2012 Gator-By-The-Bay Zydeco and Blues Festival

There isn't a holiday or event I look forward to more every year than the Gator-By-the-Bay Festival, held each Mother's Day weekend for many years now at Spanish Landing on San Diego Bay. Hosted by the Bon Temps Social Club, the organizers have created a music and dance event that continues to improve as the fame and the popularity of the festival spreads.

The crowd includes people from all around the United States who love dancing to Creole and Cajun music or who just love listening to great live entertainment. This is a well-organized family friendly event with something for everyone.

Zydeco music is fun and easy to dance along to. Why? Because there are no zydeco police. Can't dance? Nonsense! The weekend is cram packed with free lessons located conveniently between the two main dance floor stages.

One of the main stages is for zydeco and Cajun music and the other serves up a variety of blues groups. If you don't think people dance much anymore - you really have to come here. Lessons in West Coast Swing and Jitterbug are also available throughout the day Saturday and Sunday.

If you are in the San Diego area this weekend or coming into town to visit dear old mum, bring her to the Gator Festival. Great food, colorful vendors, lovely San Diego weather, plenty of liquid refreshments, and one of the liveliest rites of spring you are unlikely to encounter anywhere else.

For more information and the talent lineup, check out the link below:
http://www.gatorbythebay.com/ 

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Dancing to "The Time of My Life"

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance clips from several of their movies are synced together to the song, "The Time of My Life," by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes from the movie Dirty Dancing.

Dancing with the Stars fans will appreciate the grace and skill of Fred and Ginger, as the film clip editors did a wonderful job bringing this iconic modern song to life with dance routines over seventy years old. The great dance numbers of the Golden Age of Hollywood musicals, which were often better than the movies they appeared in, are readily accessible on YouTube.

When I get tired of the clash and clutter of empty words, especially during an election year, watching a dance video takes me to the harmonious world of music and movement. It is a great break from the cacophony of everyday life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvaClxiF-xM&feature=related

Swing Diego - May 2012

Swing Diego is one of the greatest dance events in the United States. What began as a regional San Diego dance convention now draws the best West Coast Swing dancers in the world. In addition to dance competitions, there are plenty of workshops, and lots of "free" dancing on a huge dance floor.

West Coast Swing is the official California state dance. It is said to have been developed during the Second World War when soldiers and their dates crowded the dance floors of Coastal California.

Jitterbug took up too much room on the dance floor, so this "slot" dance was created with spins, turns, tucks, push breaks, and whips, which can be combined and choreographed in amazing ways. Once a "line of dance" (LOD) is established on the dance floor, more people can be out dancing without bumping into one another.

The dance is good for slow to medium speed R&B music, and it works well with many country tunes as well.

For anyone unfamiliar with West Coast Swing, watch the Canadian Champion, Tessa Cunningham, and her "Jack and Jill" dance partner, Terry Roseborough, have their way with each other on hardwood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EZighHlVjA

For the latest information on this year's Swing Diego, check out the link below.
http://swingdiego.com/2012-convention/event-videos/
 

Zydeco in San Diego - The Bon Temp Social Club

San Diego has a very active zydeco/Cajun community of homegrown dancers and musicians, thanks to The Bon Temps Social Club which holds weekly dances at Tio Leo's Cantina  in San Diego with lessons - most often taught by Greg Benusa.

Greg has taught hundreds of people the basics of zydeco dancing and has a DVD, that makes learning the dance at home a breeze. You can have fun the very first night on the dance floor. His website is www.greg@zydecoach.com.

The club also hosts a monthly - 2nd Sat dance with live zydeco and Cajun bands - often from Louisiana, and it participates annually in the local Gaslamp Quarter's Fat Tuesday Parade, held each year to celebrate Mardi Gras.

Club members build a float which more often than not wins the grand prize. A not to be missed aspect of this evening's events is a zydeco mass held before the parade at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, which is well-attended by revelers who are decked out in their colorful costumes. It is a sight to behold.

The club's premier event is the Gator by the Bay Festival held each Mothers' Day weekend on Shelter Island at Spanish Landing Park. Many of zydeco's best groups come to San Diego for this event. This year's headliner is Keith Frank.

Of its two main stages, one specializes in zydeco and Cajun music, while the other presents blues and country music. Over this weekend event, tons of crawfish are served, as well as BBQ'ed turkey legs, beignets, and other traditional Louisana and "fair" food.

Gator by the Bay is a splendiferous, family friendly event. Oh, yeah! Don't forget to bring Mom. And Dad probably won't mind tagging along too much either.

For more information, open the link.
http://www.icajunzydeco.com/