Bios of Instructor Talent on Zydeco Cruise 2007 Michael Seider: Michael learned to dance and now polishes his steps at roadhouses, clubs, festivals, and trail rides across the prairies of Southwest Louisiana. He has taught Creole and Cajun dance styles in New Orleans and around the states for over a decade. A skilled interpreter and devoted student of these evolving dance forms, Michael incorporates the newest steps and stylings into his dancing and classes. His authentic repertoire includes shuffles, one-steps, two-steps, jitterbugs, waltzes, baisse-bas, and other regional dance variations. An accomplished and entertaining instructor, Michael addresses different learning styles and levels of experience with his proven teaching methods. Michael became enchanted with the French music of Louisiana after he moved to the Gulf Coast -- Cajun and Creole folk music and Zydeco that combined those traditions with the rhythm and blues and rock and roll he had come of age listening to. Better yet, he found a vibrant dance scene that invited him to "allons danser!" Michael enjoys spreading his love and mastery of the region's dancing through his teaching. He has been on the faculties of Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Roots Camp, the Augusta Heritage Festival, Living Traditions (Seattle), Country Dance and Song Society, Buffalo Jambalaya, Puget Sound Urban Dance Camp, North Cornwall Cajun Zydeco Festival (England), and several of the Original" Zydeco Cruises, as well as, featured in many workshops around the country. He has done choreography for a feature film. Michael has produced two popular instructional videos, "Zydeco Dance Primer" and "Allons Danser - The Whiskey River Jitterbug." Marla Meyer: Marla started dance lessons at age seven. She has taken classes in everything from ballet to belly dancing. These varied forms of dance are what have formed her personal dance style. She began Zydeco dancing over ten years ago after a trip to Acadiana where she saw the dance for the first time. After many classes in Seattle, her former home, she traveled to Louisiana to study the dance. She began teaching in Seattle and was invited to teach on the Original Zydeco Cruise several years ago. She has remained a well-liked addition to the dance staff ever since. Marla moved to Louisiana over five years ago and now teaches with Michael Seider in Lafayette. She keeps her dance style fresh by dancing at the clubs, festivals and trail rides of Acadiana. She has been invited back on the cruise year after year for her enthusiastic, friendly approach to teaching. Her ability to teach in a variety of ways and to problem solve makes her popular with students. In addition to dance, Marla plays the rubboard and has been on tour with Sean Ardoin and Zydekool in England, Scotland and Wales. Marla and Michael will teach Zydeco plus the Whiskey River Jitterbug, a dance which is rapidly growing in popularity in Louisiana and around the country. Marla may also teach her women’s movement class which met with rave reviews on last year’s cruise. Willie Bushnell: Willie, known to many as "The Dance King of Zydeco," is an incredible dancer and an excellent instructor. Willie is back for a third year by popular demand after winning rave reviews for both his dancing and teaching style on previous Zydeco Cruises. It has been said that Willie's "moves are poetry in motion." His moves have been duplicated and taught by many instructors, some whom he has taught. Willie, a Louisiana native born and raised in Ville Platte, down the road from Floyd's Record Shop, began dancing at the age of 3. He speaks fluent Creole French. Willie has been teaching Zydeco for 16 years, motivated by his love of the dance and the desire to share the culture with others. He teaches professionally at SSQQ Dance Studio in Houston. He has taught at many camps and workshops all over the United States, East Coast, West Coast and places in between. Willie won his first Zydeco dance contest at the age of 11. All other contestants were grownups! He has also won numerous contests, including the Texas Zydeco Championship and the Original Southwest Zydeco Festival Dance Contest in Plaisance, Louisiana. When Willie isn't dancing or teaching, he likes to spend time at home with his cat Max and trying out new recipes. Willie will be teaching with Barbara Davis for the forth year. They will be teaching Zydeco. Barbara Davis: has attitude and signature moves that are so hot, you just have to see her dance to believe it. Barbara will teach her signature moves and fabulous styling and also will get you in the groove with the latest moves. Willie and Barbara’s dancing and teaching ability are a winning combination, whether you're taking your first Zydeco steps or you're ready for some really advanced moves. Come learn the groove, the moves, and the style from two of the best Creole Zydeco dancers anywhere. Don’t miss it! Gary Hayman: Returning internationally esteemed "Zydeco Ambassador" Gary Hayman is back instructing for his 10th great cruise. Gary has received rave reviews every single year for his special classes designed specifically to unravel the mysteries of Zydeco techniques. Gary's special workshops on "How To Make Up Your Own Zydeco Steps" and "Mastering Basic Zydeco in Minutes" are broken down so that you can really take these moves home with you -- we'll see what new moves Gary has collected from his world-wide travels for us this year! Outside of the actual Cajun and Zydeco bands, Gary was, before he retired, probably the most traveled CZ personality attending 50-60 days of festivals each year at various parts of the globe. He has regularly Zydeco on both coasts of the US, (including some in between spots), and for 4 years in Canada and 4 years at the Dutch and French Cajun/Zydeco Festivals in Europe. He is known for getting people up and dancing Zydeco quickly -- even the foreign audiences. He and two other instructors, are the only individuals presently documenting Zydeco steps for current and historical purposes. Come and experience his unique teaching style and have some fun while you are learning. His dance teaching experience extends to other dances and dates back to the 70's. He also has a strong background in education, being a former college professor and an instructor for the Air Force. Special Note to guys who think they have "2 left feet": spend 15 minutes with Gary and you'll "get it", guaranteed! Harold Gillory: is definitely Zydeco authority and is a unstoppable ball of energy. His reputation as a entertainer is such that he even had his own television show called Louisiana Zydeco Live. A weekly show that featured Zydeco dancers and musicians. His dancing is sublime and he consistently rates as one of the most popular instructors wherever he teaches whether it's in United States, Japan, Europe or England. Harold is the grandson of Bois-Sec Ardoin, a legendary accordion player whose cousin, Amede Ardoin, who played such a crucial role in the development of both Creole and Cajun music. Also, adding to the family tree is his Uncle Lawrence Ardoin, and cousins Dexter, Chris and Sean Ardoin. This is as authentic as it gets. Olivia "Tee" Guillory: is a well know Louisiana transplant and Zydeco fixture in the California Bay area. She has instructed Zydeco at many festivals, dancehalls and other events for many years bringing her easy to follow "traditional dance moves" instruction to the dance floor. When not instructing, she can be seen at most events enjoying herself with a myriad of partners. She, as you may already know, is the mother of Zydeco accordion virtuoso Andre Thierry of Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic. At times, you may find her at the microphone singing some Zydeco tunes. This is her first time teaching on the Zydecocruise.