Lindyhoppers Fund – A call to action - April 16th in NOLA

[tackieannie]

Gloria Caldwell has lived the Lindy Hop. Former Savoy Lindy Hopper, a founding member of the Mama Lou Dancers, a HMB finalist (2nd place) and probably the most glamorous great-grand-mother still dancing the Lindy when she gets the opportunity. Growing up near the Yankee Stadium, on Grand Concourse in the Bronx, her father being an ardent jazz fan took her to the Savoy. Immediately entranced by the dancing, especially the type taking place in the Savoy circle, she leapt in. Meeting there Ms Parks, as she always refers to Louise “Mama Lou” Parks, Gloria took up her invitation to attend her newly formed company’s rehearsals in the school on 127th Street, in Harlem. Dancing has taken her all over the world, touring Sweden in the mid-1960s, Canada in 1968 thus missing the Mexico Olympics of that same year which most of the rest of the company went on. In 1984 she left New York to live in New Orleans to settle down with her husband Joe, but has always been prepared to travel for a Lindy performance. As a member of the longest running Lindy Hop performance company to date, Gloria still looks forward to a lot more dancing.

This sweet lady still lives in New Orleans, but after almost four years of enduring some rather large hurricanes tearing through the coast, Gloria’s home is no longer habitable. After LHF was made aware of the deplorable conditions Gloria and her husband Joe were living in, we set out to provide Gloria with assistance. Gloria was taken thru the intake process of the Lindyhoppers Fund and provided a small monetary stipend. With our assistance we were able to help her secure a new roof thru FEMA and get a home inspector out to assess her damage. The foundation of the home is strong; however the whole house needs new electrical wiring, plumbing, ceiling, outside panels, floors, etc. We are also working with a local to charity to see if Gloria qualifies for a grant that will renovate her home and make her home livable once more.

This is where you all come in. We know the list of repairs above is quite daunting but there is still plenty that we can do as a community. On April 16th, from 8am to 5pm, we will be working on Gloria’s home and we need your help! Think of it as a “Lindy Hoppers for Humanity” project! There will be something for everyone, weeding, mowing, painting, pulling off the side panels from house and cleaning up the debris, yes there is still debris. We know this is rather short notice, but we also know that the desire to give back in our community is much stronger.

So here are the details:

Date: Thursday April 16th
Location: New Orleans, LA
Meeting Time: 7:30 am
Meeting Location: Robert E Lee Circle in front of Le Cirque Hotel (2 Lee Circle, nola, 70130)

The hotel is streetcar accessible, so if you need a ride, please arrive on time. We will be helping Gloria with yard work, so bring a pair of work shoes, shorts or overalls, and an old t-shirt. You WILL be getting dirty.


BUT THERE’S MORE…

Later that night after you have showered, napped and grabbed a bowl of gumbo there will be a dance!

Time: 9pm - 12am
Location: Nathalie Gomes' Dance Quarter Studio, 2134 Magazine Street, 3rd floor. (This is a BYOBeverage and a BYOFood location)
Music: The Courtyard Kings Gypsy Jazz Band and Bill Borgida will be DJing
Cost: $10 donation that will go to the benefit of the Lindyhoppers Fund.
Special Guests; Gloria and Joe Caldwell

We would love to get a head count for who is available to come and help, if you can please email your “YES I CAN” to info@nolaswing.com .

And if you feel like stayin’ in town for a spell go to http://www.fleurdelindy.com/ and check out what’s happening for the weekend! You just might want to join in the fun!

[tackieannie]

If you can make it we would love to have you! If you can't make it for the work portion, all proceeds from the dance go to the Lindyhopper's Fund. Or you can always donate to www.lindyhoppersfund.org . Thanks!