Gator Gossip and other San Diego Zydeco Info

Zydeco Dance Workshop Confirmed: Saturday 8/29/09 - 2:00pm-4:00pm
Tio Leo's confirmed we can do the workshop in the bar as this is much easier than renting a dance studio.
Material Covered: Intermediate & Advanced Zydeco moves that we don't have time to cover on Tuesday's.
The material we will cover is not hard, it just takes a little more time to breakdown and practice the moves.
- The Floating Slide
- Houston Style Slide with Lifts
- Alternative Syncopated Slide Footwork
- Open Position Butterfrogs
- Rotating 360's
- Floating Slide Inside Taps
- Cross Hand 1/2 Turns with Swing to Zydeco Footwork
Video: We will also review video from some hot dancers and discuss their styles and how this relates to our learning of the moves.
Cost: $20 (helps to rent the floor space from Tio Leo's)
RSVP - Not required but requested to gbenusa@pacbell.net or 619-857-8409 in case of any unforsene changes.

Video Clip - Zydeco Breakfast
If you make it to the Lafayette area, don't forget to check out the Zydeco breakfast every Saturday in Breaux Bridge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XaIxTxJRj0

Video Clip - Interesting Zydeco Documentary Zydeco Clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o95F92wFMas

Big Selection of Zydeco CD's to Give Away:
Thanks to Jeanie we have a big selection of Zydeco CD's to pick from for the Zydeco Tuesdays coming up.

Special Zydeco Music Mix this Tuesday @ Tio Leo's.
There is a lot of great Zydeco dance music coming out of Louisiana so along with some tunes you probably have heard in the past, you will hear many new tunes with a little different style that I bet you have never heard at Tio's before.

August 18th, Tuesday Zydeco @ Tio Leo's
6:30pm - By request if you want to learn the Zydeco Cha Cha Line dance I will put it on the screen if wanted to learn by video as I am setting up everything.
7pm-8pm Lesson - We got a request last week to learn the Zydeco Partner Toss move and Cajun Waltz so we will be covering both of these for sure this Tuesday. As well as Beginning Zydeco of course
8:00pm-10:00pm - Gator Boy DJ'ing .
Location: Tio Leo's, 5302 Napa St., San Diego, CA, 92110 ph: 619-542-1462
Cover $5

August 23rd, Saturday Bayou Brothers at Belly Up
The Bayou Brothers are playing at 4pm at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach at 143 S Cedros Ave., Solana Beach, CA, 92075

Zydeco Dance Tip-O-The-Week
For the guys/leads just remember if your left hand is holding your partners right hand in the open position, any movement she detects she will be trying to figure out if your trying to lead something or not. So try and keep your left hand somewhat low down by your waist.

Dancers Retreat Mt. Laguna - Want to Share Something? (Sept 26th Weekend)
If your planning on coming up for just the day or if your camping or staying in a little motel near by, if you want to offer an activity please let me know. Maybe offer a few free massages, teach a little educational lesson, offer to lead a little nature hike etc... Of course we will be doing many activities but I just wanted to open it up to anything you would like to share to add to the weekend please let me know.

Mr. Cheapo - Free Food on your birthday, Travel Web Site & Cheap Photo Scanning
Check out this cool list of places to get free food on your Birthday
http://clarkhoward.com/topics/free_birthday_meal.html
Travel Web Site - I just heard about this travel web site and after searching a few fares, I was hooked.
www.mobissimo.com
Scan My Photos - Here is a grate deal that I recently took advantage of. Scan 1000 pictures for $49.95. They scan them and send you all the 300 dip scanned files on a CD back to you along with your images. You just box up the photo's and send them up to Irvine. Or if your worried about shipping them, just drive them up and pick them up a week later.
www.ScanMyPhotos.com

Pictures of the week - Cajun/Zydeco:
It maybe interesting to see what Cajun/Zydeco related images are posted on one of the big image web sites out there.... so here is a link to this weeks images...
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=cajun+zydeco

August 22nd, Ardenwood (up by San Francisco)
This is a great little festival at a very historic location just south of San Francisco a bit. It's a great opportunity to drive up to a festival and make it a 3 day weekend taking in other tourist stuff around the area.
http://www.ebparks.org/node/1111


