News

Before the coronavirus, people would line the block waiting to get a table at Willie Mae’s Scotch House, a Treme neighborhood restaurant that serves world-famous fried chicken. Now the block sits quiet — the dining room closed indefinitely and line-forming a dangerous act.

Dancing Grounds annual Dance for Social Change Festival kicks off this week, virtually via ZOOM. It will focus on issues of gentrification and COVID-19 in New Orleans, featuring a panel discussion with local leaders, dance classes and a film premiere of an original performance piece by its teen dancers. We talk with Dancing Grounds youth programs manager, Randall Rosenberg.

The festival runs May 25th thru 29th. All events are free, but you must pre-register at dancingrounds.org for a link to the activities. 

On this edition of Le Show Harry brings us News of the Warm, News of the Godly, Lake Reverie, News of Microplastics, The Apologies of the Week, News from the Land of 15,000 Princes, original music, and more.

On this Continuum you'll hear dance music of the Renaissance by three major composers of the 17th century: Thoinot Arbeau of France, and William Byrd and John Playford of England. Among the dances heard will be branles, basse dances and pavans. Recordings used are; "Danses Populairies Francaises," performed by The Broadside Band - Harmonia Mundi HMA 1951152, and "William Byrd - Virginals & Consorts," performed by Capriccio Stravagante under the direction of New Orleanian Skip Sempe - Auvidis E 8611.

This week, we're celebrating the National Heritage Fellows, past and present. It’s our annual tribute to great traditional artists, musicians, storytellers, and craftspersons, who have been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts since 1982. 

Nick Spitzer: Grant Bulltail, a 2019 Heritage Fellow is a native of Crow Agency, Montana, and comes from a family of storytellers who held the history of the Apsáalooke people. Grant spoke of his path in storytelling and sustaining his family’s traditions.