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The Million Dollar Baby Dolls

The Million Dollar Baby Dolls, also known as the Baby Dolls of New Orleans, are a Black women’s Mardi Gras masking group that dates back to the early twentieth century. Although the tradition seemed to die out between the 1950s and the 1970s. A reasuragence appeared in the twenty-first century, as new groups once again masking as baby dolls. (Vaz, 2018 The Baby Dolls, p6)

'''History '''

The Million Dollar Baby Dolls are one of many masking traditions in the Americas. They are connected to other African American, Afro Caribbean, and Afro-Latin American masking or parading traditions such as Mardi Gras Indians, Second Line, or Junkanoo.

The Million Dollar Baby Dolls were the first organized, women’s street-masking practice in the United States. They were originally known for performing erotic shake dances and performing for crowds on the street, but then later became known for their free spirited dancing, establishing connections with other women of all ages, and selfless acts such as feeding the hungry. (Waters, 2013)

The Baby Dolls of New Orleans are deeply connected to jazz traditions in the city. Baby Dolls were part of an underground dance/music tradition in the early twentieth century. Baby Dolls were known as people who “danced the jazz,” at the same time that jazz was a newly forming musical tradition. (Vaz, The Baby Dolls, p 28] Traditions

Throughout the 1920’s, 1930’s, and 1940’s social and pleasure clubs practiced doll masquerading as part of their own Mardi Gras traditions and for other holidays such as St. Joseph’s Day. The Doll’s would perform in Battefield, an area known to be tough and where many would gather to participate in illicit gambeling and prostutuion. Battlefield, also known as “Back O Town” or the “Colored Red Light District” contained a concentration of saloons, social halls, and vaudeville theaters. The traditions started by these brave and outgoing working class women went on to inspire many women both then and now. The annual Krewe of New orleans Baby Doll Ladies Dance parade happens between Pete Foutains Half Fast Walking Club and the Super Krewe of Zulu on Shrove Tuesday, also known as Fat Tuesday (3/15) beginning at 7:50 am along the St. Charles Avenue Mardi Gras parade route in New Orleans. (Vez, 2018)

Social Clubs

The Dirty Dozen Kazooo was a group founded by Alma Trepagnier- Batiste in 1930. The group was the longest running doll masquerading group (fifty years). In the earlier years groups would dance, sing bawdy songs while wearing flouncy dresses and curly wigs looking like dollish figures. Then in the afternoon, they would stop at a relative’s house for food and refreshments. The dolls would then change into their shorter dresses often made of satin and parade the streets showing off their garters and stockings. (Waters, 2013) The Ernie K-Doe Baby Dolls were a group created under the mentorship of New Orleans original Baby Doll, Mrs. Miriam Batiste-Reed, who was the youngest daughter of Alma Trepaginer-Batiste. The Ernie K-Doe Baby Dolls worked to translate the Doll’s Mardi Gras custom into civic missions that helped to bring a new meaning to the Baby Doll’s of New Orleans legacy. Women of all ages would come together and make connections with their peers while performing humanitarian acts such as feeding the hungry and raising money for local musicians in need.(Vez, 2018)

Well Known Baby Dolls

Millisa White is the artistic director of the New Orleans Society of Dance. She is an accomplished choreographer, dance-production coordinator, and artistic development coach with over fifteen years of experience in the film and entertainment industry. She has work with prestigious production companies such as Studio C artists, the History Channel, and Alexander/Mitchell Productions. Of her many accomplishments she is most proud of role as the visionary of the Baby Doll Ladies. Michele Jarrell James was born August 7, 1969. As a cultural outreach ambassador her pursuit of empowering women came from empowering herself through her life’s journey. After witnessing her daughter perform, she was inspired to become apart of the New Orleans tradition of masking. Ever since going the group in 2017 she has enjoyed every moment of masking and dancing as one of the official Baby Doll Ladies. MaryNeil Anderson Pollet is a career physician with over thirty years of experience assisting others with mobility challenges. Although she works with people of all ages, she gratifies helping children with cerebral palsy the most. She loves to dance and fell in love with the history of the Baby Dolls. Some of her interests include learning about other people and supporting them when possible. She is heavily involved with the development of a safe home for young girls and male victims of sexual violence.

References

Vaz, Kim Marie, and Karen Trahan Leathem. Walking Raddy the Baby Dolls of New Orleans. University Press of Mississippi, 2018. Vaz, Kim Marie. The "Baby Dolls": Breaking the Race and Gender Barriers of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Tradition. Louisiana State Univ. Press, 2013. Vez, Kim Marie. “M Weblogin.” Project Muse, 2013, muse-jhu-edu.proxy.lib.umich.edu/chapter/747917. Waters, Eric, and Karen Celestan. Freedom's Dance: Social, Aid and Pleasure Clubs in New Orleans. Louisiana State University Press, 2018. WHITE, MILLISIA. Krewe of New Orleans Baby Doll Ladies' Homecoming. LULU Publishing SERVICES, 2019.