For more information about APPlause!...
Christy Chenausky
Director of Arts Education and Outreach
828-262-6084 ext. 109
chenauskyc@appstate.edu
Box Office: 800-841-2787 (ARTS)
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Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience: Creole for Kidz and the History of Zydeco
February 22 | 10:00 am
photo credit: Jake Springfield
Two-time Grammy Award-winning Black American roots music group Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience bring us Creole for Kidz and the History of Zydeco. Learn about the history of this fascinating and entertaining American roots music and hear “Gonna Take You There,” the popular Zydeco-flavored tune, on which Terrance collaborated, that was featured in Disney’s 2009 film The Princess and the Frog.
Creole for Kidz and the History of Zydeco is centered on the history and evolution of this unique American roots genre. Zydeco is the traditional, indigenous music of the Black and mixed race, French speaking Creoles of south Louisiana. This important project all started with a conversation Terrance had with his good friend and ethnomusicologist Taj Mahal, who insisted Terrance tell his story through song. In the late 1990s, Terrance got busy, did months and months of research, and wrote original songs and narration for his recording project. He then developed study guide materials. He has been performing this program since then. Some educators and presenters have called Simien’s approach “stealth education,” which is just a fancy term for educating students when they aren’t really aware they are being taught, because they’re having fun while learning.
Related Links:
https://www.terrancesimien.com/creole4kidz/
SHOWTIME:
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 | 10am
RECOMMENDED FOR: All Grades
STUDY GUIDE: Click HERE for printable pdf
LOCATION: Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
RUN TIME: Approximately 60 minutes
FOR MORE INFORMATION: contact the Box Office at
theschaefercenter@appstate.edu / 800-841-2787 or 828-262-4046
TICKETS FOR GROUPS OF 25 OR MORE PEOPLE
$3/person
TICKETS FOR GROUPS OF FEWER THAN 25 PEOPLE
$5/person
ABOUT TERENCE SIMIEN AND THE ZYDECO EXPERIENCE
For over 40 years, two-time GRAMMY Award-winning, 8th generation Louisiana Creole Terrance Simien (born September 3, 1965), has been shattering the myths and often misinformation, about what his traditional Zydeco roots music is – and is not. It most certainly is American roots music and it is music born of the Black and mixed race French-speaking Creoles of South Louisiana. It’s exhilarating and as complex and diverse as the Creoles. It’s also more than just one rhythm and one tempo. Sure it’s about dancing; “less dancing please,” said no-one ever! But, it’s also about grooving in place and dancing freely. It’s definitely about the vocal performance as well. Terrance’s lead vocals, and the stunning three-part harmonies of he, Danny and Stan, are proof positive that vocal performances matter! Zydeco is dynamic and evolving – remaining relevant to allow its artists to express themselves within their genre without constraints.
Simien has become one of the most respected and accomplished artists in American roots music today. He and his bandmates have performed over 10,000 concerts, toured millions of miles to more than 45 countries during their eventful career. Their music has been placed in multiple theater release films, including a Disney film, and TV and radio commercials. They’ve shared studio and stage with legends the Meters, Art Neville, Los Lobos, Marcia Ball, the late Robert Palmer and Dave Matthews Band, to name a few. They’ve been cultural ambassadors for their country since the mid 1980s as part of the U.S,. State Department ongoing cultural diplomacy tours.
Every season, affordable music, dance, film, and theatre events are offered to students and their teachers from K-12 classrooms across the region. Students experience everything from high-energy acrobatics and Appalachian music to international dance and literary classics brought to life through theatrical productions. LEARN MORE >>
Contact
APPlause! Sponsors
The APPlause! 2023-24 season has been generously supported by a grant from the
JAMES G. HANES MEMORIAL FUND
and
individual support from
SUE AND STEVE CHASE
and
sustaining support provided by the
CHRISTINE PETTI OPPORTUNITY FUND
CHRISTINE PETTI OPPORTUNITY FUND
.
