Frequently Asked Questions

There is no commitment requirement to be a NOLA Angel - all classes, socials, parades, and performances are encouraged but 100% optional - you could attend just one class or social a year and still be part of the team.  The only mandatory rehearsals we have are the two rehearsals prior to a parade or performance, and you only need to attend those if you want to be in that parade or performance.

We want all NOLA Angels to be here because they want to be - we never want you to come to Class or a Social when you don't want to!  Remember, this is meant to be fun!  You are here to have fun, make & socialize with friends, try new things, and enjoy dance!

For more information on class attendance, please see below:

• Skipping a Season: If you are not going to take part in the upcoming Season, this is not a problem, but to help us plan, please can you let Charlie know.
• Class Attendance: We ask that Angels aim to attend one Class a week for any dance or parade you want to take part in.  Attending Class each week seems to really be the best way to learn the dance and to make friends with the other Angels!
• Missing a Class: If you have to work, are not well, have to watch your kid play football, have a date night planned, or are just too tired, whatever the reason, it is 100% ok to miss Class.  For dance you may want to check to see if there is another Class you can attend later that week, but if not, it's still ok.  What we do ask is, if you have to miss a Class, please utilize the videos on our Team Facebook page to catch up on what you missed.  If at all possible, please practice at home so that when you come to the next Class you can jump back in without the team having to repeat what you missed.  If it helps you, arrange an extra practice with other Angels.
• Mandatory Rehearsals: Prior to any performance or parade there will be two Mandatory Rehearsals.  If you want to take part in the parade/performance (including filming a dance), you must attend both Mandatory Rehearsals and you must arrive at the Mandatory Rehearsals ready to perform - i.e. you must know the dance.  You do not need to be a pro-dancer, but you must know the routine.  The Mandatory Rehearsals are not the time to learn the dance.  If you need more practice before a Mandatory Rehearsal feel free to arrange an extra practice with other Angels.  The dates of the two Mandatory Rehearsals and the performance date are available at the start of each Season, if you do not see them, please ask Charlie to confirm them with you.
• Unable to Attend Class but Still Wanting to Perform: If you have a conflict and can not attend Class at all in the upcoming Season (due to work schedule clash, childcare issues, etc.), don't worry, it does happen.  You can still join in and perform.  What we ask is that you let us know that you will be learning from home in your own time. Next, please use the videos on our Team Facebook page to follow the Classes each week.  If it helps you, arrange a practice with other Angels at a time you can make.  What we do ask though is that you do still make the two Mandatory Rehearsals.  You must make the Mandatory Rehearsals so that we can work on formations, you can get your spot in the lineup, and so we know who will be performing/parading.  The dates of the two Mandatory Rehearsals and the performance date are available at the start of each Season, if you do not see them, please ask Charlie to confirm them with you.
• Socials: Our Socials are one of the things that sets up apart from other dance and parade teams!  We always aim for them to be fun and to have a good mix of Social types, from Karaoke Nights, to Craft Days, and 'Giving Back' Socials where we help the local community, so do take a look at the plan for upcoming Socials, you may find there is one or two you want to attend!  For most Angels, we see our Socials as an opportunity to have some fun, to be ourselves, away from work and other responsibilities, and a chance to chill and have fun with our Angel sisters!  This being said, all Socials are 100% optional, if a specific Social is not for you or you have something else on that means you can't attend, its not a problem, you do you!

The NOLA Angels have two costumes:

• Full Costume: Our 'Full Costume' is our main costume and the costume we are best known for - this is our Gold & White, full Angel Wings, costume. We wear this costume for most of our parades and many of our performances. Each Angel is invited to build the costume that best suites them, their body, their personality, and vision! 
• Casual Costume: Our Casual costume is used when we want a less showy look. It can be used at socials, public events, performances, or even rehearsals.

To find out more about costumes and to see all of our guidelines and suggestions, please visit our Costumes Guide (see link below).

To order Official NOLA Angel Wings, please see our Costumes Guide (see link below). 

To order your NOLA Angel T-Shirt or Tank Top, please see our Costumes Guide (see link below). 

Our Angel Spectacular is our end of year show & fund-raiser!

Our Angel Spectacular takes place at the end of our dance year, just before we start our Winter (Mardi Gras) Season.  It is usually held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  The Spectacular is our chance to perform all of the dances we have learned throughout the year for our friends, family, and fans!  It is also a change for us to fundraise for the team (this helps us keep our dues super low). To fundraise we hold a Silent Auction where awesome gifts – donated by local business and friends of the team – are up for auction.  We also sell calendars and have other smaller fund-raising things happening on the night.

In addition to the live performances & fundraising, we also premiere the dance films of our most recent dance(s) and announce our new team for the up-coming year!

What is a Veteran Angel?

Veteran Angels are NOLA Angels who are experienced in the team and who Rookie Angels can look to for help with dance, costumes, and more.  All NOLA Angels are eligible to be a Veteran Angel.  The Veteran Angels for the upcoming year are announced each year at our end of year celebration & performance, our 'Angel Spectacular!'  To become a Veteran Angel you must meet all of the Veteran Angel requirements.

