Imagine my curiosity this morning when I was sitting at my local coffee shop and noticed a pair of hand-lettered signs on the bulletin board advertising “bounce classes.”

No phone number or website was listed for more information, so I can only assume it means what I think it means - that some friendly downtowner is offering instruction on how to dance to New Orleans’ homegrown hip-hop sound with the hyperactive beat and the lewd lyrics. That is, how to walk the dog, pop it, drop it, shake, twerk, wobble and dip low.

This should be a prerequisite for anyone planning to see the Throwback revue at Jazz Fest with Cheeky Blakk, T. Tucker and UNLV.Bounce class gets down Wednesdays from 11-1 p.m. and Saturdays from 5-7 p.m. at the Sidearm Gallery at 1122 St. Roch Avenue. Word!

By Alejandro de los Rios

This is Derrick Lewis, wide receiver for the VooDoo. Derrick hasn’t practiced since the season started because he has a torn ACL. Lewis isn’t the least bit concerned though.

“I’ve been blessed,” he said. “I’m not at all worried if this injury is season or career ending.”

Strange words coming from someone with such a serious injury. But it’s all because Lewis has another talent to fall back on. Let’s go to the tape:

In case you didn’t know, that’s the opening verse to the theme from “Good Times.” And, as you can see, Lewis is quite adept at singing. So good, in fact, that the VooDoo tapped Lewis to sing the national anthem during the team’s home opener.

Lewis was born and raised in New Orleans and has been singing since he was a boy. His mother, Dorris Fortuné, realized her son’s gifts when he was in the sixth grade and encouraged him to sing in their church’s gospel choir. Lewis also had the benefit of both his parents being musicians. Fortuné was a gospel singer herself and father Milton Lewis plays the saxophone. By the time he was 11, Derrick Lewis was performing at Jazz Fest with Willie Metcalf. Read the rest of this entry »