While war devastates, love preserves. In a profoundly paradoxical way, some of the most enduring love stories have emerged during episodes of intense violence and conflict.
On September 10, members of Metairie’s Mélange Dance Theatre will be in Washington, D.C. to present a performance of Love Letters of WWII at the Library of Congress, in partnership with the Veterans History Project. The production, which recounts the real-life love story of Yvette and Roger, a French couple separated during the largest conflict in human history, features original music by New Orleans-based musician Sarah Quintana, set to choreography by Mélange Dance Theatre Artistic Director, Monica Ordoñez.
A decade ago, Love Letters originated as a collaborative endeavor between Quintana and Julie Rougé, the musician’s booking agent in Marseille, France. Quintana was looking for new inspiration when Rougé produced a trove of love letters exchanged between her grandparents—the real-life Yvette and Roger. Inspired, Quintana composed an original score based on the couple’s story.
In 2019, Quintana connected with Monica Ordoñez, and the duo began incorporating more stories of love-amid-conflict into the production. There were stories that recounted relationships between female members of the French resistance and Cajun “Frenchies” (bilingual French-speaking soldiers from Louisiana), who served the allied cause as interpreters or undercover operatives. There was a tale of a Jewish dancer and hero. The story of James Killion, Jr., provides an introduction to the Double V campaign—a significant movement among African American servicemen who found themselves simultaneously fighting for victory abroad, and against racism at home.
“I discovered the Love Letters project after working with Quintana on a previous project, and instantly became enamored with it,” Ordoñez said. “As a choreographer, creating meaningful work that communicates tangible stories that our audiences can grasp onto, enjoy, and feel inspiration and hope is what drives me artistically … I knew I wanted to bring the story of Yvette and Roger to life.”
In the years since its 2019 debut, Love Letters has evolved into an hour-and-forty minute amalgamation of authentic wartime stories, which brought Rougé across the Atlantic to Washington D.C. to see her grandparents’ story brought to life.
The New Orleans Foundation for Francophone Cultures (NOUS), a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Louisiana’s unique heritage cultures, facilitated the connection between the theatre and the Washington venue, when promotional materials for Mélange Dance Theatre’s program were featured in NOUS’s Le Lab program in 2025. The Library of Congress was on NOUS’s mailing list.
“Given Louisiana's unique history and cultural excellence, it is an absolute honor for us to be the first Louisiana-born dance theatre company to present an original, full-length dance production at the Library of Congress—especially one that delves into Louisiana history while keeping important WWII stories alive,” said Ordoñez.
Nominated for two 2020 Big Easy Classical Arts Awards, Love Letters of WWII unites a multifaceted cast of twenty-two artists. Featuring Adrienne Simmons as Yvette, Cade Garafola as Roger, and Emily Thibodeaux as the production’s bilingual narrator, Love Letters harnesses the theme of universal love that drove millions to sacrifice their lives in the name of justice.
“It is certainly a highlight of my career as a choreographer.” Ordoñez said.
Performances of Love Letters of WWII take place in New Orleans on August 28—30 at The Josephine, and at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. on September 10.
