Dawn's Early Light - A Retrospective of American Song and Dance

On February 12, 2016, artistic directors Asha Thomas and Crystal Petit staged a magnificent performance at the American Church in Paris that paid homage to American music.

Crystal Petit and Asha Thomas
© Discover Paris!
Called Dawn's Early Light, this roughly one-hour preview vividly showcased everything from blues and Broadway to gospel and contemporary tunes. Combined with inspired choreography, it stirred my soul. At times, it even took my breath away!

Opening number
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In addition to being one of the artistic directors, Asha Thomas is the choreographer for the show and dances in it as well.

Asha Thomas
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Never have I seen such expressive light in a performer's eyes as I saw when she danced to Stevie Wonder's "Knocks Me off My Feet."

Artistic director Crystal Petit is also the lead female vocalist in the show. She delivered a moving rendition of Nina Simone's "Work Song" as well as a beautiful interpretation of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" that was coupled with a powerful spoken word performance delivered by male vocalist Jua Amir.

Crystal Petit
© Discover Paris!

Jua Amir and Crystal Petit
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Amir joined the musicians on stage to give a rousing performance of Tracy Chapman's "Talkin bout a Revolution." He also dances in the show.

Josiah Woodson and Jua Amir
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Brian Scott Bagley of Looking for Josephine fame and Nicola Ayoub also shone that evening, with each dancer providing spark and fire to the evening's performance.

Nicola Ayoub and Brian Scott Bagley
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Brian Scott Bagley
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Nicola Ayoub
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Music was provided by musical director/trumpetist/guitarist Josiah Woodson,

Josiah Woodson
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pianist Daniel Gassin,

Daniel Gassin
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bassist Jerry Thompson III,

Jerry Thompson III
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Drummer Laurent-Emmanuel "Tilo" Berthelo,

Laurent-Emmanuel "Tilo" Berthelo
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and guest violinist Tarani Merriweather Woodson.

Tarani Merriweather Woodson
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The group is seeking funds to support the production of the full-length version of Dawn's Early Light.

For more information, visit the Web site www.dawnsearlylight-production.com.

Triumphant cast
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Brian Scott Bagley - the First Burlesque Show Man of Paris

The irrepressible Brian Scott Bagley heats up the stage every Wednesday night at the chic Très Honoré Bar* (also known as THB) in the 1st arrondissement.

Brian Scott Bagley
Image courtesy of Nicolas Mougenot
He partners with THB's artistic director, Rocco de Robien, to host an open mike show for amateurs and professionals in this plush nightspot that reproduces the atmosphere of a 1920s speakeasy. It is called The Buzz and audiences are sure to be buzzing when they leave Brian's electrifying productions.

Flier for the January 22 production of The Buzz
Image courtesy of Brian Scott Bagley
Brian is perhaps best known around town for his choreography and dancing in Jérôme Savary's Looking for Josephine. He also played Josephine Baker in the burlesque show La Gentry de Paris Revue with Dita von Teese. Brian is somewhat fanatical about Baker, as his 2013 Christmas video shows!


These days, Brian is not only performing at THB, but also producing his fellow Baltimore native Marvin Parks at Paris nightspots.

Parks' music is heavily influenced by singing greats such as Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett, and Sarah Vaughan. He has performed at Café Universel, L'Entrepôt, and the Duc des Lombards over the past several weeks. His most recent performance was at the Café de Paris on January 28th.

Click HERE to listen to Parks' rendition of "Summertime" from his current release The Very Thought of You. Then catch him performing live at

Le Bistro 92
92 rue de Turenne
75003 Paris
March 15 at 8 PM

and

Le Chat Noir
76, rue Jean Pierre Timbaud
75011 Paris
March 18 at 8 PM

Brian is still doing theater, with most of his shows playing in Germany and Nantes at present. He continues to do one-nighters in Paris and his risqué performances have not gone unnoticed by the press. Click HERE to see an article about his shows at THB in Le Figaro (in French).

