Frequently Asked Questions

What does "et toi" mean?: The correct spelling for this Cajun French phrase is "hé toi" or "eh toi." Many non-cajuns spell it as "et toi." The literal translation is "hey you." It's used frequently in zydeco and cajun lyrics as an exclamation of joy or excitement.
Why do we need another cajun website for Atlanta?: We don't. There are at least 5 other sites that list the dance schedule for Atlanta. I came up with the idea for ettoi.com when there were only 1 or 2; but it took a while to learn how to design the site and during that time several other websites were created. There isn't much "original content" on this site, but maybe some people will enjoy my version of how it's presented.
Why did you write the ettoi.com website?: I wanted to learn how to develop websites and cajun dance has been a fun topic to focus on while practicing the skills. Actually, web-authoring itself is extremely fun. I enjoy the creative process and the challenge of programming. This site is written by hand without an editor—to see how that looks, "right-click" (Mac users click and hold) here and select "view source."
What are some good CDs to buy for a beginner?: Your tastes may be different than mine, but try anything by these bands: Hair of the Dog, Steve Riley, Filé, Beau Jocque, Boozoo Chavis, Keith Frank, Rosie Ledet, Chris Ardoin.
How do you dance zydeco?: The best way to learn zydeco is to take a class. You might find a kind soul at a dance to show you the basic step but be patient with yourself because it's a little tricky for beginners. You can read some online zydeco instruction here.
What's the difference between Cajun and Creole?: The short answer is that Cajuns are French-speaking whites whose ancestors came from Acadia and France; and Creoles are French-speaking blacks (from Southwest Louisiana). For a complete explanation read this article.