“My music will go on forever. Maybe it’s a fool say that, but when me know facts me can say facts. My music will go on forever.” – Bob Marley.
The fickle music industry churns out more acts than a person could possibly keep track of, but few of these performers are true artists who leave behind a legacy. These artists change the way we think, their music transcends generations and they open our minds and inspire us.
Two broads in Vancouver have been inspired, just so, by some of the greats. A passion for great music and poetry in a time of calculated, industrialized music is what brought The Lovers Cabaret to life.
I chatted with the show’s Artistic Director and Choreographer, Ashley Sweett, who filled me in on how these gem performances came to be, and what the future has in store for The Lovers Cabaret.
ASHLEY
Artistic Director / Choreographer / Performer
VANESSA
Producer / Director
After being put in contact by a mutual friend, Ashley met with the show’s today Producer and Director, Vanessa Young. The girls sat down to some drinks to discuss what it was they were going to do with their talents in a world where performing arts are often very commercialized and, frankly, under paid. With a very Hemmingway mentality – write drunk, edit sober. Right? – the girls were quickly discussing their love of music greats, and realizing that the best way to get the work they wanted was to create it themselves. And so, their first show based around the music of Led Zeppelin was conceived. Quickly followed by a tribute to Jimmy Hendrix.
The Lovers of Zeppelin Show
October 2013
At first assumption, merging Vanessa’s background in sultry burlesque and Ashley’s classical and contemporary dance wasn’t going to be the perfect partnership – but Ashley assures me, “It’s been a really nice fusion. Vanessa has brought out a more sexual, confident side in me and I’d like to think my contemporary background has given her a more grounded, organic feel.” For a twist, the shows are not just pieces of movement set to a score by their title artists, they tell the story of the women behind these men – the wives, the mistresses, the groupies and the rest. Tonight, The Lovers Cabaret is opening their third show based around Bob Marley’s reggae beats, and Ashley is performing as the king of rasta’s girlfriend.
The Lovers of Zeppelin Show
October 2013
But oodles of a talent, an idea, a compatible partnership and a timeless soundtrack do not a great show make. Funding for the arts is hard to come by, and overhead costs of corps dancers, theatre and production staff and plenty of other expenses have kept both Ashley and Vanessa pulling extra hours in their day jobs in order to support their passion project. After this run of Marley, they are looking to find a government grant but this won’t be an easy feat – the best support they can get is by ticket sales and word of mouth for this innovative show.
The girls set the goal of bringing to life a spectacle not just for dancers – as many performing arts shows tend to be – but to broaden their audience. “We’re only seeing about 30% dancers at our shows, which is amazing,” says Ashley. “In Vancouver this is what usually makes up [the majority of an audience for a performance]. We see mothers, boyfriends, lovers of the music – it’s easy to relate to Marley or Zeppelin.”
This dynamic duo has really found a way to bring different – yet likeminded – communities of the performing arts world together. They’ve taken a risk and worked their butts off. So what’s next for The Lovers Cabaret? “Who knows? Maybe some Dylan? Or maybe smaller more intimate shows.”
If you’re in VanCity and haven’t seen their previous Zeppelin and Hendrix, then you definitely shouldn’t miss tonight’s opening performance of show number 3 inspired by Bob Marley. If you have been lucky enough to see the first two shows, I’m sure you already have a Marley ticket in hand…
If you’re not in Vancouver, I hope some of this fearlessness wears off on you!
These girls are speaking the broad mantra: Do what it takes to do what you love. It’s infectious.
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Keep up to date with their upcoming projects by following their Facebook page.
