Cajun Dance is more than just a series of steps for second graders at Allemands Elementary School in Des Allemands. It’s a tradition that connects young students to the culture and history of their community in St. Charles Parish.
second graders – a dancing tradition
From the moment the music begins, the school’s physical education class turns into a lively dance floor. Dressed in traditional Cajun clothing, students step in rhythm to the two-step and the waltz, forming circles, arches, and spinning couples as the music plays. Cajun dancing has long been part of the second-grade curriculum at the school, giving every student a chance to learn the traditional steps.
A caller helps guide the dancers through the routines. “The move that you just saw them do where they’re moving their hands and their feet but staying put—this is the move that they all do in between other dance moves that are called out for them,” explained music teacher Wendy Solomon.
Students also learn how to dance with a partner. Rowan Williams-Moratin says holding hands is part of the rhythm. “You don’t have to hold your partner’s hands super hard. You can just barely touch their hands. You just got to hold their hands. You can’t let them go.”
learning the steps of Cajun Dancing
The dances include a variety of traditional movements. One of them is the “jig step,” demonstrated by student Ava Woods. “You put one foot like you’re broke, like one foot is broken and your other one and it’s like you’re limping,” she explained. For students like Jiang Addison, the class is simple to describe. “I like it and I think it’s fun,” she says.
cajun dancing program has deep roots
The program has been part of the school for decades. “This program started around 1980,” said dance sponsor Tonya Tastet. “Our French teacher that was here teaching at the time started the program, and when she retired, myself and my other sponsor took over.”
Physical education teacher Donald Morgan III remembers learning the dances when he was a student at the same school. “I was a student here from kindergarten through second grade, and in 2005 I was actually a Cajun dancer,” Morgan said. His own experience dancing made a lasting impression on his family. “Once my grandfather saw me dancing, he recognized a lot of what I was doing when I was a child, and it just meant a lot to him,” he said.
dancing on the road
While every second grader learns the dances, a select group of students becomes part of a traveling dance team that performs in surrounding communities. Group sponsor Tastet says the young dancers are popular with spectators. “They talk about how much they love it and the enjoyment they got out of it,” she said. “They’re dancing and moving along with the music.”
For student Sophia Castille, Cajun dancing also connects her to family traditions. “My grandparents are Cajun,” she said. “Cajun dancing represents our school and the culture.” When asked what it meant to share the dance with her grandparents, Sophia said, “I want to show my whole family that I can do Cajun dancing, and it’s really easy. And I really like it.” With every spin, jig-step, and waltz, these young dancers are connecting with their community’s past, and carrying Cajun traditions into the future.
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