September 4-6 Ninigret Festival - Charlestown RI
This is a BIG east coast Cajun/Zydeco festival. I have been several times and loved this festival!
http://www.rhythmandroots.com

September 26th Weekend. Cajun/Zydeco Dancers Retreat in Mt. Laguna
We reserved the nice Yerba Santa Group Spot for the weekend of September 26th. (it was the first weekend that it was available) The weather is still warm at the end of September and this is the nice outdoor site where everyone is welcome to come up for just the day, or stay overnight in the group camping spots for Friday and Saturday just Saturday night.
There are also small cabins available in the area if you don't want to camp but would like to stay overnight in a cabin.
We will do a pot luck on Saturday night if you want to bring something to share.
Of course we will do a camp fire, hiking, poker playing and other activities to keep up in and out of trouble.
Will post more details as we get closer but mark the date if your interested.
RSVP requested but not required to gbenusa@pacbell.net or 619-857-8409

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Local C/Z Schedule compliments of our Bon Temps Club !
http://www.icajunzydeco.com (click on dance schedule on the left side of the page)

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Future Festival Summary for 2008 (Gulf Coast Added)
Past Events Listed Below... (Check web sites listed for the correct 2008 dates!!!!!)


August, Cotati Accordion Festival, Cotati, CA (near SF)
ton of Zydeco dance stuff going on over the weekend to keep your feet stomping and the only problem will be trying to fit in a few tourist things to do in Napa Valley in between Zydeco stuff...
http://www.cotatifest.com
For what else is going on that weekend, check out Louisiana Sue's web site at the following link..
http://www.louisianasue.com/

August 6th-10th, Soulieu Cajun & Zydeco Festival, France, EU
Need an excuse to head to Europe... here it is....
http://www.bayouprod.com/English.htm

August 6th-9th, 2009 Buffalo Gap - Zydeco & Cajun Festival - Darlington MD -
http://www.buffalojambalaya.org/BJ07/BJ07.html


August 22nd, Ardenwood Festival (near San Francisco)
http://www.ebparks.org/news/04242008

Sept 4th-6th Ninigret Festival - Charlestown RI
http://www.rhythmandroots.com/artists/artists.php

August, Labor Day Weekend, Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival, Louisiana Baby !!
http://www.zydeco.org/

September 14-16th, Cascade Zydeco Dance Camp, Portland Area
This years camp features Leon Chavis who played at Gator By The Bay in 06. Very good Zydeco band. Plus they have Anthony and Cheri teaching dance workshop. Great combination. I have my ticket already, you fly into Portland and just drive an hour. Cascade Zydeco Dance Camp is at Camp Howard near Corbett, OR. I will have
flyers for the camp at Tio Leo's over the next few weeks if you want to grab one...
http://www.littleitalysd.com/festa/index.asp

September 27th & 28th, Saturday Adams Avenue Street Fair!
You can't beat the price of free and there will be Zydeco this year!
Bayou Brothers, 2:15pm Saturday, DiMilles Stage
http://www.adamsaveonline.com/streetfair/

October 10th-12th, Festival Acadiana
http://www.lafayettetravel.com/visitors/eventsandfestivals/festivalsacadiens/

November 2nd-9th - Zydeco Cruise 2009 !!
The Zydeco cruise is coming up if you have not got your ticket yet there are still spots. Great line up this year so it should be a good one !! Several folks from San Diego and LA are going as well as dancers from all across the country. See all the details at the following link...
http://www.travelmachine.net/brianjack/

December 31st, New Orleans & Lafayette Louisiana 2008!!
http://www.cascade-zydeco.com/NewYears/newyearstrip.html

December 31st, San Francisco
http://www.louisianasue.com/

December 31st weekend, Dick Brainard's Lafayette C/Z Trip
Great new years trip for folks who connect up in Lafayette over New Years

February 27th&28 2009 th, Memphis TN
Beale Street Zydeco Festival...
http://www.creolecrawfishfestival.com/bszf%202009.htm

March 14th&15th 2009, Solo Zydeco Festival, Houston
Huge Zydeco festival in the heart of Houston!!!
http://www.crosbyzydecofestival.com/lineup.html

