>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >> << <<<<<<<<<<<<<<< <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< << MUSIC >> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >> WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO << <<<<<<<<<< << 46 >> >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >> << <<<<<<< <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< << THE >> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >> << <<<< <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>> << <<<<<<<<<<<<< <<<<<<<<<<<< >> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> > << <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< < >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
FILM
53
ART
56
STAGE
59
EVENTS
61
THE COLOR PURPLE
VALEN-TOEDOWN 9 P.M. FRIDAY, FEB. 11 ONE EYED JACKS, 615 TOULOUSE ST., 569-8361; WWW.ONEEYEDJACKS.COM TICKETS $15
Costume Reveal t’s not a tableau ball, but the Valen-Toe-Down is a Carnival debut of sorts for the Camel Toe Lady Steppers. The seven-year-old Mardi Gras dance and marching group unveils its 2011 costumes and a new dance performance adaptable for the stage and parading — and reveals it all for a good cause. “It’s a really great way to get involved in Mardi Gras,” says Camel Toe organizer and founding member Beth Manley, who notes that the group attracts members who want to find a creative and affordable alternative to joining a parade krewe. At the 2010 event, the Camel Toes debuted Marie Antoinette costumes with towering wigs and glittery pink dresses. This year’s theme promises 1980s hair and workout attire, but the official title is a closely held secret until the group hits the street in the Krewe of Muses parade (Feb. 24). The Muses parade features several adult women’s dance teams. Walking krewes are not new to Carnival, but now there are several all-female, adult marching groups modeled on the traditional baton-twirling and dance-team student groups that march in parades. Among the active troupes are the Pussyfooters, Bearded Oysters and the Muff-A-Lottas — and the all-male 610 Stompers have entered the fray as a choreographed dance squad. The Camel Toes originally marched as a Mardi Grasstyle ensemble on Halloween in 2003. “The Mardi Gras before, we were watching the dance crews, and we thought it would be a fun thing to do as older women,” Manley says. “We wanted to get
I
65
FEB
11–13
The stirring musical tale of Celie overcoming poverty and abuse in rural Georgia in the early 1900s returns to New Orleans. The musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel opened on Broadway in 2005 and was a smash hit. Tickets $38.90-$86.25 (including fees). 8 p.m. Fri.Sat., 2 p.m. Sat.-Sun., 7:30 p.m. Sun. Mahalia Jackson Theater, 1419 Basin St., 287-0351; www.mahaliajacksontheater.com
AMANDA SHAW
FEB
SALT-N-PEPA’S LEGENDS OF HIP-HOP
FEB
12
BROTHER DEGE WITH THE LOST BAYOU RAMBLERS
12
Amanda Shaw’s maturing voice is remaking the Northshore Cajun-fiddling prodigy into a rising star of country pop. She’s back in familiar Rock ’N’ Bowl digs after a gig in Dallas’ pre-Super Bowl festivities. Rob Savoy and Rick Olivier spice up New Orleans R&B standards as the Creole String Beans open. Tickets $10. 8:30 Friday. Rock ’N’ Bowl, 3016 S. Carrollton Ave., 861-1700; www.rockandbowl.com
11
PHOTO BY ABDUL AZIZ
together costumes and work out routines.” All the stretchy, gold lame two-piece costumes for 10 dancers arrived in one shoebox-sized container, and a group name was soon born. On Halloween, the troupe strutted down Frenchmen Street with two accompanying male drummers. “By the end of the night, women were repeating our routine back to us,” Manley says. Four months later, the Camel Toes marched in their first Carnival parade. The membership has grown to more than 50 women, and the group marches in Muses every year. Other appearances have included backing the bands Liquidrone, the Stooges Brass Band and the New Orleans Bingo! Show on stage and at the Voodoo Experience. The Camel Toes have marched in second-line parades, including one held for Antoinette K-Doe, and a local parade prior to the Super Bowl in 2010. For the last three years, the Camel Toes’ annual preCarnival fundraiser also benefitted the Roots of Music, generating a total of more than $12,000 for the music training program for 9- to 14-year-olds. Women from the Camel Toes also have helped out at the holidays, donating food and gifts to children in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Roots of Music band will open the show at One Eyed Jacks. The rest of the lineup features bounce rapper Katey Red, The Local Skank, Mystic Ponies, the Pinettes Brass Band, Fleur de Tease creator Trixie Minx and the dance group Beaver Fever. There also will be a photo booth, an auction and a prize raffle.
Break out the boomboxes and Air Jordan wingtips. The last Legends of Hip-Hop Tour, in October 2010, brought a Mount Rushmore of ’80s rap — MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick and Big Daddy Kane — to New Orleans. This stop, delivered by reunited matriarchs Salt-NPepa (pictured), is every bit as monumental, with Naughty By Nature, Rob Base, Biz Markie and Kurtis Blow. Tickets. $53.85$64.15 (including fees). 8 p.m. Saturday. UNO Lakefront Arena, 6801 Franklin Ave., 280-7222; www.arena.uno.edu
As the Lafayette-based solo act Brother Dege (pronounced “deej”), Santeria frontman Dege Legg chants psychedelic incantations over stomping, slithering electro-acoustic Dobro blues that slips and slides between genres and eras. Fellow Vermillionaires the Lost Bayou Ramblers headline. Tickets $10. 10 p.m. Saturday. One Eyed Jacks, 615 Toulouse St., 569-8361; www.oneeyedjacks.net
FEB
Gambit > bestofneworleans.com > febrUarY 08 > 2011
THE CAMEL TOE LADY STEPPERS CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY WITH A FUNDRAISER. BY WILL COVIELLO
The Camel Toe Lady Steppers debut a new dance routine at the Valen-Toe-Down.
CUISINE
45