The Polka and Cajun Dance Site for Texas (with a little western swing)
Hi, and welcome to our site! We like to dance. We dance polka, Cajun, and C/W
swing. We dance mostly within a three-hour radius
of Houston, and also go out of state for polka festivals. In 2002 we reached our goal of
dancing in all 50 states, and are striving to dance in as many Texas dance halls
as we can. We have now danced in 444 Texas venues (and 123 in other
states).
This site is intended to help others learn about polka and Cajun dancing in Texas. You might begin by reviewing the History of Polka music and dance.
If history is not your bag, you can go
directly to Polka
in Texas
If you’re looking for a great
polka publication, check out The
Texas
Polka News. This monthly publication is one of the
premier polka newspapers in the nation.
It is the preferred national polka newspaper for the central and western
part of the nation, with a circulation of over 1800. It features interesting articles about
polka music and dancing, Texas and U.S. dance calendars, polka advertisements,
human interest stories, and much more.
We also have a page summarizing the Texas Polka Music Association (TPMA) and the Annual Awards program of TPMA during its eight year life 1991-98. It's a litany of the top Texas polka talent through 1998. See TPMA.
A Texas
Polka Radio listing is your guide to polka
radio programming throughout Texas.
If you like Texas Czech music and history, then you need to tune into Czech Melody Time on the web. A labor of love by Dennis Svatek of the Czech Melody Masters band, this web site lets you listen to great Texas Czech music. Now he has added some historical video clips. Check it out by going to the Texas Polka Radio link. In a similar vein, check out "Mike's Texas Polkas" maintained by Mike Konvicka.
Texas has a great number of Czech and German polka bands, and one each of Polish and Slovenian flavor. See Texas Polka Bands for a listing of bands with contact names and numbers. This page includes a separate list of Texas-based "performing" bands that specialize in general entertainment for Oktoberfests and the like. It also has articles on various Texas bands or musicians.
I write a monthly Texas Dancing column in The Texas Polka News. Now those articles (since 2007) have been provided here for your review.
But polka is not the only fun dancing in Texas! The Sabine River still separates Louisiana from Texas but it never did much to stop Cajun music from migrating into Texas. You won’t want to leave this site without exploring Cajun Music & Dancing in Texas! A new article has been included outlining a Cajun Adventure weekend.
Western swing is not only a Texas tradition, it's almost a religion! Check out the CW Swing page, beginning with with an article on the legendary Bob Wills, and articles on many other artists and venues.
We have also included some Texas Links that you may find interesting, including Texas bands with web sites, and the Texas Accordion Association. We have added a few out-of-Texas links that may be of general interest (but do not try to link nationwide polka bands; that is already done very well by Nancy Noltkamper at Nancy's Place For Polkas.)
Looking for polka festivals nationwide? See US Calendar.
And remember, Polka dancing is "aerobics with beer!"
While you're here, we invite you to check out the social issues Commentary page, entitled Enduring Freedom. The articles include: In Tribute to Mothers, Ted Cruz for US Senate, Obama Dictates, Obama-Nation; Respect Life; When the Crosses are Gone; About Thanks, and Giving; How Are Jobs Made?, Deficits and Debt; The Case for Perry, It's a Strong Field, America Proud, Our National Budget, The Party's Over, Broke? (parts 1 & 2), State of the Union, How the Grinch is Stealing Christmas, I Believe, Real Hope & Change Nov. 2, Jihad 101, What's Good About America, Deficit Means Doom, Glenn Beck, The Supreme Court, Tea Time April 15, The Party's Over, I Believe, Obama-Nation!, Stop the Insanity, Obamacare - Does It Make Sense?, Can Common Sense Save Our Republic?, Health Care Costs, Obamacare, America, What's a Conservative to Do?; The First 85 Days (of Obama); Keep the Change; In-Debted!; Leftward Ho!, The Economic Crisis II, The First Right (on the Tragedy of Abortion), The Economic Crisis, The Best Choice, Obama-Nation?, Drill Here-Drill Now-Pay Less, Greenwashing America, Gas Pains, The Great Ethanol Scam, The Economy?, Vote Informed, Primary Borders, A Primary Role, Thanks ...for Nothing, Noah 2007, Jihad 101, Secure the Borders, Secure Borders First, Memorial Day, Global Warming? Or Hot Air?, Bush-Whacked at the Border, What is an American?, Stem Cell Issues, America's Enemies - Abortion, America's Enemies - The ACLU; America's Enemies - Hugo Chavez, Decisions 2006, Islamic Fascism, Jihad 101, Order on the Border II, Movies to Make and Miss, Order on the Border I, Husbands - Love Your Wives, Waking Up In America, An Aging Nation, Resolve to be a Better Citizen, The Death of Christmas, Defending Marriage, The Looting of Katrina, A Purpose Driven Life, The New Wars for Independence, Texas Property Taxes, Fixing Social Security, Controlling Our Borders, Bush Leads, I'm Thankful for...Supermarkets, The First Right, The War on Terror, Clear Choices 2004, Rediscovering Reagan, Jihad 101, The Hand That Rocks (Mother's Day Tribute), The Passion of The Christ, Choose or Lose (The Coarsening of America), The Death of Christmas, The First Right, Borderline Insanity, Reflections on Sept. 11, Hope Springs Eternal (Bob Hope), Innocent Lives, Texas Tort Reform, Memorial Day, Support our Troops; A World in Peril; The Death of Christmas; It's About Life; Doing Nothing (the Saddam problem); Political Correctness; The Pledge; Stifling Speech; Choking on Clean Air; Courage to Profile; Energy Freedom; Rebirth of Resolve; The Right Man; Assault on Freedom; and An Open Letter to Muslims in America.
