Arts & Entertainment

HouseCalls

UrbanBushWomendevelopsa ‘Haint Blu’site-specific performanceinNew Orleans |

by Will Coviello

DANCERS FROM NEWYORK-BASEDURBAN BUSHWOMEN EXPLORED THESPACE

outside the Andre Cailloux Center, formerly the St. Rose de Lima church on Bayou Road, last week. On Thursday afternoon, they were on the side loading dock, which for that exercise was standing in for a porch. During the first week of their residency in New Orleans, they were exploring the converted theater space inside and out to work up a site-specific version of “Haint Blu,” which in concept is grounded by a home in the South.

The piece takes its name from a color often used on the ceilings of porches. The shade of blue resembles water and is meant to trick unwanted spirits. Seeing their reflection scares them off and they leave the home and its occupants alone.

“Haint Blu” explores holism and frames the work in the context of a home. UBW developed a stage version of “Haint Blu” that’s part of its touring “Legacy + Lineage + Liberation” presentation. During the pandemic, “Haint Blu” co-artistic directors Chanon Judson and Mame Diarra Samantha Speis are expanding its ideas by creating site-specific workshop versions in four successive residencies. The New Orleans phase concludes Friday with a workshop performance at the Cailloux Center. A more final version will be presented when UBW returns in January.

The residency is in conjunction with Junebug Productions, a longtime collaborating organization, and the Ashe Cultural Arts Center. Junebug coordinated the participation of local artists and organizations in the residency, and Junebug members contributed to an early pandemic video collaboration, “Wading in the Wobble,” which helped inspire some of the ideas for the “Haint Blu” site-specific iterations.

The last time UBW performed in New Orleans also was in collaboration with Junebug as a presenter. In 2018, they brought “Hair & Other Stories” to the CAC. That piece updated UBW founder Jawole Willa Jo Zollar’s original “HairStories.” That work and “Haint Blu” are led by Speis and Judson. The two co-artistic directors represent a new generation of leadership at UBW. In many ways, “Haint Blu” expands on “Hair & Other Stories.”

“One of the spaces that came out of ‘Hair & Other Stories’ is the kitchen and conversations that happen in the kitchen,” Speis says. “As a young Black girl growing up, there were a lot of conversations that were happening in the kitchen that were not happening in the living room. That became about real talk. The conversations were from the gut.”

Judson and Speis’ thinking about “HairStories” and their updated work spurred them to expand on it, particularly the presence and perspectives of Black women at the center of the piece. “Haint Blu” also is focused on healing and reckoning.

“It’s looking at our familial lines, tapping into memory, stories, experiences and looking at what it is we have inherited, what has been shared or passed on to us,” Speis says. “What do we want to continue passing on? What cycles we would like to break or redirect. In order to do this, we are looking at it from the vantage point or thinking of a house. What does this house hold that can support holism?”

The work’s concepts, movement and design also are being informed by New Orleans and its history. The collaborating performers and artists planned visits to the Backstreet Cultural Museum, Congo Square and Whitney Plantation and met with Hidden History Tours’ Leon Waters. Musicians Dr. Michael White and Jackie Harris spoke to them about jazz and the city’s musical traditions.

“The history of New Orleans jazz and the African retention as a form reflects their practice as dancers — ideas of play, improvisation, ensemble and call and response,” says Junebug Productions director Stephanie McKee-Anderson, who’s been participating in the residency.

The two organizations have a long history together. John O’Neal, the founder of Junebug, and UBW founder Zollar shared personal and professional relationships. Junebug is celebrating its 40th anniversary this season, which is belated because of the pandemic.

When Zollar founded UBW, it operated in a more grassroots fashion. It often performed in alternative spaces and reached out to community organizations. “Hair Parties” featuring talks and community engagement often preceded performances.

The “Haint Blu” residencies are returning to some of the company’s early practices. Community engagements and networking with local organizations are part of the design. The performances also won’t necessarily be in theaters. At the Cailloux center, the workshop production will be immersive and move throughout the space, possibly including outdoors areas. It will incorporate video and lighting technology and other contributions. It likely will also return to the practice of performing to live music.

Speis is excited about the way the New Orleans residency is echoing the organizations’ history and the sense of place.

“I can’t remember the first time I came here, but I was like, ‘This is different,’ ” Speis says. “It’s like past, present, future all simultaneously moving together. That’s what we’re trying to do with ‘Haint Blu.’ We’re in the past, the present, the future and they’re all moving in time and out of time. That’s magical.” Find information about Urban Bush Women at urbanbushwomen.org and Junebug at junebugproductions.org. RSVP for the workshop performance on Friday, Aug. 26, via Junebug’s site.

PHOTO BY L ARRY GLICK / COURTESY OF URBAN BUSH WOMEN UrbanBushWomen’s ‘Haint Blu’ isbeing developedina series ofresidencies.

Lil Weezyana

THE LATEST FESTIVAL TO RETURN AFTER TWO-YEAR PANDEMIC HIA-

TUS, Lil Weezyana brings Lil Wayne and a roster of rap stars to Champions Square. The Hollygrove native and former Cash Money artist and Hot Boy is the mogul behind Young Money Entertainment, and he founded the festival as a homecoming celebration in 2015. He stood atop the rap world more than 15 years ago with a series of albums named “Tha Carter,” and the sixth edition is due out soon. Also on the bill is Moneybagg Yo, who topped the Billboard 200 last year with “A Gangsta’s Pain.” Coi Leray released her first studio album in April and has grabbed attention for “Blick Blick,” a collaboration with Nicki Minaj. Rob49 also performs. At 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at Champions Square. Tickets $65 on ticketmaster.com.

PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIME S-PICAYUNE Lil WaynereturnstoNewOrleans for Lil Weezyana on Saturday,Aug. 27,at ChampionsSquare.

Krewe of OAK Midsummer Mardi Gras

THE KREWEOFOAK HOLDSITS SWEATY

AND SULTRY Midsummer Mardi Gras celebration on Saturday, Aug. 27. This iteration will include a short march on Carrollton Avenue and a block party on the 8300 block of Oak Street with a band. The party starts at 6 p.m. and the parade begins at 8 p.m. Costumes encouraged.

Alex Isley

THE DAUGHTER OF ERNIEISLEY OF THE LEGENDARY ISLEY BROTHERS, Alex Isley had a good introduction to making music. Her debut, 2012’s “Love/Art Memoirs,” showed off