The history of the organized dancing locations in South Louisiana begins with the bal de  maison, or house dance, which dates back to the 1700s, before the arrival of the  Acadians. These were intensely local affairs that were held at both grand plantation  homes and small farmhouses. Since these events were primarily invitation only, a  courier on foot or horse spread the word that a dance would be held that weekend. The  band was usually a local duo playing fiddles and later accordion. These events were  hugely popular, both with affluent landowners and farming families.



 Dancehalls, or les salles de danse, became popular in South Louisiana around the time  of the Civil War. In many ways, they resembled house dances: paid admission, food  and drinks for sale, entire families welcome, largely insular community affairs. Unlike  house dances, dancehalls were separate structures open on a regular basis for  entertainment to anyone who could pay to enter.

 
 Some early dancehalls were similar to shopping centers in that they were multi-use  facilities. Dauphine's Dancehall in Parks featured a baseball diamond, a bar, a grocery  store, and an ice cream parlor. Richard's Casino (also known as Tee Maurice) in  Vatican  featured a dirt track behind the hall that was used for both horse and car  races. Lee  Brothers Dancehall in Cutoff featured a barbershop and small general  store. Also, many  halls began as grocery stores or saloons and over time became  exclusively dancing and  drinking establishments.
 

 

 South Louisiana was once dotted with dancehalls like these-many communities were  outfitted with at least one. Equal parts bar, performance hall, and community center,  the traditional dancehall provided a space for much needed recreation. The majority of  these legendary institutions have closed their doors, but the few that remain open are  now a frequent stop for tourists from all over the world.

  
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