April 17th-19th 2009, French Quarter Festival, New Orleans, LA
http://www.fqfi.org/frenchquarterfest/

May 1st-3rd 2009, Beau Bridge Crawfish Festival
http://www.bbcrawfest.com/

May Mothers day weekend 2009- Gator By The Bay - San Diego
It's a biggie baby !!
http://www.sandiegofestival.com/

May 15th-19th 2009- Gulf Coast Zydeco Music & Crawfish Festival
The lineup of this festival is very impressive !!!
http://www.gulfcoastzydecomusicfestival.com

May 23rd-24th 2009, Simi Valley C/Z Festival
Simi throws a good C/Z party and they are only two weeks after Gator By The Bay... Here is their web site. Headliners this year are Cedric Watson and Feufollet
http://simicajun.org

May 29th-31st, Crawfish Fest, Augusta, NJ
Featuring 15 bands playing Zydeco, Cajun, New Orleans R&B and Delta Blues straight from deep in the bayous. Fresh boiled crawfish, jambalaya, shrimp Creole, fried catfish, grilled alligator sausage make great music even better. 10 - 7. $30. Sussex County Fairgrounds, Rt. 206 & Plains Rd..
http://www.crawfishfest.com/

June 4th-7th - Strawberry Park - Preston CT,
If you have not been to a east coast festival this is one good one...
http://www.strawberrypark.net/cajun_zydeco.htm

June, Long Beach Bayou Festival, June 27th-28th
http://longbeachfestival.homestead.com/Index.html

July 4th Weekend... Alameda
If your looking for a great Zydeco party over the July 4th weekend, just head up to Alameda!! Chris Ardoin is the big headliner.... Andre Thierry plays as well as the Zydeco Flames! Just click on the following schedule to get an idea of just how much stuff is happening....
http://calendar10.tripod.com/calendars/2008jul.pdf

July 2nd-5th Portland, Waterfront Blues Festival
http://www.waterfrontbluesfest.com

July 5th-10th 2009, Augusta Cajun/Creole Week, Elkins WV
One of the best weeks at a camp I have ever spent....
http://www.augustaheritage.com/cajun.html


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Local Zydeco website with links to schedules, music, dance steps and other good Zydeco info for San Diego and around the country...
http://www.LouisianaDance.com (then click on Schedules)

Internet Message Board for Zydeco Dancers..
http://www.zydecotalk.com

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Local Band Schedules for San Diego Area:
Where is Theo & Patrol playing ? Check out the following link:
http://www.zydecopatrol.com/
Where are the Bayou Brothers Playing ? Check out the following link
http://www.bayoubrothers.net/
Where are the Cajun Playboy's Playing ? Check out the following link
http://www.cajunnetwork.com/sdcp/
Where are the Swamp Critters Playing ? Check out the following link
http://www.theswampcritters.com/

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Shamless plug for Zydeco Dance Instruction DVD's:
We put together a Zydeco, Waltz & Zydeco Cha Cha dance instruction DVD and if your interested in more details just click on the following link...
http://www.zydecoach.com/dvd.htm

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Local Zydeco website with links to schedules, music, dance steps and other good Zydeco info for San Diego and around the country...
http://www.louisianadance.com

Internet Message Board for Zydeco Dancers..
http://www.zydecotalk.com

Local C/Z Schedule compliments of our Bon Temps Club !
http://www.icajunzydeco.com (click on dance schedule on the left side of the page)

National Zydeco Schedules:
http://users.erols.com/ghayman/region.web.sites.htm


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DISCLAIMER: The information above is gathered from many places and people. There maybe last minute changes or on rare occasions incorrect information. It's always a good idea to double check before heading to a specific event to verify the details of the event. If you do know of any information that is incorrect please give me a call at 619-857-8409 or email gbenusa@pacbell.net.

- Greg



Greg Benusa Copyright 2009
ph: (619) 857-8409
e: gbenusa@pacbell.net

http://www.zydecotalk.com - Zydeco Internet Message Board
http://www.louisianadance.com - Zydeco info web site
http://www.ZydecoDVD.com - Zydeco Instructional DVDs