Instructor Info:

Name: Michael Seider Home: Louisiana Video: Zydeco Dance Primer Upcoming Classes/Workshops: August 14th -20th Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Roots Camp: Southern Week, . Near Woodstock, New York. http://www.ashokan.org/ashokan/campsw.shtml November 6th -13th This year's Zydeco Cruise with Geno Delaphose and French Rockin' Boogie and Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys Contact: michaelseider@mac.com Phone: 337-332-0862
Bio: Michael Seider learned to dance and now polishes his steps at roadhouses, clubs, festivals, and trail rides across the prairies of Southwest Louisiana. He has taught Creole and Cajun dance styles in New Orleans and around the states for over a decade. A skilled interpreter and devoted student of these evolving dance forms, Michael incorporates the newest steps and styling into his dancing and classes. His authentic repetoire includes shuffles, one-steps, two-steps, waltzes, baisse-bas, and other regional dance variations including the swing out. An accomplished and entertaining instructor, Michael addresses different learning styles and levels of experience with his proven teaching methods. Michael became enchanted with the French music of Louisiana after he moved to the Gulf Coast -- Cajun and Creole folk music and Zydeco that combined those traditions with the rhythm and blues and rock and roll he had come of age listening to. Better yet, he found a vibrant dance scene that invited him to "allons danser!" Michael enjoys spreading his love and mastery of the region's dancing through his teaching. He has been on the faculties of Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Roots Camp, the Augusta Heritage Festival, Living Traditions (Seattle), Country Dance and Song Society, Buffalo Gap, Puget Sound Urban Dance Camp, North Cornwall Cajun Zydeco Festival (England), and the 1998 Zydeco Cruise, as well as, featured in many workshops around the country. He has done choreography for a feature film. In 1996, Michael produced an instructional video with Pam Ardoin and Annie Simonson filmed at New Orleans historic Maple Leaf Bar and featuring the music of Willis Prudhomme, entitled "Zydeco Dance Primer". Appropriate for beginning through advanced students, the video covers the basics and intricacies of the Zydeco two-step and has been well-received. It teaches the two styles of Zydeco dance -- coupled and "freestyle" moves. Of course the two styles complement one another like boudin and beer. Addressing different learning styles, Michael demonstrates steps and moves showing how they fit into the pattern of the dance. He then breaks them down with easy to follow instructions, finally, giving pointers on leading and following. You can receive a video by contacting Michael at zydecowboy@earthlink.net