Heart of Louisiana: La Poussiere

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – There are only a few of the previous Louisiana dance halls nonetheless standing. However within the city of Breaux Bridge, you may nonetheless kick up just a little mud on the dance flooring to the sound of reside cajun and zydeco music.

La Poussiere dance corridor in Breaux Bridge has had reside music and energetic dancers spinning throughout the dance flooring since 1955. In truth, the title La Poussiere comes from all of that dancing.

“That’s french phrase for the mud,” mentioned Lawrence Patin.

Lawrence Patin has been the supervisor right here since he was 18 years previous, that’s 55 years in the past. His dad opened the place at one other location throughout the road.

“He began that enterprise there and had cajun music each saturday evening. He was true to his heritage. He was extra regarding, preserving the tradition and the music,” mentioned Patin.

However this friday evening is a break from custom. Jeffery Broussard and the creole cowboys are the primary zydeco band to play at La Poussiere. Usually it’s all cajun on a regular basis.

“You simply have watch out, we by no means did zydeco earlier than. Zydeco wasn’t fashionable, however now you’ve gotten a clientele that need just a little little bit of that, so we do some little bit of that now,” Patin mentioned.

“Looks as if a really good place, hoping we pack it out. It sounds prefer it has an excellent sound, so i’m able to have an excellent evening,” mentioned Jeffery Broussard.

Broussard has been enjoying creole zydeco music professionally since he was eight years previous, he grew up in it.

“My father was Delton Broussard, he had the band Delton Broussard and the Lawtell playboys. I’ve been round music all my life, i’m gonna persist with my roots as a result of the younger individuals come out typically when i’m enjoying. I need them to be taught extra in regards to the tradition, and see what this music is de facto about,” Broussard mentioned.

Again if you began this, each city had not less than one possibly two or three dance halls. They had been in all places throughout south Louisiana.

“I can let you know proper now, over right here, we had most likely 10 to 12,” Patin mentioned.

Actually a few hundred throughout south Louisiana.

“Oh sure. That or possibly much more, each neighborhood had 4 or 5,” Patin mentioned.

What occurred to all of them?

“I feel altering of the time, individuals received uncovered extra to the surface world,” mentioned Patin.

Now a 3rd era, Patin’s daughter, helps to run the dance corridor. Nothing like a dance corridor on a saturday evening.

Yeah, nothing like that. Afterward, they may notice after they lose it, they misplaced it. I imply, when you lose it, you lose it,” Patin mentioned.

However La Poussiere is proof. They haven’t misplaced it but with reside bands and devoted dancers. Nonetheless kicking up just a little mud right here each weekend.

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