As a warm-up for Festival, families, friends, and first-time dancers will come together under one rhythm. Led by Dr. Moriah Hargrave, the crowd will learn the steps that have carried Cajun and Creole traditions for generations — from two-steps to waltzes and everything in between. Kids will laugh, couples will twirl, and even those with “two left feet” will be swept into the joy of Acadiana’s music.
Why Dance Matters in Acadiana
Dance has never been just entertainment in South Louisiana. It has always been the heartbeat of community life.
For Cajun and Creole families, the fais do do was as much about gathering as it was about dancing. Families would crowd into homes or halls, children drifting to sleep(“fais do do” comes from the French for “go to sleep”) while adults danced late into the night. The fiddle and accordion were the soundtracks of resilience and celebration, connecting neighbors through rhythm and song.
These dances weren’t just about fun. They were about identity — preserving the French language, celebrating traditions, and passing cultural knowledge from one generation to the next. Cajun dance is Acadiana’s story set to music, and every step is a reminder of where we come from.
Festival Acadiens & the Role of Dance
Since 1977, Festival Acadiens et Créoles has celebrated the traditions of South Louisiana with food, crafts, and especially music. It’s one of the most important cultural gatherings in the region — part concert, part cultural preservation project, part community reunion.
Dance is central to Festival Acadiens. You’ll hear fiddles, accordions, and washboards across multiple stages, each pulling crowds into motion. Whether you’re an experienced two-stepper or brand new, dancing is the way you fully join the festival experience.
That’s why this year’s kickoff event, Allons Danser!, matters so much. It’s more than a warm-up. It’s a chance to learn the steps, understand the traditions, and step directly into Acadiana’s living culture.
Event Details: Allons Danser!
- What: Allons Danser! Free Cajun Dance Lesson & Celebration
- When: Sunday, October 5 | 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Where: Parc Sans Souci, Downtown Lafayette
- Instructor: Dr. Moriah Hargrave
- Cost: Free & open to the public
- Family-Friendly: Kids and adults welcome
- Registration: No sign-up required — just show up and dance
- Food & Drink: Local food trucks on-site
What to Expect
If you’ve never danced Cajun or Zydeco before, don’t worry — that’s what makes Allons Danser! so welcoming. Dr. Moriah Hargrave will guide the crowd through basic steps like the two-step and the waltz, explaining how partners move together and how the music leads the way.
The setting at Parc Sans Souci will provide the perfect backdrop: shaded by oaks, filled with neighbors, and alive with the sound of Acadiana. Whether you bring a partner, come with family, or join in solo, you’ll be part of a community-wide dance lesson that celebrates who we are.
Why LFT Fiber Supports Events Like This
For LFT Fiber, Acadiana’s only community-owned fiber network, sponsoring Allons Danser! is about more than a name on a banner. Just as dance connects us across generations, connection is at the heart of what LFT Fiber provides.
Every fiber strand LFT installs is another link in the community — powering families, businesses, schools, and events like this one. Unlike national providers, LFT Fiber reinvests back into Acadiana, ensuring that every step forward strengthens the place we call home.
By supporting Festival Acadiens and events like Allons Danser!, LFT Fiber continues to live its mission: Powered by community. Connected by culture.
Join Us on the Dance Floor
Festival week will begin exactly where it should: with Acadiana coming together, moving as one.
Grab your friends, bring your family, and meet us at Parc Sans Souci on October 5 for Allons Danser! Let’s start Festival week together — in rhythm, in step, and in community.
LFT Fiber — Powered by community. Connected by culture.
##
LFT Fiber is Louisiana’s only community-owned fiber-optic network, delivering 100% fiber-based connectivity with unmatched reliability, speed, and local customer support. Founded as LUS Fiber in Lafayette in 2005 and expanding throughout Acadiana, LFT Fiber continues to reinvest in the communities it serves—powering homes, businesses, and the region’s future.
Post Summary: Acadiana will kick off Festival Acadiens et Créoles with Allons Danser!, a freeCajun dance lesson at Parc Sans Souci sponsored by LFT Fiber.
