Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, with Latino Music, Dance

Cinco de Mayo--"fifth of May" in Spanish--celebrates the Mexican victory at the Battle of Pueblo. It's not the Mexican independence day though it sounds like the U.S. 4th of July. My Latino friends tell me Cinco de Mayo isn't as big in Mexico as in the U.S. And what do we Americans do with holidays? Party! Or in this case, fiesta. Here's are Latino music selections, including mariachi and Tejano (Tex-Mex style), plus dancing, games, crafts, homemade maracas and food for a kid-friendly Cinco de Mayo party! Kid-Friendly Cinco de Mayo Fiesta With Latino-Inspired Games, Crafts, Food

Holland Tulip Time is About Music, Dance, Not Just Flowers

What's Holland Tulip Time, you ask? Only one of the loveliest events in Michigan! It's what we locals used to call the Tulip Festival. It's about flowers, imported from the Netherlands, to be sure. But my favorite part is the historical-cultural arts element.

There are three parades, including Volksparade (Folks Parade), Kinderparade (children's parade) and Muziekparade (a music and dance parade). There you experience traditional Dutch "Klompendans." Klompen dancing, called Holzschuhtanz (clog shoe dance) in Germany, is a group Dutch festival dance, It's like square dance. It features hand-offs and partnering, like the Virginia Reel (or the Sir Roger de Coverly as it's called in England). Klompen resembles the Circle Polka, Mazurka and Schottisch, too.

Klompen dancing uses high kicking, almost like Irish dance. Local high school students dress in native regional costume and, of course, their "klompen" (clogs or wooden shoes). The musical trills from the various calliope street organs like the "Gulden Engel," (Golden Angel). Can't get to Holland? Read this article for links to see video presentations. Holland Tulip Time Kicks Off, Just in Time for Mother's Day

Black Light Dance Team 'Fighting Gavity' Top Slot on 'America's Got Talent' Season 5

'Fighting Gravity' Top Spot on America's Got Talent Season 5
I ain't sayin' America's Got Talent is the classiest show on the entertainment circuit. With it's Gong Show like feel and bizarre assortment of acts, AGT is never dull. Fighting Gravity and Future Funk dance it out for top place.
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Zydeco Louisiana Cajun Creole Dance Band Music

Zydeco Louisiana Cajun and Creole Music and Dance History
My husband has always been a fan of Louisiana Cajun or Creole musical genre known as Zydeco. Zydeco is music and dance. Zydeco is recognized by its square dance like steps and bouncing accordian and fiddle driven tunes.
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