We recently connected with Afv Exotic Arts and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, AFV Exotic Arts thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
Growing up in a small town in southern Georgia there were not many opportunities in my hometown as far as being a blossoming artist. My grandmother paid for my dance lessons at our local arts center. I remember being middle school aged and my dance teacher at the time seemed to want to not teach and cut up with some of the older girls in class. I have memory calling her out in front of everyone asking, “is it okay if we start class, my grandmother is paying for these lessons.” And THAT was my first profound memory of having a feeling of wanting to be a dance teacher. On the inside I was screaming, “I can do better than this!” I have returned to the Arts Center to teach as an adult so it’s a very nice full circle.
I also, since high school, always felt I wanted to live in a city as an adult and work multiple jobs as a choreographer, dancer teacher and performer. I never felt the drive to have one career or work a nine to five as I had way too many interests and I also loved to move my body. My plan was to always major in dance but during my senior year of high school my family had pressured me out of that decision. I felt confused and even had endured so much stress over it that for the first time in my life broke out into hives for several months. There is a scar on my right hand from where the dermatologist biopsied to discover why I was breaking out everywhere. Eventually the stress disappeared. Perhaps that was because I made a plan. I decided during my senior year that after graduation I would move to Savannah and attend a small university. I had the opportunity to visit Savannah years before and I remember promising myself that I would live there one day. I moved there and attended college. I found wonderful dance teachers in Savannah and they inspired me and reminded me of what I really wanted to pursue- to teach dance. Later that year I applied to a dance education program in South Carolina to transfer to a different college to attain a B.A in dance education. I’ve always felt that year in Savannah was one of the best of my life. I spent most of the time walking and exploring and I worked in a small, family run Italian restaurant. It was my year of independence in arguably one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi! I’m Annie the owner and instructor of AFV Exotic Arts! I have been in business since 2012 teaching pole dance, chair dance and burlesque. The years leading up to opening my studio I worked various jobs in Charlotte including owning a dance company with my dance partner, performing, working as a nanny and teaching pole dance and exotic dance at several studios. It wasn’t until I experienced a profound life event which propelled me to finally commit to opening my own exotic dance studio and commit to teaching exotic dance full time.
Because of that life event I knew I wanted my studio to be a safe haven and a place of therapy. It was a hot pink and silver art deco styled jewel box dance studio that was located in the heart of Plaza Midwood. Since I taught private classes and parties, I could cater to each client or group. I taught hundreds of parties including bachelorettes, birthday and girls night out celebrations. Parties had the option to choose music for me to choreograph a specific dance for them. Most parties were greeted with pasties, fresh flowers and sometimes chocolates. I could combine my love for southern hospitality and exotic dance all in one place.
Many one-on-one clients were ladies or men who just wanted to feel more creative or to get a fun workout. Many of them worked in the corporate world and were looking for something fun to do in a private setting. We also put on quarterly student showcases for those who felt a penchant to perform and show off their new skills in pole, chair of burlesque. I taught many men who wanted to surprise their wives with a magic mike style dance routine and I taught many women who wanted to perform for their partner as well as a surprise.
My mission was to promote connection with oneself and connection to others. I loved seeing clients experience increased confidence and creativity in their life. I always felt this was exactly what I should be doing career wise and I received so many positive reviews over the years.
Those visiting the studio would ask, “how did you get into this?” As the reader knows, I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a dance teacher and I also watched “Flashdance,” “Dirty Dancing,” “Stayin Alive” and other dance movies long before I should have haha. Although inappropriate for my impressionable young eyes, those films greatly influenced me to study exotic dance. I had completed my exotic dance teacher training in 2005 after attaining a B.A. in dance education. Exotic dance was, in a way, therapy for me. I never felt talented enough for professional ballet. Exotic dance was about freedom, sensuality and expression and I loved to teach it!
I am sad to say that I was forced to close that location as the owners of the building renovated and therefore just about every tenant had to vacate, but I was so lucky to spend all of my thirties in that beautiful art deco jewel box. I had that place for exactly ten years!
I write in past tense but nothing is past tense except for closing the hot pink studio. I had turned my home into a studio a few years ago where I continue to teach private lessons and parties. However, now I book more in home and hotel parties. I produce a student showcase once and year and I also produce professional burlesque shows as well as hold monthly burlesque workshops.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
I did not mention before but I had a ten year burlesque performance career. Although I’m retired from performing I can see the struggle that performers still have. Burlesque can be a very expensive hobby/part time career. For me, I grew tired of the stress of performing, touring, conceptualizing acts, rehearsing, and rhinestoning. To be honest, I achieved my goals as a burlesque artist and felt it as time for me to move on. One goal was to perform on Bourbon Street in New Orleans since that is where my grand parents had met in the 1940s. I loved my burlesque persona, Veritas Veridian, and some of my acts were serious and some were comedic. Veritas represented a highly artistic side of myself and the truth seeker in me. In my world all of the men were dapper and chivalry was everywhere! My character Veritas was also from Savannah. I had so many layers to that character and I love when I see other burlesque performers with a highly developed character and who are performing for the right reasons- not to seek validation from the audience but to tell their own stories because they are artists. So, I would say to performers- go take class! Always be thirsty to learn more and to grow as an artist and create original art.
I took burlesque very seriously. (Now, my focus is on coaching burlesque performers, helping get their acts filmed as well as teaching all of my other classes). Unfortunately, for the most part, it was a lot of work for little pay. Many performers only make enough to pay for gas or their lodging My brilliantly talented student, Lyla Cascata, has been performing burlesque professionally for a little over a year and we both agree that many people don’t like to leave their homes to attend a burlesque show. For myself as a producer, It can be a struggle to sell tickets. So, if you are curious about burlesque then please check out a local show and be sure to bring cash for tips and also tip the performers electronically. And I’d like to say that anyone wanting to hire performers of any kind then please pay them and do not expect performers to work for “exposure.” No one should work for free and especially with all of the work and cost that goes into burlesque!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Now that I’m in my forties, I can definitely feel a major shift. For example, I never thought I would want to stop performing burlesque but I’m glad to say that evolving is something that I’m proud to experience. I love that my interests are changing. I choose to focus now on coaching burlesque performers and teaching my other classes but other than that I feel a major push to place more of my focus on playing the violin, video editing and working in the wedding and floral industry. My mission is to always create whether that is music or a dance or a film or a floral arrangement. I always want to feel like I’m creating beauty for this world. I wouldn’t want to live in a world without art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://afvexoticarts.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afvexoticarts/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/afvexoticartsllccharlotte
Image Credits
It’s An Aberrant Life Photography, Christopher Donald, Fenix Photography