Carrollton
We see the Jesuit Jayettes from afar, pom poms clapping, and blue
somethings behind them. (Oh, we do have sound!, It's low level but
barely audible.) We hear them do a cheering routine. The dancer
behind the cheerleaders have a nice routine then they stop and rest.
Then they start up in front of us for a short display.
Off in the distance we see the King paying homage at Gallier Hall. As
his float comes closer we see the flowers shake violently as the
float moves.
A band in blue give us some nice music. A man in white with masked
feathered cap rides by on horseback. Most would associate this with
the Ku Klux Klan but it is also the traditional style of Mardi Gras
"royalty". I prefer that connotation.
From far off we see and hear some cheerleading and a band. we hear
the drum major's whistle blow. The girls are in blue, some are in
white and black and they can dance.(Mostly black kids) They also have
some yellow flags. Blue and white outfits follow. The next float is a
masked Mardi Gras figure. Someone on that float signals to the camera.
The marchers that follow include some dressed as bees. One has an odd
walk, knock-kneed. Some dancers in white, a good band, more dancers
in white. impressive.
A bride and groom float follows. She gets to sit. He stands. Behind
them in another float, their wedding party, so me young kids all
dressed up.
Some dancers wait: swing, swing, dip, swing.
This could be St Augustine's band (gold and maroon). They're looking
sloppy. They don't play, alas.
Behind them are some skinny dancers, all dressed in black leotards.
behind them some vivacious flag wavers doing a good routine
enthusiastically.
More generous floats pass by, tons of beads, doubloons, bags of
goodies flying from them.
The Carmelettes pass by. All in white, with white caps. Celebrate as
the music. A very white routine.
A float with a naked lady as the figurehead passes next.
After some more white girls dance by, there are some vigorous
dancers from St Paul's School, We hear them chanting "hey," They're
dressed with straw hats and jumping rhythmically while shouting. That
looks like fun.
Many more floats pass by, all very generous. Some with bozo-haired
wigs and red and white striped coats. Following them a gator with a
guitar float! That's the last float for this parade.
King Arthur
Starts out with a horse-drawn cart and riders on horseback. Is that a
Shetland Pony I see?
More riders come by, a few dueling with swords. On one horse, a fat
woman in a purple dress stops and pulls out a cell phone on camera.
Real life.
Some guy on a float with huge white feathers behind him. Behind that
we see flags waving and behind them, more flags. A good band passes
by (Warren Easton High School). The dancers with ridiculous pom poms
on their feet. Another band behind that. And flags behind that. Nice
drumming.
A float passes by with only two riders on one side of it. Later some
little kids dance to a song I like, some R&B I would never know
about, here today, gone tomorrow.
The king comes by. He tosses to the crowd after taking a drink.
Behind him is his homely queen. But inbetween is a good band, some
good dancers and a good flag team.
The Queen is on a great twin swan float but boy is she homely. She's
having a good time, blessing the crowd. We see her close up.
A good band follows. Good dancers too. They're in strange black
outfits with silver? strips across their middles and shoulders. Good
flag team too. Lots big girls in it.
After some more floats we see a band in red come up, the trombones
clearing the way as they waved side to side. When they gear up and
play, their heads pointed down, the LOVELIEST dancers come by. All in
red, they hop, shake and point, one moment ballistically, the next
with passion, their pony tails profiled as they turn their heads . I
am taken. A couple of hop skips and they repeat the routine.
Gorgeous! Great routine, great dancers!
Later, a men's flag team of green and red come by. Then, another
band in red plays Shake Your Booty poorly. Behind them the women's
flag team. The colors do look nice when waved.
An Aztec float comes by with it's riders in sombreros!
Then, I don't know who these are but they are men dressed in
black/dark blue with silver/white helmets on. I guess they are some
kind of drill team. They do a strange routine. Not very impressive.
Next, the second best dancers so far. The band are in white and black
outfits and good. The dancers immediately behind them have shaggy
afro-like hair which they shake back and forth. How do these dancers
and the one's raved about earlier have the same hairdos? Wigs?
Not far after another dance group comes by. This one has only a few
members, has both men and women and the men are in blue tops. One
lead dancers does a base gyration, very crude, and a bit of a
routine. Then they all do it. Then they strut off.
We see a brass band in white on top of a float. Olympia?
Another dance group comes up. All white. They mostly run by but their
sound truck is scary. Lights flashing it has some tower speakers
stuck on the roof, a wombat peering over one.
A nun float passes by. Good.
Rhythm Dance Co comes by. White but good. Terrible music but at least
they are all dancing together for good effect. A cop stands in the
middle. I'm amazed they don't move out of the way but they have got
it down to a science. They don't even move for the floats.
A winged lion float goes by. I had to look that up. That is for St.
A gator float follows that.
At the end, the cops arrive, spread out and get back in their cars
like a Keystone Cops routine.
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