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Presented by Les Blank Films and Argot Pictures, I Went to the Dance (originally released in 1989 with the French title J'ai Été au Bal) is a glorious paean to Cajun and Zydeco music featuring exhilarating performances by the most important and influential artists of the genre: Clifton Chenier, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, Marc & Ann Savoy, D.L. Menard, Rockin’ Sidney, Wayne Toups, Queen Ida and many more.
Blank had spent years in Southern Louisiana, starting in the early 1970s when he made a trio of shorter portraits of the culture starting with 1971's Spend It All (a favorite of Blank's subsequent subject Werner Herzog) followed by Dry Wood and Hot Pepper, the latter his documentary on Clifton Chenier. I Went to the Dance is Blank and Strachwitz's great celebration of the whole musical culture, chock full of interviews with artists which were continuing the tradition well into the nineteen-nineties and beyond, with a special focus on BeauSoleil who are about to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
Original Release
10/13/1989
US Release
10/13/1989
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Barry Jean Ancelet | Self |
| Alphonse Ardoin | Self |
| Dewey Balfa | Self |
| Rodney Balfa | Self |
| Charles Barry | Self |
| Beausoleil | Themselves |
| George Broussard | Self |
| Boozoo Chavis | Self |
| Cleveland Chenier | Self |
| Margaret Chenier | Self |
Directors
Writers
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Barry Jean Ancelet | Self |
| Alphonse Ardoin | Self |
| Dewey Balfa | Self |
| Rodney Balfa | Self |
| Charles Barry | Self |
| Beausoleil | Themselves |
| George Broussard | Self |
| Boozoo Chavis | Self |
| Cleveland Chenier | Self |
| Margaret Chenier | Self |
| Luke Collins | Self |
| Varise Connor | Self |
| Paul Daigle | Self |
| Luderin Darbone | Self |
| John Delafose | Self |
| Michael Doucet | Self |
| Edwin Duhon | Self |
| Odile Falcon | Self |
| Solange Marie Falcon | Self |
| Canray Fontenot | Self |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|
| Harrod Blank | Producer |
| Chris Simon | Producer |
| Amir Shoresh | Producer |
