DWTS this season, although that young (16 year old) is fantastic, way beyond her years. It's always soooo difficult for the men because they have the hardest part and what they should know for professional dancing takes years to learn. But the show is half talent and half popularity contest, so it evens out.

      I looked up the Ann Smith video on stretching. Looks interesting. Some objection that it was way beyond seniors but you are way beyond the average senior too. Looks interesting.

      Thanks for visiting and commenting.
      See ya later,
      Love, Manzi

      Delete
  35. Hey Manzanita,

    Now that's definitely a dance I could do. This might surprise, but it's not uncommon seeing British folks dancing like that.

    It's been a pleasure dancing through your postings during the amazing challenge that brings further awareness of the alphabet with 26 letters. Congrats, dear lady.

    Gary :)

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    1. Gary,
      Nothing would surprise me this morning. I awoke with a clear head and ready to face the world, even British people dancing.LOL

      Thank you for your lovely comments. You're a treasure

      Delete
  36. Now that dance just looks like high-energy FUN! Congratulations on making it to the A-Z finish line. Great job!

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    1. Susan
      Thanks. I missed you on the A-Z but hope you made good progress on your book.
      Good to see you again.

      Delete
  37. Replies
    1. Loved your Gary interview. You know how to ask em and he knows how to tell em. Haha

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  38. Wow! It looks almost like a fast line dance. You can burn a lot of calories doing this.

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