tourism

When Ivan Perez was growing up, his father worked hard fishing, trapping, and farming, like generations of Isleno families in the isolated community on Delacroix Island in St. Bernard Parish. But come Saturday night, all the families shed their daily cares and drew together at one of the island's four dance halls.

There, after an evening of dancing and eating, the men and women would take turns singing the decimas-songs of ten-line stanzas recounting Isleno history, legends, and recent lore.

Sung acapella, these haunting melodies were the common thread running through Ivan Perez's life: reinforcing pride in the old ways, love of tradition, and hope for the future-weaving past and present together.

"We didn't sing about yellow fever and hurricanes, he says with a laugh. "We sang about the good times and how we overcame troubles.

In his early teens, Ivan Perez began singing the decimas. "Anyone could sing them but only the best singers survived because they were the only ones people wanted to listen to."

Ivan Perez is one of the best. In recognition, he was recently awarded a prestigious National Heritage Fellowship.

Our rich cultural heritage is a source of strength and pride for each and every one of us. The Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, and the Louisiana Press Association are pleased to present this series highlighting those who make a vital contribution.