A ballerina, a luchador, and a derby girl walk into a bar…

No, really, and it was amazing.  Last month we celebrated our third annual Big Easy Rollergirls Solid Gold Dance-Off, presented by Smokecignals, wherein local dance krewes go head to head to see who will reign supreme as the crowd favorite.  Taking to the stage were our seasoned competitors, the NOLA Cherry Bombs, Disco Amigos, and two-year running champs, the Star-Steppin’ Cosmonaughties, as well as newcomers to the fun, the Nola Nyxettes, Gris Gris Strut, El Lucha Krewe, and the new first-place title-holders, Roux La La… if Eiffel Society has hosted a more tutu-laden, sequin-and-rhinestone filled talentstravaganza, I will be shocked.

The party started at 8:00 with DJ Ruckus on the ones and twos and the Big Easy Rollergirls AllStars taking to the stage for an impromptu performance set to their anthem, Big Freedia’s ‘Dangerous.’  After that, competition was underway with the NOLA Cherry Bombs in their characteristic red tutus taking to the stage for their first leg of their performance, then wrapping up with an explosive finisher on the main dance floor.  Thereafter, El Lucha Krewe, a newly-formed Luchador-themed squad, hit the ropes and strutted their stuff in a choreographed mock ring-style fight complete with ample flexing and friendly smack-talk.  Gris Gris Strut was next and, though their krewe was the smallest in number, their performance was big: dynamic and artistic, with beautifully synchronized leaps accentuated by their eye-catching gold sequined costumes.  Between performances, DJ Ruckus kept the crowds on their feet with hot dance music, skate-clad roller girls sold tickets for raffle items like liquor baskets and bout passes, and competing krewe members challenged one another to friendly dance battles, the crowning point of which was the double-worm action featuring dancers from the Cherry Bombs and Gris Gris Strut.  Post-intermission pieces kicked off with Roux La La, the deepest-rolling krewe by far, paying homage to their last few Mardi Gras performances and donning their neon green and brown retro beachwear, 80s workout attire (#thongatard), and Moulin Rouge corsets and feathers. Up next were the Nola Nyxettes, and well-repped group with a very vocal fanbase and even stronger kickline, sporting glitzy hot pink and black tuxedos and dazzling smiles Radio City would covet. Our penultimate performance, the Disco Amigos, brought the heat this year with a fun, engaging dance floor performance complete with props and audience participation to a classics mashup of Motown and Top 40 hits from the 70s.  Finally, the Star-Steppin’ Cosmonaughties took the stage (this year with BERG alum, Haley Pain-yo Peppa’) and dazzled with a blend of modern hip-hop and popping and locking.

After a spontaneous on-stage lip-sync performance of ‘Ice Ice Baby’ during which raised funds were counted and corresponding votes tallied, our MC, Crescent Wenches’ Harlot Perkins Killmen, and Wench Captain, Tangles, announced the evenings winners, with the Cosmonaughties taking third; Disco Amigos, second; and Roux La La clenching first (and the stage erupting with a screaming onslaught of neon green and brown blurs).  Music continued to play, revelers continued to revel, and the party continued until midnight or so, leaving a haze of triumph and joy in its wake.  If you weren’t there this year, you’d better be there in 2016; it’s truly a night to remember.