“The Floor is Yours.” Conversations on Dance Halls with Michael Broussard and Herman Fusilier

Please join us for an open forum about dance hall life in and around Opelousas.

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.

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.

The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments and beverages will be provided.

Michael Broussard | Email: mlb10@illinois.edu or Patrice Melnick | Email: museum@cityofopelousas.com