Veteran Angel requirements:

• Be an active NOLA Angel: You must be a current team member and up to date with your Annual Dues.
• Attendance: You must have actively attended at least two Seasons (Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall) of the previous year.  'Activity Attend' means attending two or more classes in that Season (online or in person).
• Performance: You must have performed two or more dances at live performances or at final film recordings in the previous year.
• Parade: You must have paraded with the NOLA Angels in at least one parade in the previous year.
• Social: You must have attended at least two NOLA Angel social events in the previous year.
• Keep it Classy: In the past year, and going forward, you must represent our team in the 'Sassy but Classy' manner that we aim for.

It may take some commitment to become a Veteran Angel, but there are some fabulous benefits to being one!

Responsibilities & Benefits of being a Veteran Angel:

• Responsibility: As a team we expect our Veteran Angels to represent us in the Sassy but Classy way we want our team viewed  We expect our Vets to lead the way with a fun and all-inclusive attitude and to be a teammate we can look up to.
• Angel Respect: Veteran Angels are the NOLA Angels that Rookie NOLA Angels can look up to for advice on costumes, performance make-up, dance moves, and all things NOLA Angel!
• Key Parading Spots:  When we line-up our team for parade day, we look to our Veteran Angels to take key spots in our line-up such as the outside spots, the spots closest to the parading audience.
• Special Opportunities: We always try to offer all performances, parades, and social activities to all Angels, however, occasionally we are offered opportunities that are limited to a smaller number.  When we have a limited of spots available on a parade, performance, or social event, Veteran Angels will be offered the first opportunity to take one of the limited spots.
• Grand Angel: Our Grand Angel leads our team on parade day!  They are the NOLA Angel you see up front with our huge 12-foot Angel wings on, smiling, waving, and look fabulous as they lead our team!  Only Veteran Angels can put their name in the hat to be chosen to be the Grand Angel!

Angels that meet the Veteran Angel requirements will be announced as Veteran Angels for the upcoming year at our Angel Spectacular in November.

Grand Angel

Our Grand Angel leads our team on parade day!  They are the NOLA Angel you see up front with our huge 12-foot Angel wings on, smiling, waving, and look fabulous as they lead our team!  Our Grand Angel is chosen by picking a name out of the Angel Sorting Hat prior to the upcoming Parade's Mandatory Rehearsals!  To get your name in the hat you must meet the following requirements: 

• Veteran Angel: Be a current Veteran Angel
• Attending Practice: You must have been learning the dance or parade routine that the Grand Angel will lead and you must attend both upcoming Mandatory Rehearsals
• Taking it in Turns: To help spread the wealth, you must not have served as Grand Angel already in the current or previous year.

Gifting Angels

Gifting Angels are the our NOLA Angels who hand out our throws during a Parade.  For most parades we will have four Gifting Angels.  Gifting Angels are chosen by picking names out of the Angel Sorting Hat.  To get your name in the hat you must meet the following requirements:

• Active Teammate: Be an active NOLA Angel (this includes Distanced Angels)
• Throw Maker: Attended one (or more) Throw Crafting Social(s) prior to the parade or made one bag full of NOLA Angel throws for the parade

Announcing Angels

Our Announcing Angels are the NOLA Angels who hold our banner(s) during a parade.  Announcing Angels are also chosen by picking names out of the Angel Sorting Hat. To get your name in the hat you must meet the following requirements:

• Active Teammate: Be an active NOLA Angel (this includes Distanced Angels)

When to put your name in the Hat:

The opportunity to put your name in the hat to be our Grand Angel or a Gifting Angel or Announcing Angel will be announced on our Team Facebook page the week before the parade or performance's first Mandatory Rehearsal.

What is a Guardian Angel?

Our Guardian Angels are our backbone on parade day!  They are he Angels who walk along side us to help ensure we do not trip on beads, fall down potholes, or step in horse poop!  They are the Angels who hand out the water & candy to keep going during long parades!  They are the Angels who drive our parade truck and ensure our music is playing!  With out our Guardian Angels we would be a tripping, dehydrated, boring lot!  Outside of Parade day, our Guardian Angels help with preparing our parade truck and music equipment, and assisting back-stage at performances.

Guardian Angels are often the partners, friends, or family-members of current NOLA Angels, or retired-NOLA Angels who still want to be involved in the team outside of dancing, however, anyone can apply to be a Guardian Angel as long as they meet the Guardian Angel Requirements.

Guardian Angels Requirements:

• Over 21: You must be over 21-years of age
• Willing to Help Everyone: You must be willing to assist the whole team (not just your partner/friend/family-member)
• Physically Able: Our parades are often about 6-miles in length, if you are planning on becoming a Guardian Angel who assists on Parade Day you will need to be able to walk the entire route and be able to stay with the team from line-up until we finish the parade.  If you are not in a position to be able to walk such a distance, you can still become a Guardian Angel, however you must understand that your role may be limited to non-parade activities.
• Be Sassy but Classy: For Guardian Angels this means: wearing the Guardian Angel costume provided to you for the parade; being respectful to all team members; being respectful to those who have come out to watch the parade or performance; not smoking while on the parade route; representing the team in the 'Sassy but Classy' manner that we aim for. 