Très Honoré Bar
35 Place du Marché St-Honoré
75001 Paris
Metro: Tuileries (Line 1)
Hours: Daily from 6:30 PM until 2 AM

*THB is associated with a restaurant and salon, both of which are at the same address and are sumptuously and fancifully decorated.

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Caribbean Rhythms and Senegalese Cuisine

On Friday, August 13th, my husband Tom and I had nothing but good luck! We decided to celebrate by visiting Paris Plages at the Bassin de la Villette, and following up with a great meal.

We learned of a Caribbean Ball that was to last from 5 PM until 8 PM, and a subsequent “Grand Ball” for all types of music and dancing until 10 PM. We arrived at the Promenade Signoret-Montand along the northwest side of the Bassin at around 5:30 PM, and found only a few people dancing. We particularly enjoyed watching the couple pictured below:

Dancing under the Trees

© Discover Paris!

The music – Latino rhythms from Cuba, Puerto Rico… – was infectious, so that by the time we took a stroll down the quay and returned to our original spot, many more people were dancing and watching the fun.

Spectators at the Caribbean Ball

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As is usual in France, many people danced alone, with partners of the same sex, or with their children. Who has time to wait for the right person of the opposite sex to come along? There is too much fun to be had in the interim!

 Two Ladies Dancing

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 Woman and Child Dancing

© Discover Paris!

Too hungry to wait for the Grand Ball, we left the Bassin at around 7 PM to head for dinner at a small Senegalese restaurant in the Marais called Le Petit Dakar. Those who know Paris may be surprised that an African restaurant would be nestled among the ancient buildings and the prestigious museums of the 3rd arrondissement, but Le Petit Dakar has regaled its customers at 6, rue Elzévir since September 2000. The restaurant is part of CSAO, the Companie du Sénégal et de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Senegal and West Africa Company), located on the same street at Number 9. Its mission is to promote the work of African artisans and to create equitable trade links with them.

 Le Petit Dakar

© Discover Paris!

The size of the restaurant lives up to its name – it is indeed small. But it is not cramped, as one might expect. White walls, light wood tables, and a light tile floor add a feeling of spaciousness to the single dining room. Tables are set well apart. Art by one of the cooks, Babaka Diop, graces the walls. The menu is simple, relatively inexpensive, and varied. Service is gracious. Most importantly, the food is well prepared and nicely presented.

 Le Petit Dakar Interior

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We began with punches for aperitifs – Tom had vodka bissap orange and I had rum ginger pineapple.  (Bissap is a beverage made from hibiscus flowers.)  These drinks were quite refreshing and not overly potent. We had entrées of sautéed prawns (Tom) and boudin (me).

For our main dishes, I had Yassa, a traditional dish made with chicken and onions marinated in lemon juice; and Tom had thieboudienne – a traditional fish and rice dish made with tomato sauce and accompanied by carrot, okra, eggplant, and igname (yam).

Thiboudienne

© Discover Paris!

For dessert, Tom had a café gourmand – an espresso with a side of fondant (a soft chocolate cake). I decided to not to indulge. We left the restaurant perfectly satisfied and not stuffed. As an added bonus, our bill came to less than 80 euros.

Though we’ve known about Le Petit Dakar for years, this is the first time that we’ve eaten there. It will not be long before we return! The restaurant is open until August 24th (evenings only), so those of you who are in Paris may want to dine there before they close for their summer break. If you want to attend a Caribbean ball at the Bassin de la Villette, another one is scheduled for August 20th from 5 PM to 8 PM.

Le Petit Dakar
6, rue Elzévir
75003 Paris
Tel: 01.44.59.34.74
Metro: Saint-Paul

Bassin de la Villette
Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad
75019 Paris
Metro: Stalingrad, Jaurès

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Entrée to Black Paris!™ is a Discover Paris! blog.