Source: NALIS

Dame Lorranie

The Dame Lorraine or Dame Lorine was imitative of the mas played by the 18th and early 19th century French planters, who would dress up in elegant costumes of the French aristocracy and parade in groups at private homes, particularly on Carnival Sunday night. They also performed the sophisticated dances of the period.

The liberated slaves recreated these costumes - complete with elaborate fans and hats - in their own fashion, using materials that were readily available, such as assorted rags and imitative jewellery-type items, but emphasising and exaggerating the physical characteristics, and dancing to small bandol and cuatro bands.

The major Dame Lorraine performers through the years however, were descendants of the French planters and persons of some respectability, who hid behind masks, mainly of the fine wire mesh variety, and found their way into the downtown Old Yards, where they paraded and danced for all and sundry.

The tune which became associated with the Dame Lorraines still exists, and is played whenever they appear in groups at cultural events.