About this project
Here's what we have been doing:
We've been making a bicycle-inspired cabaret and burlesque show in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Wait. What does that mean?
The idea comes from our vibrant bicycling community in the Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. Wheel Sexy Cabaret features performers of multiple sexes, orientations, “frame types” (bicycle AND body) and levels of cycling experience in a cabaret-celebration of the bicycling body! By “bicycling body,” we mean both the individual bodies that transport us and the community of bicyclists that sustains us. We’re use elements of burlesque, comedy, dance, live music and storytelling to create a cabaret with a bicycle theme.
Wheel Sexy revels in the reality that bicycling is not limited to one race, gender, class, orientation, age or social group. We are a body-positive, sex-positive and bicycle-positive cabaret!
Here's how we've been doing it:
Wheel Sexy Cabaret began with a series of open community brainstorming workshops at the Minnehaha Free Space in South Minneapolis. We asked the question "what's sexy about bicycling?" and then translated those answers into fun, flirty movement!
From there, we paired our community performers with one of five professional directors to help them develop vignettes. The process has been extremely collaborative! We have bicycle mechanics working with burlesque performers, scholars working with actors and a playwright working with an acrobatic yoga troupe.
In the meantime, we've been reaching out to local bicycle-friendly organizations such as the Hub Bike Coop, Grease Rag Minneapolis, and Smitten Kitten to help expand the scope of the project.
On March, we'll have four nights of celebration - three cabaret performances and one Bike Porn showing on March 2nd. As a part of our commitment to inclusivity, we're offering a sliding scale admission price for Bike Porn and a $3 cabaret ticket discount to anybody who brings a bike light. It's going to be one heck of a ride!
How the funds will be used:
- Pay Our Performers: We want to recognize the hard work of all of our performers - both community and professional performers. With that said, there are 40 of us! We need your help to make sure that we can pay everybody at least a $20 stipend!
- Lush Up Our Look: Glitter. Sequins. Spandex. Fishnets. Helmets. Pasties. The list goes on and on. Help us make sure that we look Wheel Sexy onstage by donating today!
But...When is opening night?
Wheel Sexy Cabaret opens March 1st, 2012! That's why we need your support right away!
FAQ
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It's a cabaret where all the acts are inspired by bicycles.
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The Bryant-Lake Bowl in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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10:00pm each night!
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$10 with bike light or in advance, $13 at the door.
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We want to pay our artistic staff and cover our costs in printing WSC promotional materials (posters and advertising). Our artistic staff includes directors, musicians, our video coordinator, and costume designer.
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Moving, dancing, twirling, pedaling, breathing, balancing, and confidence are common connections between both activities.
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We'll have to see about that. ;-)
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Over fifty. That's why we need your help.
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
30
Backers
$724
pledged of $500 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on March 1.
Pledge $3 or more Pledge $3 or more
A Wheel Sexy Cabaret laminated spoke card for your ride.
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For a ten dollar donation, you'll receive a pinup photo of one of the performers, and even more, they'll sign it just for you.
Pledge $20 or more Pledge $20 or more
Look irresistible in your very own Wheel Sexy underwear or t-shirt! Sexily branded by the Wheel Sexy cast and crew, you can take this off in your own burlesque show.
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Hand-made pasties! Be a part of the show in a uniqueway and have your very own set of pasties -- the same kind worn by the Wheel Sexy Cabaret performers.
Pledge $35 or more Pledge $35 or more
Can't decide between the Wheel Sexy t-shirt and underwear? For a donation of $35 dollars, you can have both!
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Come see what your investment has grown into: front row seats to the sexiest bike show ever! Heck, for supporting us, we'll even buy you a beer.
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
The only thing better than seeing an incredible bike burlesque show with a free beer and a great seat? Seeing it with a friend. And who knows? You might get lucky.
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Party with the Wheel Sexy ladies and gents after the show! As an honored guest at the after party, we'll have a good time as supporters of the arts. Location TBD
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
Want to know how those sexy bikers do what they do? Well, they can teach you as part of a Wheel Sexy Workshop with other Wheel-ey Sexy people!
Pledge $222 or more Pledge $222 or more
Going above and beyond for us and one of our producers would love to take you out for a tandem ride. Au NaturElle will take you around a few local trails talking about the wonderful work you've helped us make.
Pledge $333 or more Pledge $333 or more
A tandem ride with one of the producers is great, and after donating $333, you'll be taken out to ride by BOTH Au NaturElle and Retro Spectale. What a threesome you'd be. They'll even ride with you in their costumes!
Project By
Connected as Amber Davis (641 friends)
Au NaturElle (Co-Producer and Facilitator): Au NaturElle didn't learn to ride a bike until she was 9. As a young adult, however, bicycling has helped her control her asthma and meet some amazing people at the same time! A community-based performer, puppeteer and educator, Au NaturElle is passionate about the ways that live theatre can help construct authentic communities and vice versa. She lives in South Minneapolis.
Retro Spectacle (Co-Producer and Facilitator) recently returned from her splashing burlesque debut at the Mudlark Theater in New Orleans in January. Her piece, A Mating Call, was a eco-political response to the Asian Carp invasion. Retro has helped create spectacles all over Minneapolis, including places like Open Eye Figure Theater and the Walker Art Center, Minnesota Orchestra, the Jungle Theater. Retro primarily works with Savage Umbrella, a theatre company dedicated to producing new work. When not riding her bike or creating spectacles, you can find her at Ragstock, a used clothing store.
