Saturday, August 23 • Julie & Tim's Wedding!
Celebrate the union of Julie & Tim at the Swedish Cultural Center (1920 Dexter Ave N), 7pm-on. Dancing music provided by your DJ for the evening, Sean "Gator Boy" Donovan. Come fete this beautifully sweet couple in community as they embark on a life together filled with music, magic and fun! Everyone welcome.

Friday, September 5 • Folichon
Folichon at Egan's Ballard Jam House, 2 sets, 9pm and 11pm. Ted Granger says: "Exact admission structure is being worked out, but it will be more fun and more economical to come early and stay late. EBJH is not technically a dance club, but tables will be moved out and space created. It's a nifty venue these days (former location of the Penny Cafe on Market Street in Ballard). And they have gumbo and red beans and rice on their menu full time -- and it's good!"

Saturday, September 6 • Harvest Celebration featuring The Zydeco Locals
Zydeco Community Picnic & Fall Dance with a Silent Auction Fundraiser, in conjunction with Meadowbrook Farm's Harvest Celebration, featuring Captain Leroy & the Zydeco Locals at Meadowbrook Interpretive Farm (North Bend, directions). This will be the Locals' last gig of the season. Cajun jam, 1pm. Folichon and Zydeco Picnic 3-6pm, Silent Auction 3-8:30pm, Free Zydeco Dance Lesson w/MaryLee & Joanie 6-6:45pm, Dance with the Locals 7-10pm, $12. Your Cajun/Zydeco Events Team will provide a grill or grills, charocol, drinks, utensils and condiments.  People should bring main dishes to grill and a side dish to share. Auction will run most of the day with the first table closing at 5 and the last table closing at 8:30. You must be present to win. Lots of wonderful items donated and created by folks from our very own community and goes to the highest bidders -- all money raised goes directly to more zydeco dances and events. Donate items for the silent auction! Contact Selah at selahbrown@dwt.com. Volunteer! We need help with set up before and after each, possibly someone (or two or three) to monitor the BBQ grill(s), a few folks to work 30-minute shifts taking admissions to the dance (it's a great way to meet and greet people!), and other groovy duties. Email Lynda at DJLyndaT@gmail.com to volunteer.

Friday, September 12 - Sunday, September 14 • Cascade Zydeco Dance Camp (OR)
Cascade Zydeco Dance Camp at Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp (near Rhododendron, about 45 miles southeast of the Portland airport) with Brian Jack & the Zydeco Gamblers! See details below.

Saturday, September 13 • Swamp Soul
Swamp Soul Band at the Highliner Tavern (Fisherman's Terminal in Magnolia, 3909 18th Ave W, 206.283.2233), 8-11pm, $12. Traditional and contemporary Cajun, Creole, and zydeco dance music from Louisiana. Music samples. Plenty of friendly people and ample free parking. The Highliner has full food service as well as beer & wine. Over 21 only.

Saturday, September 13 • Motordude Zydeco
Motordude Zydeco at Octoberfest, 8-9:30pm, Pyramid Alehouse parking lot (1201 1st Ave South, Seattle). Admission is $25 for all day, which includes one beer mug and eight beer-tasting tokens. Other bands and entertainment, 1-8pm. Designated driver admission is available for $5. For more info contact Laura Taylor, 206-230-4213 (press only) or ladynwlagniappe@aol.com. Visit Seattle's Cajun-Zydeco Community Dance Calendar for more information on our many local Louisiana-French music/dance events.

Sunday, September 14 • Motordude Zydeco
Zydeco Sundays with Motordude Zydeco from the Bay Area at the Highway 99 Blues Club (1414 Alaskan Way, 206.382.2171), 6:40-9:30pm, $17 (Zydeco Basics dance class, 6pm, $5). For more info contact Laura Taylor, 206-230-4213 (press only) or ladynwlagniappe@aol.com. Event flyer and music samples at: www.scn.org/zydeco/sundays

Thursday, October 23 - Sunday, October 26 • Sensation 2: A Dance Retreat (Seabeck, WA)
Sensation Dance Retreat 2 (!) is back at the beautiful Seabeck Conference Center with more great dancing, community and fun than ever! Co-artistic directors Jodi Fleischman & Sean “Gator Boy” Donovan are pulling together the final touches, and more information will be available soon. Reserve your spot by contacting one of the fine friendly folks in the Northwest Dance Network office today by calling 206.781.1238 or emailing info@nwdance.net. Details, as they become available, will also be posted at www.nwdance.net. See you there! Brought to you by Northwest Dance Network.
About the weekend:
Immerse yourself, transform your dance • Connection with another human being through dance can be a profoundly satisfying, empowering and potentially ecstatic experience. • Throughout our lusciously long dance weekend together, we’ll focus on this connection. We’ll explore increasing awareness and bringing extraordinary presence into partnership, in the hopes of inspiring that magically elastic, dreamy sweet union. • We’ll practice communicating in ways which encourage spontaneous expression, and which engender mutual grace, beauty and daring playfulness. • Along the way, we’ll learn new moves and movement, in a variety of dances, presented in beginner to advanced levels. And we’ll use to best advantage the happy luxury of time and spaciousness, free of distraction, to create opportunities for those exuberantly exciting “Eureka!” moments. • Oh, yes, and you’ll dance to your heart’s content.

Sunday, November 2 • Louisianathon 5
Louisianathon (5th annual!), an all-day dancing celebration of Seattle's Cajun & Zydeco community, at the Mercer Island VFW with Big Squeezy, Filé Gumbo, Folichon, How's Bayou, Swamp Soul, Whozyamama and more! Stay tuned for details.