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Louisiana Voices Folk Movement and Dance Video Clips

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New Orleans Jazz Funerals
Narrated by Milton Batiste this clip shows a Jazz Funeral progression in New Orleans. Batiste is the lead trumpet player and manager of Dejean’s Olympia Brass Band. The brass band is an elemental feature in the Jazz Funeral. Although the Jazz Funeral is in constant change the celebration of death is the underlying factor. This celebration is a way to show respect and the community’s important involvement of rejoicing death. This example shows the joyous celebration as Dejean’s Olympia Brass Band plays and people follow behind them dancing. Milton Batiste passed away in 2001.

Taken from New Orleans Jazz Funerals from the Inside
Produced by David Jones and Milton Batiste
Directed by David Jones
Time: 1:56
mid-1990's

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African-American Easter Rock Religious Service - True Light Baptist Church
This clip beautifully shows the Easter Rock ceremony. Beginning with a service the ceremony becomes more passionate, combining vocal music with rhythmic movements. The community uses symbolic colors and specific songs to celebrate Easter Rock. Everyone within the community takes part in the celebration, from singing and shouting to moving and preaching. To read more about the music in African-American services read Music of the Black Churches by Joyce Marie Jackson.

Edited from raw field footage
Filmed by Annie S. Staten
Time: 2:50
Filmed in 1994 at Original True Light Baptist Church

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Prairie Creole Music and Dance / Prairie Creole Mardi Gras
Music and Mardi Gras are at the heart of both Creole and Cajun rural culture in Louisiana. This clip presents a glimpse into this vibrant world, showing music performances and a Creole Mardi Gras traditional ritual. The music performances feature an elaborate fiddle tune and also display the pulsing rhythms of a live performance at a Dance Hall. The Mardi Gras gathering on the dusty roads culminates to the chasing of a chicken for the gumbo pot. To learn more about the rural Mardi Gras read Dance for a Chicken: The Cajun Mardi Gras by Pat Mire.

Taken from Zydeco
Produced and Directed by Nicholas R. Spitzer
Time: 2:50
1981

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Laotian New Year Celebration
This example of the New Year Celebration illustrates the importance of dance, music, and costume within the Laotian culture. The Laos musical tradition is almost completely oral, songs have been passed down from generation to generation. A beautiful art the classical Laotian dance derives from India, although there are several other cultural influences. This clip shows an individual and group dance. Filmed in Broussard on Easter Weekend, 2000. The Laotian subdivision is called Lan Xang meaning "million elephants", the old name for Laos.

Taken from Laotian New Year 2000
Produced and Directed by Somdy Rasy
Time: 1:47

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Multicultural New Orleans Language
(Includes children's clapping game.)
New Orleans language is just one thing that is unique to the city’s culture and lifestyle. This clip concentrates on this esoteric language and aptly displays a wide range of New Orleans lingo. The video also calls attention to the great dialect differences within the city. By listening to the language used in New Orleans, you can learn much about the culture. Also includes children's hand clapping game.

Taken from Yeah You Rite!
Produced and Directed by Louis Alvarez and Andrew Kolker
Time: 3:58
early 1980's

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Cajun Music and Dance
Walter Mouton and the Scot Playboys. Couples dance a Cajun two-step..

Taken from J'ai Été Au Bal: Cajun and Zydeco Music of Louisiana.
Directed by: Les Blank
Produced by: Brazos Films
Time: 1:05
www.arhoolie.com

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Zydeco Music and Dance
Boozoo Chavis plays for a trail ride, Clifton Chenier plays for a festival.

Taken from J'ai Été Au Bal: Cajun and Zydeco Music of Louisiana.
Directed by: Les Blank
Produced by: Brazos Films
Time: 3:08
www.arhoolie.com

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Mardi Gras Indians
White Eagles on Mardi Gras day in New Orleans and at rehearsal at a local club.

Taken from American Patchwork: Jazz Parades
Directed by: Alan Lomax
Produced by: Vestapol Productions
Time: 2:26
www.vestapol.com

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New Orleans Brass Band
Dirty Dozen Brass Band performs at a nightclub and interacts with dancers.

Taken from American Patchwork: Jazz Parades
Directed by: Alan Lomax
Produced by: Vestapol Productions
Time: 2:06
www.vestapol.com

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African American Gospel Choir
The New Home Full Gospel Choir and congregation interact while singing gospel song.

Taken from Shalom Y'all
Directed by: Brian Bain
Produced by: Susan Levitas
Time: 1:17
www.shalomyall.com

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Second-Line Dancing
Brass bands march through neighborhoods in New Orleans accompanied by impromptu solo, couple and group dancers..

Taken from American Patchwork: Jazz Parades
Directed by: Alan Lomax Produced by: Vestapol Productions
Time: 1:20
www.vestapol.com

 

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