Dulé Performs with the Grant Avenue Follies
Clip: Episode 1 | 3m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
Dulé Hill performs with Chinatown’s senior cabaret troupe The Grant Avenue Follies.
In San Francisco, Dulé meets a different set of artistic pioneers: the Grant Avenue Follies, a cabaret troupe made up of sassy senior citizens. Led by Cynthia Yee, the Follies’ upbeat shows are inspiring seniors to live life to the fullest. They’re also activists, keeping alive Chinatown’s rich history, and using newfound rap skills to combat anti-Asian hate.
This program was made possible by a grant from Anne Ray Foundation.
Dulé Performs with the Grant Avenue Follies
Clip: Episode 1 | 3m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
In San Francisco, Dulé meets a different set of artistic pioneers: the Grant Avenue Follies, a cabaret troupe made up of sassy senior citizens. Led by Cynthia Yee, the Follies’ upbeat shows are inspiring seniors to live life to the fullest. They’re also activists, keeping alive Chinatown’s rich history, and using newfound rap skills to combat anti-Asian hate.
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5 Artists Showcasing the Power of Art
From colorful cabarets and moving movies to artistic techniques that transcend the senses, here are five inspiring artists highlighted in The Express Way with Dulé Hill.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship♪ Hill: I have black, shiny shoes, patent leathers, and I have purple tap shoes.
Which ones should I wear?
See-Tho: Mm, I think it would be cool to have purple... Hill: All right.
Well, there it is.
That's what I'm wearing tonight.
See-Tho: because we have a lot of-- you know, everybody's all dressed in black.
Be cool, so we're gonna walk out, and we're gonna turn around, look at each other slowly, and then start on one.
[Both humming] See-Tho: Yeah, yeah, and that should be the end of the music, and then we just melt into our poses.
Hill: Poses.
Right.
I love it.
We got it.
Do I know any other grandmas as funky as the Grant Avenue Follies grandmas?
I would say no, besides my own mama.
You see, my mama's funky.
Yes, she is.
Yeah.
Love it.
Here we go.
♪ [Cheering and applause] ♪ Yee: But I'd like to welcome you to Chinatown's most intimate performing arts center.
A lot of my friends, their whole life is devoted to babysitting their grandchildren, but they forget about themselves and don't realize that it's time to live a little.
♪ [Jazz music playing] ♪ Yee: ♪ They called us Grant Avenue Follies ♪ ♪ 'Cause we are the ultimate jollies ♪ ♪ We dance, and we sing ♪ ♪ And know how to entertain them ♪ ♪ Dressed to kill with our ♪ ♪ Fatal social skills ♪ ♪ We are Chinatown's original ♪ ♪ Glam Bang Gangsters ♪ ♪ And Glamping Bang Gangsters ♪ ♪ We've been the Glam Bang Gangsters ♪ ♪ [Cheering and applause] Follies: ♪ And with big resound ♪ ♪ We crown our sister ♪ ♪ We crown our friend ♪ ♪ We crown the Queen of San Francisco Chinatown ♪ [Cheering and applause] Hill: Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
[Cheering and applause] All right.
Aw, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Yee: This is Dulé Hill.
Hill: I'm the newest member of the Grant Avenue Follies.
Yes.
Ha ha ha!
I don't think there is another group out there that is doing it like Grant Avenue Follies.
They really are inspiring people to keep on running your race, keep on living life to the fullest.
They are maintaining and holding on to this magnificent, beautiful, magical history that exists in these streets.
They're really making sure that that same power carries over into their tomorrow, the tomorrow of those coming after them, and the tomorrow of this community.
Nice to see you.
I'm with them.
I'm with them, all right?
Ha ha!
Hsu: Dulé Hill.
Thank you.
Thank you.
♪
Video has Closed Captions
Dulé Hill connects with artists using their craft to rewrite their narrative. (30s)
Deaf Dancer Shaheem Sanchez Teaches Dulé How to Dance
Video has Closed Captions
Deaf dancer Shaheem Sanchez changes how Dulé Hill thinks about dance. (3m 39s)
A Mariachi Arcoiris Love Story
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Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles founder, Carlos Samaniego, shares a love story. (4m 51s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
This program was made possible by a grant from Anne Ray Foundation.