As co-chairman of the Benzie County Zonta Club's committee for the Area convention, I hired Mark and his 
band for our evening entertainment.  Mark instructed the group of over 250 women in dance and was 
outstanding.  He was knowledgeable, patient, and most of all fun!  The band was entertaining and the 
evening was a great success.  I would recommend Mark as an instructor for any event!

Christine Stapleton
Benzonia, Michigan

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Mark is the embodiment of "joie de vivre". Literally translated into English from Cajun French, it means
having the "joy of life."  His ideas on how to live, changes the lives that he touches.  What is Mark's 
"joie de vivre"?  It is the joy of meaningful conversation, the joy of eating good food, the joy of dancing
well, the joy of playing good music, the joy of teaching others what he knows (so that they, too, may know
their joy), and it's the joy of anything he might do to "pass a good time".  "Joie de vivre" is a joy of 
everything, a comprehensive joy, a philosophy of life that involves one's whole being.  "Joy" by 
Webster's Dictionary is "the emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good."  Things that 
define Mark's "joie de vivre":



1. His Spontaneity
2.  He's Carefree.  He invites strangers in from the street, gives unexpected gifts, speaks warmly 
     to everyone he meets.
3.  He has a free, demonstrative and open expression of the emotion of joy.  His is a form of genuineness,
     honesty to his self and others.
4.  He generates a feeling of well-being.  He is a genuinely exuberant person.

Laissez le bon temps rouler, Mark.

David Stalcup
Roswell, New Mexico 

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Mark has immersed himself in all things Cajun since he was a teenager in Louisiana. His love of the culture
and music has led him to learn and teach this lively dance style. I have hired Mark for several venues (the
Reed City Summer Music Series and Wheatland Music Organization dances), and attended many other
events where he has taught. From beginning to advanced, Mark teaches with patience, radiating the joy of the dance. Even when he's attending a dance just for fun, he teaches. From two-steps to zydeco, waltzes to jitterbug, he takes you where you had only hoped you could go.  Always with that wonderful "cajun smile".

Marilyn Hummel

Wheatland Music Organization

marilynhummel@hotmail.com

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I've had the joy of knowing Mark for several years and can attest to his ability, knowledge and enthusiasm
when it comes to anything Cajun.  In all of his endeavors related to this love of the Cajun culture, Mark is totally committed to sharing his expertise.  He does this in such a way that it is a fun experience for all involved while at the same time this man is thoroughly professional and knowledgeable of his subject.  One cannot help but
be caught up in his enthusiasm. 

Kaila St. Louis

Davis & Elkins College

Elkins, West Virginia

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Mr. Stoltz-

I am writing you to express my appreciation and gratitude for sharing your dance instruction with the first graders at Crystal Lake Elementary.  Learning to move to music for the young child has many advantages...

the act of 'doing' naturally leads to speaking, drawing, and writing.  My experience as a teacher has demonstrated to me that children who can feel the rhythms of music parallels to how they read...

in a healthy sense, dance brings joy and freedom of expression to the curriculum... gone are the days when the gym class's focus is kicking a ball around or maybe dodging a ball for fear of being injured...

Whole-heartedly, I personally endorse Mr. Stoltz as a Cajun dance teacher and as an educator who is
enlightening the public school curriculum by spreading cultural knowledge and healthy exercise to our young people.

Sally A. Eichberger
First Grade Teacher
Crystal Lake Elementary
Benzonia, Michigan

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Hi Mark,

It was great to meet you and to learn some Zydeco and a bit of frottoir playing in Canberra at our National Folk Festival.  We thoroughly enjoyed the festival, although we could have done without our colds and coughs.  We had a good trip back via Melbourne- wet and windy.  It renewed our determination to get to the States for some C/Z festivals and dancing.  The Zydeco Cruise also sounds good.  We hope you have got some nice weather to go back to and had a good time in NZ and Sydney.

Martin Colquhoun and Sybil Ailion
Australia