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Joyful dancers in formal attire perform energetically on the street, surrounded by colorful confetti. A man in a black suit and hat leads, while another in white joins exuberantly. Onlookers watch from the background.

Joyful dancers in formal attire perform energetically on the street, surrounded by colorful confetti. A man in a black suit and hat leads, while another in white joins exuberantly. Onlookers watch from the background.

Virtual Exhibition

Dancing in the Streets

Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs of New Orleans

Dancing in the Streets brings together historical photography tracing the history of the tradition, interviews with longtime members, and contemporary images depicting the beauty and power of second line parades.

Created in Google Arts & Culture by the Historic New Orleans Collection

Exhibitions

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A group of people wearing masks and costumes pose outdoors at night. One person in the foreground plays an accordion. The costumes include a skeleton, straw hats, and various masks. Trees and power lines are visible in the background.

Related Stories

A person stands outdoors holding a mask with large horns and tooth-like elements. The person is wearing a red hat, a black jacket, and a necklace. A pink building and trees are visible in the background.

First Draft

North Side Skull and Bone Gang: “You Next!”

Bruce Sunpie Barnes, big chief of the North Side Skull and Bone Gang, describes a Mardi Gras Black masking tradition.

A vibrant parade with participants dressed in matching bright blue suits, hats, and feathered accessories. They are energetically dancing in the street, surrounded by a crowd. Some carry blue parasols, and musicians play instruments in the background.

First Draft

From the Streets to the Fairgrounds

From the beginning, Jazz Fest sought to showcase culture bearers like Mardi Gras Indians and Black parading clubs alongside musicians.

Two musicians from the New Breed Brass Band stand with their instruments at a street event. One holds a trombone and flashes a peace sign, while the other holds a saxophone. They wear band T-shirts and camouflage pants. A crowd is visible in the background.

First Draft

Music Makers

We talked to HNOC Visitor Services Assistant Douane Waples about what it’s like to play in a New Orleans brass band.

A person dressed in an elaborate blue and pink costume adorned with sequins and feathers, holding a bejeweled staff and a drink. The headdress features large blue plumes, and the outfit sparkles under the light.

First Draft

Remembering DJ Action Jackson

New Orleans’s “ambassador to the second line” leaves a lasting legacy.

Related Exhibitions

Exhibitions

Dancing in the Streets: Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs of New Orleans

February 25 to June 13, 2021

The history, artistry, and power of the Black parading tradition

A group of men dressed in sharp black and white suits with red, white, and blue accents energetically dance in the street as confetti rains down. An older man in the center, wearing a white hat and two-tone shoes, leads the procession with graceful footwork. A crowd watches from the sidelines and a balcony, while a man in white jumps with excitement near an open doorway.

Related Books

Books

Dancing in the Streets: Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs of New Orleans

by Judy Cooper

Buy Now

A person dressed in an elaborate, colorful costume poses with a decorated umbrella and an ornate adornment, set against a black background. The text reads Dancing in the Streets by Judy Cooper, about social aid and pleasure clubs of New Orleans.

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