Pole dancing and aerial arts mean many different things to different people. Some use them as a fun and unique fitness activity, loving the athletic challenge and physical benefits. Some view our studio as a social sanctuary; a place of community where they can build confidence and feel free to explore movement in a fun, inclusive, supportive and non-judgmental environment. And some were born to perform. They want to share their art and passion with the world.

Are you interested in performing an act you created yourself (“DIY”) in one of our showcases this fall? We have two showcases this fall for which we are accepting applications for "DIY" (self-choreographed) performances; our adults-only Halloween Party and Showcase on Saturday, October 28th, and our family friendly Cirquetacular Anniversary Showcase on Saturday, December 2, 2023, both of which will be held in the Brass Butterflies studio.

There are limited DIY performance slots available in each show. Priority will be given to current or recent students of Brass Butterflies, but previous students and guest performers from other studios are welcome to apply. Please click below to fill out the performer application form (Google Forms) and express your interest. More detailed information is included in the form.

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About the Shows

"A Nightmare on King Street 8" - Halloween Party and Showcase

Date: Saturday, October 28th, 2023, 7:30pm to ~ 11:30pm

Location: Brass Butterflies Studio, 15-60 Bathurst Drive, Waterloo, ON N2V 2A9

Description/Details: This is our traditional Halloween party and showcase. This will be a licensed event with a bartending service. Performers and guests must be 18+ as the vibe will be more mature and sexy; (almost) anything goes for performances. Pole, Aerials, Burlesque, Heels Dancing, Acrobatics, Prop Manipulation and other forms of dance may be featured.

This will be a Halloween themed party (with costumes!), aimed mainly at our studio community (students, instructors, staff and their friends), though anyone could buy a ticket. Performances will be spread out over the evening in sets, rather than back to back in a traditional show format. Performances will be staged in multiple rooms in the studio. There will not be set seating for these performances. There will be a few chairs and cruiser tables set out, but attendees/audience members will flow from room to room to watch performances and mostly be standing. Some chairs will be reserved for guests with accessibility issues. There will likely also be vendors, a costume contest and games, etc. More details TBA in the coming weeks.

Brass Butterflies Cirquetastic Anniversary Showcase

Date: Saturday, December 2, 2023 in the early evening, time TBA

Location: Brass Butterflies Studio, 15-60 Bathurst Drive, Waterloo, ON N2V 2A9

Description/Details: This will be a family friendly show featuring aerials and ground based circus acts. This will be a seated show held in our aerial studio room, so space and therefore ticket quantities will be limited to approximately 90 spectators.

Adults (18+) and teens aged 15 - 17 (with parent or guardian permission) may apply to perform DIY performances. You can apply to do a solo, duet, or small group performance, but each performer should fill out the form separately.

PLEASE NOTE: We will NOT be accepting DIY performance applications for kids and youth ages 7-14 for this show at this time. Kids in this age range must sign up for the special 12 week instructed performance troupe class (learn more and register here) if they wish to perform in the showcase. Depending on interest and the number who register, class participants may be given the opportunity to do a solo or duet as well as being in the larger group performance, and they will have input into their own choreography, guided by the instructor, should they want this.

Applying to Perform

WHO:

We hope to be able to accept every performer who applies to perform a DIY act, as long as they apply before the deadline, however, in order to keep the shows to a reasonable length, performance slots are limited and we must reserve the right to decline applications if necessary. Instructed troupes, instructors, Performance Company, and invited special guest performers will take priority with guaranteed performance spots, and "DIY" performers will fill the remaining spots. Priority will be given to current or recent students of Brass Butterflies, but previous students and guest performers from other studios are welcome to apply. You can apply to do a solo, duet, or small group performance.

WHAT:

This application is meant to gather interest in performing. The more details you can give us up front, the better, but you will have time to provide more detailed information around music, apparatus, performer bios, lighting, etc. after you are selected, and closer to the show dates. In other words, you don't have to have a fully developed act in order to apply. For duets and small groups, please designate a single contact person to fill out this form. If you are chosen to perform, we will gather more information from individual performers later.

COST:

Please note that these events are fun showcases for our studio community, not professional shows, and DIY performances are not compensated.

Significant time and resources go into planning and organizing these showcases, so we are charging a nominal fee to register as a DIY performer which will help cover some of the costs of running the show, including providing supervised, dedicated practice and rehearsal times leading up to the show. This fee will also help keep ticket prices reasonable for your friends and family. Please read on to note the value you will receive in exchange for your registration fee. Please note that the registration fee is non-refundable, even if you have to withdraw for any reason and do not perform, and even if you do not access any of the provided in-studio practice times. Fee will only be charged once you have been offered and accepted a spot in one of the shows.

DIY Performer Package - $125 + HST

Includes:

Access to at least one exclusive "performers only" practice time per week starting the week of September 11 for Halloween performers and October 2 for Anniversary Show performers. These scheduled practice times will be shared only with other showcase performers. Days and times TBA but we will try to work with performers to find available times that also fit into as many performers' schedules as possible.
Additional/more frequent rehearsal times will be posted closer to the show dates
Free entry for yourself and one free ticket to the event you're performing in for a guest*
Access to a closed Facebook group and group chat just for performers where you can post questions and video to get support and feedback from your fellow performers
Brass Butterflies will hire a professional photographer and a videographer for both events and professional photos and video of your performance will be available for you to purchase, should you desire to do so.**

* If you are performing in the Anniversary show, because seats are limited, we might not be able to set aside spaces in the audience for performers to watch the parts of the show they are not performing in. If you wish to have a guaranteed seat in the audience, you would need to use your free guest ticket for yourself or buy a ticket. For the Halloween Party, if guest tickets include a drink ticket (TBD), your free guest ticket will include everything normally included in a purchased ticket, but your free performer entry will only include your entry, no alcohol.

** Please note that for the safety and privacy of our performers, absolutely no photography or videography will be allowed at our showcases other than by the official photographer and videographer

Learn more and Apply Now