We’ve got your weekend: Dance into art

Event Pick of the Week: New Orleans Dance Showcase

Scene from New Orleans Dance Showcase. (Photo provided by: Meryl Murman)

When: Wednesday, December 11 and Thursday, December 12 at 6:00 PM

Where: Jonathan Ferrara Gallery (400A Julia Street)

What: Dancer and choreographer Meryl Murman is working with Art Klub NoLA and community partner organizations  on a new choreographic platform for research/international dance festival slated for October 2020. On December 11 and 12th excerpts of works in progress being developed through the platform will be showcased.

Why: We’ve been to Meryl’s shows, and you never leave the same. You see what you can’t unsee, you experience what you’ve never experienced, and she is a choreographer that pushes limits of the mind and body, and you get to be part of all of it. If you want to RSVP, head over to: http://artklub.eventbrite.com/

Now for the rest of the WEEK(end)

Totally freaky death elves are all part of the fun at Krampus: A Haunted Christmas (Photo: New Orleans Nightmare Haunted House)

Friday, December 13/New Orleans Nightmare Haunted House (319 Butterworth Street): We don’t deck the halls like anyone else in New Orleans, and this holiday season, you can see them decked in blood. The creators of the New Orleans Nightmare Haunted House are continuing a twisted holiday tradition that is sure to fright and delight holiday revelers looking to reimagine the holiday spirit. Krampus: A Haunted Christmas will open in New Orleans for two days only – Dec. 13 and 14. New Orleans Nightmare Haunted House has been transformed to tell the tale of Krampus, a
nightmarish demon, who has kidnapped not only the bad, but also the good children at Christmas. This year, a new chapter unfolds as Krampus and Jack Frost team up to haunt all the little girls and boys. Jack Frost, known for being the ultimate trickster, is here to have those warm Christmas hearts succumb to his ice. Shows run from 7:30-10:30 PM, tickets range from $25. You can get your tickets and learn more about the show here. Also, there’s a “sensory overload” option for your tickets, y’all. Just saying! 

Saturday, December 14/912 Julia (912 Julia Street): A new exhibit is coming to town that’s about the town. It’s called, “Alchemy of Night/ A Bywater Duet.” During the last year, photographer Leona Strassberg Steiner and painter/writer Moira Crone have worked together to create an art show that stretched them both, and honored the spirit and experience of their New Orleans neighborhood — The Bywater, at night. Steiner’s nightscapes have been the impetus for Crone’s figurative collages; Crone’s interest in focusing the show on the beauty of the presence of so much past in this rich, resonant, organic enclave of New Orleans, has had an influence on Steiner’s choices.  The show is meant to be seen all at once, the photos and paintings creating a call and response on the gallery walls. The exhibit opens at 6:00 PM on Saturday. 

Saturday, December 14/Second Story Gallery (2372 St. Claude Avenue): It’s second Saturday, and The exhibition Venice: Two Perspectives: Lovell and Skuber is one you’ll want to put on your walking map from. Venice: Two Perspectives pairs 21 photographs by New Orleans artist Charles M. Lovell with six large photomurals on canvas by Venetian artist Berty Skuber to offer their perspectives of one of Europe’s oldest cities. The exhibit, a project of PhotoNOLA 2019, the city’s annual photography festival, will run through Jan. 4. Admission is free, and the opening is from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM on Saturday.

Saturday, December 14/Petit Rouge (3146 Calhoun Street): Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) – New Orleans Chapter is continues its bi-monthly culinary book club, available free of charge to foodies who are interested in discussing food-related fiction and nonfiction. For this meeting, the club will read and discuss Forked: A New Standard for American Dining by Saru Jayaraman. Book club attendance is free but a donation of $5 is suggested to support Les Dames d’Escoffier International and the New Orleans chapter’s goals to foster a supportive culture in our community to help women achieve excellence in food, beverage and hospitality fields. For details on the Culinary Book Club and to RSVP, please visit LDEI Book Club.

Saturday, December 14/Urban South Brewery (1645 Tchoupitoulas Street):  New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity and Metairie-based sock company ELL & Atty are teaming up in the name of fashion and fundraising. The local company, which designs and sells Peruvian Pima cotton socks, has created a Habitat sock to benefit affordable homeownership in New Orleans. The sock will be celebrated and sold at Urban South Brewery from 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM during the first-ever Holiday Sock Hop. With music from Big Easy Brawlers, Salmon of Capistrano, DJ NILÉ and GingerBeats, the event is open to the public and family-friendly.

Sunday, December 15/Nola Brewing (3001 Tchoupitoulas Street): You ready to go elf ya self? Yes, I’ve been waiting weeks to say that because continuing its tradition of offbeat holiday offerings, The NOLA Project
theatre company is inviting all to celebrate the season over good beers, delicious food, and a
vaguely-offensive play reading! This year – as an extension of its monthly Rough Draughts play-reading series – The NOLA Project will present the crass Christmas comedy GO ELF YA SELF by ensemble member James Bartelle. Mrs. Claus is sauced. Rudy the Red Nose is packin’ heat. And the Jolly Fat Man is laughin’ all the way to the snowbank. Luckily Tinsel, Holly, and the whole gang are about to do what Elves do best: spread some figgin’ holiday cheer (and maybe whack somebody). This is a one-night-only event, and admission is free, but if you don’t want to be a Scrooge, you can give a donation. It all starts at 6:00 PM. 

Monday, December 16/Art Klub (1941 Arts Street): You are invited to enter a space of personal exploration and evolution of body, mind and spirit. Reese Johanson is guiding a workshop where you can release the trauma, the identity that isn’t really you, the wanna be cool and accepted, extinguish the ego. This is a physical practice of release, strength and flexibility training, massage and meditation with intention to free trauma held in the body and allow the ancient pain to dissipate. It is a three-day workshop on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. You can drop in for $15 or do the full workshop for $100. For more information, you can check out the event page here.