WASSA HAPPENING AT THE BAOBAB STAGE

RETAIL THERAPY & LIVE PERFORMANCES

By Stacey Gualandi

Wassa Coulibaly

Shopping trips and intimate shows have been in short supply this year, what with the pandemic shutdown.

But this week, I got to do a little retail therapy and listen to a live performance by award-winning jazz vocalist (and birthday girl!) Toscha Comeaux at the reopening of Wassa Coulibaly’s Baobab Stage, and it was so worth the wait.

Toscha Comeaux performs at the reopening of Baobab Stage.

The former Cirque Du Soleil lead dancer first opened Baobab—aka “the gathering tree”—eight years ago in the Town Square shopping mall on Las Vegas Boulevard. It’s a 3-in-1 experience that includes her Wassa Wear boutique, café, and theater (not yet open). The quarantine was a serious setback, but during this time, the savvy entrepreneur chose to take a more proactive pivot.

“It’s not all bad,” Coulibaly says. “This is a great opportunity to revamp and restructure yourself.”

Wassa Coulibaly

And that’s just what she did. She now has a new team behind the bar, a new online focus that has seen a boost in sales, and a new addition to her personal Wassa Wear clothing line.

“A mask doesn’t have to be something depressing and boring,” Coulibaly says. “I came up with a unique mask style that has brought people to the store who have never been here before.”

Now, many of Coulibaly’s signature versatile body-hugging styles come with a mask/hood, or a mask/blouse combo— many adorned with a beautiful beaded chain that rests on the head via gravity. (They’re flying off the shelves, she says!) She also designed some face lingerie for a more sexy vibe.

“We’ve got to have fun with this,” Coulibaly jokes.

Coulibaly moved from Senegal, West Africa, to Las Vegas to perform in the long-running Cirque show Zumanity. She left after 11 years to realize her dream of owning a boutique.

“When I would go to the store, clothes didn’t have enough feeling or expression, like sassy and edgy,” Coulibaly says. “So I wanted to mix tribal looks from where I come from in Africa and bring it into American culture. When I wear my things, I get so many compliments, and people ask me to ‘make me one’!”

While no longer with Cirque, Coulibaly has remained close to the troupe. In fact, she and several performers are now collaborating on a new charity initiative called “Nothing But Masks.”

“We are taking photos of performers wearing masks to raise money for [the often forgotten] technicians and artists who need money now…and to open up the Strip sooner!”

It’s all part of her plan to keep building a cozy community, showcasing amazing talent, making art-to-wear, and serving great food and drinks—especially for those who love the arts, and unique masks. (I bought two!)

“It’s a lot of work…but it’s so rewarding at the same time.  There’s no price for that.”

Find Baobab Stage online at www.baobabstage.com