On parade day / performance day / the day of a social, things can get crazy!  You may have missed placed your gold sneakers, you can't remember where to be when you need to be at line-up. you're running late, or, your Angel Wings have flown off someone down the I-10!  Whatever the issue, you will be no doubt wanting to call Charlie to let her know - however, at these times, the chances are that Charlie is also juggling a number of gold sequin things at the same time, so she may not be able to take your call.  This is where your Sister Angel comes in!!!!!

Your Sister Angel is another NOLA Angel that you can call upon to ask questions prior to class / parade / performance / social..... or just generally in life!

As a team we ask that each Angel have at one (or more) Sister Angel who they can call upon in Angel times of need!  Your Sister Angel can be any NOLA Angel, they can be an Angel that lives close to you, a Veteran Angel you particularly respect, a Rookie Angel who started the same Season as you, an Angel you enjoyed chatting to at Class or a Social, or simply an Angel you think has fabulous hair/make-up/costume!

Once you have a Sister Angel, please make sure you have each other's phone numbers saved in your phones and you should be good to go!

As NOLA Angels we always aim to be Sassy but Classy. For us this means being fun, confident, and friendly, while also being kind, all-inclusive, and respectful.

In practical terms this means:

• Costumes:  Sass: Make sure your costume is fun and flirty, we are parading in Mardi Gras after all!  Class: Make sure your costume fits you and that your butt and other private areas are covered! 
• Drinking: Sass: We are all over 21, what you do is up to you. Class: Please do not embarrass yourself, you teammates, or the team. Any Angel who is drunk at parade line-up will not be allowed to parade. Any Angel who arrives to a Social drunk will be asked to go home. Any Angel who is drunk prior to the start of a performance or any other event will not be allowed to perform or otherwise represent the team. Sloppy is neither sassy nor classy. Drink driving will never be tolerated; if you are planning on drinking, please also plan on getting a sober ride home. Please also remember that not all Angels drink, so if an Angel says 'no' to drinking, please respect that.
• Smoking: Class: Smoking is not allowed during a parade (this rule applies for all NOLA Angels, including Guardian Angels). Smoking at parade line-up, at Socials, Class, Rehearsals, and other Angel events is allowed in appropriate areas (i.e., not next to children, and in areas where smoking is allowed).
• Language: Sass: We always want Angels to speak their minds.  Class: However, colorful language should be limited to appropriate locations and situations.  When in-front of children, families, and guests, lets please keep our mouths in check and keep it classy.
• Problems, Issues, & Concerns: Class: If you have any problem, issue, or concern with the team, or any specific dance, event, or parade, or any teammate, please keep it classy and tell Charlie straight away so the issue can be resolved.  As an alternative to speaking to Charlie (504-715-0508), you can also reach out to Guardian Angel Sharon or Veteran Angel April Dawn.
• Being a Great Teammate: Class: We are a team who aims to build women up. Please help keep our team classy by being kind and respectful to your fellow teammates.  Bullying of any kind is not expected from any NOLA Angel and will certainly not be tolerated.
• Confidence: Sass & Class: Nothing is more attractive than confidence!  All NOLA Angels need to remember that you are beautiful & fabulous, and you have a whole team of fabulous women behind you!  Dance strong, do your best, and have fun, and allow your confident and sassy self to shine!

Yes - If the practice is being held in our regular park (Royland Playground) or our back-up location (Harahan Playground), you are welcome to bring your child to Class on the understand that:

• You are responsible for any child you bring to Class
• No one under 21-years of age can join in with the Class
• The NOLA Angels Dance & Social Team, nor Charlotte Jallans-Daly (Charlie), or any other member of the team, is responsible for the health or safety of any child you bring to Class.

No - If the practice is being held in bar or other location that those under 21 are not allowed to attend

Maybe - If the practice is being held in another location or someone's home - please ask the person hosting the Class before being a child to the Class.

Each Social is different, however, as a general rule:

• If the Social is at someone's home, we normally restrict the Social to just NOLA Angels.
• If the Social is in a public location (such as a bar, bowling alley, park), normally you can invite your partner, friend, family-member, as long as they are over 21-years of age.
• If the social is welcoming children we will normally express this in the Social invitation.

If in doubt, please check the Social invite (on our Facebook Team Page under 'Events') or ask the Angel who is listed as the Social host on the invite.

For the 2022 Year Dues have been set at $100 per Angel.

Dues are due before the start of our 2022 Season / the start of the Winter Season.  This year, the due date for Dues is November 15th, 2021.

You can pay your Dues by Venmo using phone number 504-715-0508 or by handing cash to either Charlie or April Dawn during Class or at a Social.  If paying cash, please put the cash in an envelope with your name on and the word 'Dues'.