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Last Call for Cajun Zydeco
After more than a dozen years of organizing the DFO’s Cajun Zydeco dance series, event organizers Ron and Marie Bruschi have retired from running the monthly event. Not only are we extremely grateful for the many years Ron and Marie have worked on organizing and running the series, but we would also like to thank Rich Pisarri, Nancy Hewitt, and Cyd DeMichele, who have also contributed countless volunteer hours.
There may still be special Cajun Zydeco dance events in the future and we will post them here!
What is the difference between Cajun and Zydeco???
Zydeco and Cajun dancing follow similar rhythms, born in the Bayou of Louisiana, and notably feature an accordion and often a fiddle (or two), generally with a rhythm guitar and a bass guitar (or stand-up bass). Stationary dances like Zydeco (or swing dancing) are generally done in the center of the dance floor to allow traveling dances, such as a Cajun two-step, to be done around the outside oval of the floor.
Zydeco Revelators
Zydeco music generally includes the distinctive sound of a rub board, or “frattoire” as it is called in French, and usually there is also a drummer keeping a lively beat. Zydeco dancing tends to be more energetic, with dancers tending to stay in one location while they dance.
The gentle percussive beat of the triangle, or “p’tit fer” as it is known in French, or just the bass, often keeps the beat in Cajun music. Cajun music tends to tell a story, with gentler dancing that travels around the perimeter of the dance floor, such as waltzes and two-steps.
Here’s a video of the Red Aces playing for the February 22, 2025 dance!