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Try
God - the original 24/7/365!
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Legendary Minnesota concertina player and polka bandleader Elmer Scheid died May 4. He was 90. From New Ulm (MN), Scheid's “Hoolerie Dutchmen” band performed for 50 years, helping to create the so-called "Hoolerie” sound. Elmer learned the concertina as a youngster, watching his father play the instrument. He performed his first job at age 13, and later played with the Six Fat Dutchmen and the Babe Wagner band, before creating the Hoolerie Dutchmen in 1951. His band became popular throughout Minnesota and beyond, at a time when the New Ulm area was known as the "polka capital of the nation." Scheid produced 15 albums and tapes, the last in 1986. He was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in 1995.
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Texas Music Grants
The Texas Music Office has announced the creation of the Live Music Grant Program, which will fund free, live-music concerts across the state. The program is made possible by a settlement from the Compact Disc Minimum Advertised Price Antitrust litigation and does not utilize taxpayer dollars. Grant applicants must partner with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or a city or county government office willing to pay the upfront cost of the concert. The nonprofit or city/county government organization will then be reimbursed by the Texas Music Office once the grant is approved. No taxpayer dollars will be used to fund these grants. More than $173,000 is available for the program as a result of a settlement from the Compact Disc Minimum Advertised Price Antitrust litigation. The maximum grant amount per concert is $1,500 and grants will be awarded until all the funds have been distributed. To apply for a Live Music Grant, or for more information about the program, please visit www.governor.state.tx.us/music/live_music_grant, or call (512) 463-6666.
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Folks, do you know about the Handbook of Texas Music? The new second edition of this great music resource is now available. This 8.5x11 inch music resource presents easy to find information on Texas musicians and bands, dance halls, radio programs and more, comprising over 700 pages. The contents are listed alphabetically, but there is also an excellent index. Yes, it has some photos. Of course the Handbook of Texas Music has information on all the pioneer polka bands in Texas. TPN writer John Rivard provided assistance on these articles. The handbook is published by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), Laurie Jasinski editor and project manager. The handbook is available in both hardcover and paperback. See the web at www.tshaonline.org, or call 940-369-5200.
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Is
It Fair?
Barak
Obama is making his campaign for reelection a full-time job!
Since his “fundamental change” and economic policies have produced
the longest recessionary
period since the great depression, Obama
cannot campaign on his record.
Instead, he is (1) raising a number of social issues intended to
misdirect the media and the public from his failed economic programs, and (2)
continually raising the issue of “fair share,”
alleging that many Americans are not contributing their fair share. This
is “class warfare,” straight out of the Democrat playbook.
Since
Obama insists on raising the “fairness” issue, let’s take him on
headfirst, asking “is it fair?”
Is
it fair that, as a
result of Obama’s
failed economic policies, the unemployment rate remains above 8%
officially, and is really in the neighborhood of 15% or greater if the people
who have stopped looking for work are included? Is
it fair that the price
of gas remains above three dollars per gallon because of Obama’s policies
against the use of fossil fuels, and his anti-oil position in particular? Is
it fair that the
anti-business regulators that he’s placed in charge of all of his agencies set
out to persecute businesses, as exemplified by the recent case of the Region 6
EPA Administrator who in his own words set out to “crucify” oil and
gas businesses? Is
it fair that the Obama
administration persecutes states like Arizona who have
attempted to enforce their own immigration laws, in the absence of
federal action? Is
it fair that Obama has
created scores of “Czars” to manage the executive branch of government,
thereby avoiding the Constitutionally-required confirmation by Congress? Is
it fair that Obama
promotes the causes of homosexuals and lesbians but
defends and promotes the taking of innocent human life by abortion?
Is
it fair that Michelle
Obama and her children have taken 19 extravagant vacations at taxpayer expense
while American working families are struggling to find work and stay alive
financially? Is it fair that
Obama and the Democrat- controlled Congress has not proposed a budget for the
United States during Obama’s entire term of office, instead forcing
Republicans to agree to continuing resolutions, in the meantime tearing apart
serious Republican proposals for budgets that will bring the deficit more under
control? Is
it fair
that Obama and the
Democratic-controlled Congress pushed through the Obamacare bill that will
fundamentally change the nature of healthcare in our nation, and in doing so
substantially distorted (understated) the costs of Obamacare?
Is
it fair
that Obama and the
Democrats in Congress refuse to address the two greatest financial problems
facing us, specifically the pending financial failures in Medicare and Social
Security? And finally, Is
it fair
that our
grandchildren and their descendents are being saddled with an enormous national
debt that cannot be paid?
Bring it on Obama! I’m willing to talk the fairness issue right up to November 6!
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We hope you enjoy this site and would like to hear from you. Send us an e-mail with your question, comment or suggestion.
Thanks for stopping by, and
remember…
“Polka Dancing is Aerobics with Beer!”
(updated 05/17/12)
E-mail John &
Marlys Rivard
jlrivard123@sbcglobal.net
Visitors since 1/13/04
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