Spotlight on History
Dance
In honor of National Dance Day on September 18th, the LDMA is highlighting some fun stories on the art of dance. Through the years, LPB has featured performances from a wide variety of dance styles, including Ballet, Cajun, Classical Indian, Contemporary, Flamenco, Hip Hop, and Native American. LPB has also featured interviews with famed choreographers with Louisiana roots. Start exploring these stories:
Peter Gennaro (1984)
View a Louisiana Legends interview with Peter Gennaro, a Metairie native, dancer, and the Tony Award-winning choreographer for Annie.
Lula Elzy Profile (1985)
Watch a profile of Lula Elzy, a dancer, choreographer, and teacher at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts in this segment from Folks.
Classical Indian Dance (1987)
In this segment from Folks, watch Asha Ramachandran of Baton Rouge demonstrate a classical Indian Jathiswaram dance.
Chef John Folse’s Cajun Louisiana (1994)
Learn more about Louisiana’s rich Cajun culture, including the art of Cajun dancing and the tradition of the fais do do.
Marc Breaux (2000)
See a Louisiana Legends interview with Marc Breaux, a Carencro native and the choreographer for several films, including Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music.
Debbie Allen’s Just Dance (2010)
View a preview of Just Dance, a collaboration between famed choreographer Debbie Allen and the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, in this segment from Louisiana: The State We’re In.
Baton Rouge Hops Festival (2011)
See a visit to the Baton Rouge Hops, a festival celebrating hip hop dance and culture, in this segment from Louisiana: The State We’re In.
Journey of a Dance (2014)
Watch highlights from a performance combining two distinct dance styles, Indian kuthak and Spanish flamenco, in this segment from Art Rocks!
Cajun Nutcracker (2016)
In this segment from Art Rocks!, see the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre prepare for the 25th anniversary performances of the The Nutcracker: A Tale from the Bayou.
Chitimacha Powwow (2018)
See a Louisiana: The State We’re In segment on the Chitimacha Powwow, a gathering of 20 tribal nations, including a look at the competitive dance competition.