The Floor is Yours: Dance Hall Life in Opelousas
A Conversation with Herman Fuselier and Michael Broussard
WHAT: Conversations on Dance Halls
WHEN: Wednesday, October 7
TIME: 6:00 PM-7:30 PM
WHERE: Opelousas Museum, 315 N Main St., Opelousas
CONTACT: Michael Broussard, mlb10@illinois.edu; Patrice Melnick: 337-948-2589
What is the event?
On Wednesday, October 7, from 6:00 PM-7:30 PM, please join us at the Opelousas Museum for an open
forum about dance hall life in and around Opelousas. The event is free and open to the public. Light
refreshments and beverages will be provided.
What will happen at the event?
The evening opens with a conversation between Herman Fuselier and Michael Broussard about the role dance
halls played in local communities. Herman Fuselier is the Executive Director of the St. Landry Parish Tourist
Commission and author of Ghosts of Good Times: Louisiana Dance Halls Past and Present, which documents
the stories and cultural significance of dance halls throughout the region. Michael Broussard is a PhD
candidate in Ethnomusicology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Born and raised in Lafayette,
Louisiana, he focuses his dissertation on southwestern Louisiana dance halls and their enduring importance to
the people who filled these legendary venues.
The floor then opens to attendees to share their own experiences and knowledge of dance halls. Whether it’s
Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki, Bradford’s White Eagle, or beyond, we invite you to share memories and thoughts on why these
venues were and continue to be important in people’s lives.
Why dance halls?
Throughout the twentieth century, southwestern Louisiana dance halls were popular spots for people to hear
good music, have a drink, maybe a bite to eat, and dance the night into the early hours. Like many towns and
small cities across the region, Opelousas hosted its own venues with a variety of music and dance. Dance halls
were not just places for people to catch a great band–they were places of gathering for friends or family.
People didn’t just enjoy a brief sense of community on a given night; they built community in a way that still
resonates beyond the walls once shaken by pulsing music and stomping feet for decades.
We welcome anyone interested in Louisiana history, regional music and dance, or storytelling.
For more information about the event, please contact:
Michael Broussard | Email: mlb10@illinois.edu
or
Patrice Melnick | Email: museum@cityofopelousas.com
