This week at Blues Union

Movie Night: “Bessie” (7:30-10:15pm EST)

This week, we’ll be watching “Bessie,” a biopic about Bessie Smith, the Empress of the Blues, starring Queen Latifah as Bessie Smith and Mo’Nique as Ma Rainey. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3704352/

We’ll be using https://twoseven.xyz/ to watch the movie together. Before movie night, create an account and download the plug-in. You’ll also need to have an Amazon account, but won’t need it to be a Prime account.
(Apologies to anyone in Canada who was hoping to join; the movie is not available there)

**Schedule**

• 7:30-7:45 – Gather and say hi
• 7:45-9:45 – Watch the movie
• 9:45-10:15 – Hang out and chat

**Donations**
If you’d like to send money somewhere this week, we’ve kept our donation pool open for the Okra Project’s Tony McDade and Nina Pop Mental Health Recovery Funds, which provide free therapy to Black trans folks ($175 raised so far).

Suggested donation of $5-15: https://paypal.me/pools/c/8q36HyNMeQ

Learn more about the Okra Project’s other work: https://www.theokraproject.com/

Celebrating Pride & the Blues (8:00-9:30pm EST)

Tonight we’ll have a community-participation celebration of queer/LGBTQIA+ blues artists! Come join the fun here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88326020362?pwd=VVg0WVI5aU0vV1B1M1pSM0JzMEZNdz09

**How it’ll work**
1. *Anyone who wants to* chooses a queer blues artist that they want to highlight. Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HbbDMnx70Nm2tB6Gw5g_r2HTIS6FseKrIJDaO7XZ3PQ/edit?usp=sharing
(That link has a list of queer blues artists and links to their Spotify page, to get you started if you’re not a DJ. If you have a fav who’s not on there, add them!)

2. Pick 3 songs by that artist and add them to this Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Vp6viCEZDlJBXjRuzphRp?si=gaAKYv3JQeSc1GRlpfP5ng
If want a second opinion on if it’s blues, ask Jenn Martinez or Amy Blank. If you need help adding the song to the playlist, ask Jenn.
Do this before noon (ET) on Thursday.

3. Choose a sentence or two to say about that artist — what you like about their music, about them, something about their life or importance, etc.

The night of Blues Union, Julie Brown will play through the songs everyone chose, pausing for each artist’s intro. When your artist is up, you tell the community your sentence or two that you’ve prepared. Everyone can dance to the songs or just tune in to listen.

**Dress up!**
If you have an outfit you had wanted to wear to pride, feel free to wear it and/or post a picture to this Facebook event.

**Donations**
All proceeds will be split between to the Okra Project’s Tony McDade and Nina Pop Mental Health Funds, which provide free therapy to Black trans folks.

Suggested donation of $5-15: https://paypal.me/pools/c/8q36HyNMeQ

Learn more about the Okra Project’s other work: https://www.theokraproject.com/

Sustainable Activism Discussion (8:00-9:30pm EST)

This week, we’ll take some time to read Grey Armstrong’s article, then we’ll brainstorming be ways we could make something from his list a long-term, sustainable action that becomes a part of our lives. Then we’ll choose and commit to doing one of those things. This will take place on Google Meet.

Rough schedule:
– Welcome
– Take time to read (or reread) the article: https://obsidiantea.com/2020/05/31/feeling-helpless-about-police-brutality-things-you-can-do/?fbclid=IwAR1r9FhqT7JS4cr81EephHZylmTuoLhS1q7VgIQrqwe2BCDvaiVmmqFEP_g
– Discuss the article
– Set actionable, personal goals based on the article

Next month, we’ll have a check-in event to see how it’s going and further support each other.

Rough schedule:
– 8-8:15pm Take time to read (or reread) the article: https://obsidiantea.com/2020/05/31/feeling-helpless-about-police-brutality-things-you-can-do/?fbclid=IwAR1r9FhqT7JS4cr81EephHZylmTuoLhS1q7VgIQrqwe2BCDvaiVmmqFEP_g
– 8:15-8:45pm Brainstorm ways for making different ideas in his list something we do long-term (discussion)
– 8:45-9pm Choose an action, share with the group

Next month, we’ll have a check-in event to see how it’s going and further support each other.

This Thursday, we’ve got an extra special set of live music from Willie J. Laws!

Mike Sonder will kick it off with some DJed music, then Willie J. Laws will play for about an hour.

DJ set & video on Zoom (starts 9pm EST): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89949236006?pwd=RTFuVnR1ZWhTOEc0N2wwZnhWVXVxZz09

Live music stream on Facebook Live (start 9:30pm EST)

Suggested donation $7-27: https://paypal.me/pools/c/8pHsPFor2q

All proceeds go to musician & DJ.

Class will be between 1 and 1.5 hours so that we are able to fully cover material at a non-rushed pace. It will be recorded and available for the next week.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83687830375?pwd=TFlUN09hN2sxUTVpL3pzOFFkcXZZdz09Meeting ID: 836 8783 0375
Password: 000482

In May, we’re bringing you a cool experiment in virtual class format, with material layered for beginner/intermediate up through advanced & masters dancers!

*Variations on the Classics* (7:00-8:30pm EST)
with Mike Legenthal & Ruth EvelynThis month’s class is an experiment in a class that combines pre-recorded material you can do on your own time, the opportunity to film yourself and send to us, and live online classes with participation. The classes are truly all-levels. The material is beginner/intermediate difficulty level, with more details added for people who want them. Plus, a bonus challenge each week for people who want something hard. They are also good for advanced dancers who want to get back into moving, and back into their bodies, or to focus on developing their own style and voice.

*Overview*
Each week, we’ll briefly cover the fundamentals of some of our favorite solo moves, but then we’ll get into variations on these basics–personalized versions to shake things up (sometimes literally). Classes will cover moves such as Fishtails, Camel Walks, Mooches, Grinds, Boogie Drops, Low Downs, and Jazz Squares.You have the option to film yourself and send to us to help us give you better feedback in the live class. If you feel comfortable, post your video in the event, if not, you can send us an unlisted YouTube link. (Please nothing password-protected, as that adds an additional time layer.) You can send video links using this form: https://forms.gle/aiUKo8foRRcxkcuD7

*This week’s schedule*
– Friday May 22: Pre-recorded mini-class becomes available – watch and participate to prepare for Thursday’s class! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7O4UGv7164&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1SlgfCsUAUYJ-fJILAdpyBL77y00PR6HJpIbcvGOEOZmMWP1sGYcwX0BI
– [Optional] Wednesday May 27 by 11pm ET: Post/send in your video
– Thursday May 28: 7-8/8:30pm ET Live Zoom class (available for one week)

*Payment*
If you are able to, suggested donation of $5-15 each week. All proceeds will be split between the instructors, who are full-time dance instructors. https://paypal.me/pools/c/8pkyttsJaP