A few months ago, I had an amazing opportunity to perform a routine for both Dirty Disney and Mardi Gras. During this performance, I got to transform into a sultry voodoo Dr. and really bring out a raunchy side of me that I had NEVER done before...at least not in public.
Check out the performance here:
Putting together a routine is a fun, challenging process- but when your thoughts actually come together into a final product, it is an amazing feeling.
Below are the choreography notes that I wrote when coming up with the theme and movement of the routine:
“Friends on the Other Side”
Character: Dr. Facilier
Burlesque/Chair/Pole
Theme: New Orleans Night Life
Join Vicky O. as she takes you on a ride to the dark side of Disney.
The cards, will tell, the past the present, and your future as well.
Are You Ready?
Open:
Bang Stick on floor, then circle around front
Open Arms, shake finger no. Kick stick over shoulder, wink at crowd.
Place back on floor.
Jazz walk/ Flirt with Audience to chair. Bang stick on accent. Jazz slide and shoulder shrug snap.
Step over chair, plop down, rotate head around.
Whip leg over chair, arch up.
Walk over to pole.
Dip spin to pirouette to front hook to pole sit to elbow spin. Ease down.
Climb to combo:
Aerial Jasmine to holly drop. Leg extension. to Tammy to Chesterfly.
Alt trick: bow and arrow to down.
Shoulder dismount to ground. Legs open. Lick hand and roll down to couch.
Whip around and knee slide back.
Sexy up towards pole
Stripper walk.
Drop to ground for doggy walk.
Move to back, windmill to split. Whip leg around to fish flop.
Crawl to pole, forearm walk over to wrist sit. Scissor sit.
Dismount, engage with crowd.
Running leap around pole.
Climb pole to Remi sit.
Readjust for layback to bow and arrow.
Alt trick: climb to pole stand to sit and spin to stag wrist sit.
Forearm walk back.
Shh the crowd.
A lot of the stuff that is in my choreography notes never actually made the routine. Can you notice any of the differences?
Picking the music for this song was a challenge because my heart wanted Moana, but my brain couldn’t figure out how to make Moana sexy. Then this song by Trina and Lil Wayne came into my life.
The beat was so sexy and flowy, I just knew I had to use it for a routine. Having a Disney playlist saved on my phone (don’t judge) I immediately thought that this song would go perfectly with Friends on the Other Side from the Disney movie The Princess and the Frog. Plus, Lil Wayne is from the south, so voila! Magic was created and I began to craft my piece.
For my costume, I decided to do a female version of Dr. Facilier’s outfit. I found this really neat bra from Cacique (which set me baaaaack because even on sale it was expensive), then I used a flowy black skirt I had in my closet and some shiny pole bottoms I found on Amazon.
For my makeup, I went with a Mardi Gras blend with some clearance shadows from Sephora and a red Fenty Beauty lip.
The Face
The Outfit
Overall, this really was one of my favorite performances because I got to let loose. The crowd was amazing and definitely gave me a lot of energy to make me want to go even harder. What I’m most proud of is that I did this routine with only a few weeks practice and only like two full run throughs. Sometimes, getting yourself ready to perform without all the extra prep is good training for your body and helping you get comfortable on a whim. Plus, the performance gets to be more natural. Was it perfect? Noooo- but I had fun and that’s what matters in the end.
Cuz I’m the baddest! Lol. (Gotta love Trina!)
xoxo Vicky O.