TJ Phoenix (They/Them)
Personal Trainer + Pole and Hip Hop Instructor
You may have seen TJ perform with the Va Va Vixens (Louisville’s premier variety and burlesque troupe) and has been performing with them since 2013. You may have also spotted them in local shows such as Bourbontown Burlesque, We Are The Weirdos, Harlots & Hellions, The Bizarre Bazaar, Boots Off Burly Brawl/The Petticoat Peepshow, and Nerd-esque Burlesque.
TJ Phoenix has been burning up the dance floor for roughly 30 years. They really learned to fly when they added pole dancing to their repertoire in 2016.
You may spot this Phoenix soaring at Freestyle Fitness, the local Dance Studio & Fitness Center they own in JTown, that has been serving the Louisville community since 2011! There, they teach pole and is the head personal trainer.
TJ Phoenix is a nerd at heart and loves Cosplay, Renaissance Fairs, and RP games. They joined the Ulfhedinn Vikings in 2019, a Viking-themed entertainment group performing skits involving stunts, steel, martial arts, music and more. With Ulfhedinn TJ plays a berserker by the name of Freka “The Hungry One/The Wolf”... Mind your ears...
TJ Phoenix runs River City LARP and is also responsible for Freestyle Productions, bringing you shows like Nerd-esque Burlesque; a local and traveling Nerdlesque/variety troupe, dedicated to fulfilling your wildest fandom fantasies!
Follow TJ Phoenix:
FB: @FreestyleFitnessKY, @FreestyleTJPhoenix, @NerdesqueBurlesque, and @RiverCityLARP
IG: @FreestyleFitness
YouTube: FreestyleFitnessUSA
Rikki Little aka “Pixie Pistola” (She/Her)
Pole, Chair, and Flexibility Instructor
Pixie Pistola began her pole journey over 20 years ago and has trained multiple champions. She has been coaching movement arts since 2003 and is certified in pole dance & fitness, hulahoop dance & fitness, and sport yoga. Pixie has performed pole & aerials all across the country and is the producer of We Are the Weirdos variety show. Tale has been told that she was born upside down and spinning!
Mallorye Cheers aka “Sweet Nightmare” (She/Her)
Twerk Instructor
Mallorye was born and raised in the Home of the Blues, Memphis, Tennessee. She moved to Louisville in 2005 to pursue her education at Sullivan University. She received three degrees: 2 associates and a bachelor’s.
Mallorye would later find interest in pole dancing and aerials as hobbies. These hobbies would later open the door to her burlesque debut. She started off as kittening, stage help, and being a hype-girl for a variety of different burlesque shows throughout the city. She would then go on to audition for the Va Va Vixens.
Mallorye made her debut with the Vixens in 2018 and you can still see her perform today. Known on the stage as Sweet Nightmare, she can always be seen showcasing her “round brown” and showing off her self taught twerking skills.
Venus Pearle (She/Her)
Burlesque and Heels Dance Instructor
Venus Pearle is an award winning dancer and burlesque performer. She has danced for 18 years and has received 10 National Championship titles featured on ESPN with Univeral Dance Association.
Venus joined the Va Va Vixens with TJ in 2013 as a dancer and soon also added choreography and costume designer to her belt. In her time with the Vixens, Pearle has been able to fully embrace her more dark and sensual dance style. It's this style that she also takes to other performances as well around the country.
Along with performing, Venus now also teaches dance and burlesque for all those interested in feeling more in tune with their sensuality. In her classes, she focuses on confidence and self-expression as well as dance technique and flexibility.
Hilary Reinen aka “Lany Stardust” (She/Her)
Burlesque Instructor
Hilary began her career on the stage at the young age of 10 where she trained for 10 years in ballet, tap, jazz, and musical theater, as well as 12 years of professional vocal training. She joined the Va Va Vixens in 2010 where she began performing as a burlesque dancer and singer which gave rise to her stage persona of Lany Stardust.
Her specialties span many disciplines including classical and modern dancing (fans being her favorite!), singing, hosting, choreography, and costume design. Over the years she has performed with many regional burlesque and variety groups, competed in competitions, and toured the mid-west.
As a plus-size performer, her passion is to focus on body positivity, teaching others that you can feel and look sexy in your body no matter the size or shape.