You will be able to check-in in the latter part on July 5. The evening will be free to rest from your travels and/or enjoy your first evening with friends in New Orleans. We begin the dance week Sunday morning with breakfast followed by Registration, Director's notes, and Introductions. There will be a class on this day with Sylvie and Bruno Gorier to prepare for the musette evening at The Napoleon House Cafe'. At the Cafe' they will illustrate the styles of Musette dance which will be taught over the week.

The Streetcar Party will follow this class.  There will be time to dress and prepare for our excursion. Our streetcar (a New Orleans' "trolley") will wind down the curve of the crescent following the bend of the river along historic St. Charles Avenue. Along the way we will have refreshments and lite food. You will see beautiful homes and gardens of the Upper and Lower Garden District leading to the Downtown American City and the French Quarter. We will disembark for a time to meander in the French Quarter or take an optional Riverboat Cruise with shady cool river breezes or air-conditioned glassed interior accommodations. A Jazz Band will play for a period dance.

The Napoleon House will open it's doors to us for a rare opportunity to have this historic space all to ourselves. Richard was amazed that I was able to pull off this coup! We will complete the illusion by wearing musette clothing.(description following registration) There will be "pass around" food so no one will have to wait in lines and to keep floor space free for dancing. There will be an open bar. Their food is notable and I am assured all will be satiated. Vegetarians have been considered in the planning of the food.

We will have time before returning to campus to have coffee & beignets at Cafe' Du Monde. Those who don't drink coffee may choose to have a child's coffee, hot chocolate, milk or juice. Some may prefer to meander and sit on the Moon Walk and watch the river traffic before we return to campus. The evening as well as the early misty morning are an espeically magical time in the French Quarter.

Gallier Hall is a National Historical Landmark. Architect James Gallier, Sr. and builder Robert Seaton designed and constructed this landmark in 1845. On May 10th, 1853 it was dedicated and city government moved there from Cabildo where it remained until 1957. Thus for decades, this noble structure served New Orleans and here transpired some of the most memorable events which have been permanently engraved in the city's history. Known as one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States, the building is modeled after the Erectheum in Athens, Greece. The portico of the Gallier Hall is supported by ten lonic columns and two pilasters. The symbolic figures carved Alto Relievo, and the pediment are those of the Liberty attended by Justice and Industry.

This 100th. Anniversary Evening will feature a grand building with 2 large Ballrooms and the Mayor's Parlor with the music of The New Leviathan Oriental Fox-Trot Orchestra. The director has arranged that all music for this first hour will be absolutely pre-dating 1903. We will be immersed in the period when the 100th. Anniversary was celebrated. There will be ballcards for this part of the evening. The latter part of the evening will thrust us into the magical time that followed as only The New Leviathan Oriental Fox-Trot Orchestra can cast it's spell around us. There will be refreshments and lite food at intermission.

The evening will begin with a tour in period attire of the exhibit of Jefferson's America/Napoleon's France. This is the largest exhibit that the New Orleans Museum of Art has ever mounted. We will stroll through the new Sculpture Garden to The Botanical Garden's Pavilion of The Two Sisters for our 1803 Empire Ball. We will have access to the entire garden and at intermission we will be treated to the antique "Flying Horses" Carousel. At intermission we will have refreshments and lite food.

Costume de Rigeur After registration you will receive a description of suggestions for period attire and because this event will be filmed all who dance at the Ball must be in period attire. Men usually wear tails for all later periods. This ball will require that men wear a poet's shirt, a brocade vest, breeches, and white knee stockings with black shoes with a buckle to simulate the look. Of course you may choose to create a jacket other than black in color or military style. Ladies will wear an Empire style dress, with the waist line under the bust. The dress can look Greek or Roman as common in the period. There will be classes which are more athletic in the Empire style and those who take these classes will dance for a short period as an exhibition. Others may choose to stroll the gardens, have refreshments and view from an area set aside. During the other times of the ball the dances will be of the less athletic type. The classes for the week will offer both styles so as to be prepared for the entire evening of dance.

The evening begins with a ride down the River Road to the home of the first Mayor of the American city of New Orleans, Destrehan Plantation. His signature was on the original purchase document which will be exhibited here in New Orleans. We will begin with a tour of the home. The Ball will follow in the large ballroom in the discreetly air-conditioned Historic "Mule Barn" on the grounds just behind the home. The lot my house is on is the same size as this ballroom, yet it is still a very personal, charming space. We will certainly have ample room for the antebellum period gowns. The wooden floor will allow for effortless dancing. There will be refreshments and lite food perfect for the summer and wearing formal clothes and corsets.