Vergie banks biography
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New books recalls dance hall past
Dance halls were once an essential part of South Louisiana culture, with dozens if not hundreds dotting the landscape. Today, only a handful remain.
Music writer and Daily Advertiser entertainment reporter Herman Fuselier and acclaimed photographer Philip Gould document these venues — both past and present — in their recent book “Ghosts of Good Times: Louisiana Dance Halls Past and Present” by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press.
The duo will discuss the book as part of Bayou State Book Talks beginning at p.m. Tuesday at the downtown branch of the Lafayette Public Library and at 6 p.m. Thursday at Octavia Books of New Orleans.
“Ghosts of Good Times” looks at the culture of South Louisiana dance halls, how they developed from Cajun and Creole house dances, the music performed there and the traditions surrounding them. Many helped develop the popularity of zydeco or were part of the Chitlin’ Circuit R&B night clubs, such as Bradford’s W
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Black Icons in Lafayette
Chanda Rubin
Back to Top of ListChanda Rubin
Chanda was born in Lafayette to Edward D. Rubin, a Louisiana state judge, and Bernadette Fontenot Rubin. She began playing tennis at a ung age and competed in her first tournament at seven. Rubin went pro in and competed at Wimbledon in In her second round at Wimbledon, she played and won the longest women's match in history.
She ended her pro career in , finishing with seven Women's Tennis Association singles titles and ten doubles crowns. She was inducted into the Southern Tennis entré of Fame in and the Louisiana Sports ingångsrum of Fame in
After playing, Chanda served three terms as a director-at-large on the United States Tennis Association Board of Directors and earned a bachelor's grad from Harvard. She also started the Chanda Rubin Foundation (in association with the Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation) to promote tennis and education for ungdom players.
Buckwhe
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Banks unveils art, new animation series
Little red tricycles have meant a lot to artist Vergie Banks. When she was a 5-year-old girl growing up in Broussard, Banks longed for a tricycle, just like the ones all her friends had.
But then a Christmas surprise arrived.
“One Christmas, my dad and them came home, and I was looking all over in the car for it,” said Banks. “I thought I didn’t get one, but it was in the trunk.
“But that’s how it all transpired. After I got a degree from UL, I needed a signature. That was it.”
Banks unveils her signature pieces and a new animated series, “The Journey of Zoe and the Little Red Tricycle” during ArtWalk at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Acadiana Center for the Arts. The piece exhibit remains on display until Dec. 3.
Banks will offer a sneak peek of the “Tricycle” animation series being developed by James Tancill and the students in the visual arts department at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Their work will result in a DVD that will be