Something that is severely missing in New York City as of late are the elements of kink and naughty. Rudy Giuliani did a great job at either getting rid of or shunning those two fabulous words back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s to the point where Times Square went from being a seedy but super amazing place to be in to a strip mall where you can buy beauty products and run into annoying tourists.
There are still those hidden gems that exist within the greatest city of the world, one of which I was happy to discover this past Thursday night. I attended a show called Sex, Aerial, & Rock 'n' Roll, which took place at The Slipper Room in the heart of the gritty Lower East Side.
It was something that captivated me from the minute I ordered my drink. Sex, Aerial & Rock ‘n’ Roll literally combines those three topics and blends them into a mature and fascinating way that doesn’t overtly get too raunchy or sexual. Finding the right balance in shows like this, whether it be one on Broadway or at a local cabaret theater, is important to the quintessential New Yorker and the creators behind this did that and some.
The show, produced by aerialist Kristin Olness and stage manager Brian Rardin, features New York City’s best and hottest aerialists, circus and burlesque performers all on one tiny stage who tickle your fancy in different ways. Each of them performs their own stunts and tricks to a bevy of classic rock ‘n’ roll tracks including Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle”.
Two of the performers acted as go-go dancers during the show’s intermission: one male and one female. The best part about it was both men and women went up to tip each of the dancers while they stood scantily clad, making it for a judgement free evening for them on stage and everyone in the audience.
I was impressed by how flexible each of the performers were. Whether it was expertly working on a set of ropes or making a singular chair look sexy as hell (think Britney in “Stronger”), each of them perfected their craft to a tee and made for a great night. Also, the host was hilarious and sang a bunch of hits as she made her way through the crowd.
The Slipper Room offers a ton of other one-of-a-kind shows in case anyone reading this is in NYC or is planning to visit over the next couple of months. The next Sex, Aerial & Rock ‘n’ Roll show will happen on October 25th. More information here.