Fredda Seidenbaum has been dancing since she was 7, teaching 25+ years and involved in Cajun and zydeco almost as long. She’s studied with many Louisiana teachers, including: Miriam Fontenot-Trahan, Millie Ortego, Jim Dugas,  Mona “Zydeco Queen” Wilson,  Michael Seider, and  Al Muller, Jr.  Since both zydeco and Cajun are evolving dances,  Fredda travels to Louisiana frequently to keep up with the latest steps and refresh her styling.

Clients include:

• Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing 2014, 2012, 2005
• Arn & Gerry’s Danceathon
• NYU’s Kodaly Institute
• Central Park Summerstage
• The Omega Institute
• Paul Prud’homme’s Louisiana  Community Bar & Grill
• The New School
• Sardi’s Goes Cajun series
• Long Island Traditional Music Association
• The United Nations

Bands taught for: Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys; Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie; 2 Grammy winners: The Band Courtbouillon, and Terrance Simien; Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble; Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band; Bruce Daigrepont;  Jesse Lege & Bayou Brew; Lil’ Pookie & the Zydeco Sensations; Mamou Prairie Band; Bryan Miller & the Pinballs.

Study: techniques of dance teaching with Sonny Newman, a master dance teacher for over 50 years. Fredda has also studied adult learning as an experienced trainer and curriculum creator.

Special Projects: performed and taught in New Orleans’ French Quarter; recruited by the president of CODOFIL to serve on the Louisiana Tricentennial Arts Committee; invited by Southwest Louisiana dancers to perform with them in a documentary for German television; assisted master teachers Miriam Fontenot-Trahan, Jim Dugas and Al Muller, Jr. with lessons.

Wildest teaching experiences so far: teaching zydeco and Cajun in Istanbul, Turkey and Bombay, India, as well as at Cajun bar-mitzvah in a Portuguese restaurant, and at a Cajun luau (!) in New Orleans.