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Dana DeSimone is my name. I'm a dancer, teacher, promoter, choreographer, and just all-around dancing guy. Thanks for coming to my Website. This site will cover Bay Area happenings in terms of Zydeco/Cajun dancing, and how this style relates to some of the other dance styles I know. I've been Zydeco/Cajun dancing for almost twenty years, teaching dance for nearly ten and promoting dances at the Eagles Hall in Alameda for five. Zydeco/Cajun dance instruction and promotion is my full time occupation. In addition to Zydeco/Cajun dance, I teach workshops in Merengue, Waltz and Clogging. From 1974 to 1983, I was part of a community that danced both Greek and Balkan in the Bay Area several nights a week. During this period, I was also dancing Salsa, Cumbia, and Merengue at clubs, weddings, baptismals and house parties. From 1981 to 1995, my focus shifted to Zydeco/Cajun and Clogging. I was the Artistic Director of the "The Cornmashers" group. The Cornmashers performed at many festivals in Northern California, and were featured for seven years at the California Bluegrass Association Annual Festival, in Grass Valley. We headlined at the prestigious San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival for 6 years, and were included in the festival's documentary "And Still We Dance." In 1989 and 1990, I also performed solo at the these same Festivals. In 1990, I was a featured clogging soloist at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Dance Festival Series. And in 1995, I was part of the founding group of dancers that initiated the dance series "People like Me," which specilizes in dances for children. Due to the success of the show, the non-profit group World Arts West, secured funding for future shows. From 1991 to present, I have focused on Zydeco/Cajun Dancing. I have taught these forms since 1991, won dance championships on TV, and taught workshops in: California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Texas, and New York. In 1995 and 1996, I was Artistic Director, for the Zydeco/Cajun Dance group "Gumbo Ya-Ya's." The group was the featured headliner in the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival for both years. Since 1996, I have been busy teaching Zydeco/Cajun dance, and together with Louisianna Sue, promoting dance events at Eagles Hall in Alameda. We have booked many popular Louisianna bands, including, Geno Delafose, Leeroy Thomas, Step Rideau, Lil Malcolm, Willis Prudhomme, Roy Carrier, Tony Delafose, Dwaine Dopsie, Steve Riley, File, to name a few, as well as our talented local bands. In 1998, I began teaching Waltz and Merengue on a semi-regular basis, with great results. All in all, I am dancing and having a great time. My philosophy is to keep refining the basic and continue to learn. Dana DeSimone 8/1/00 |