Meet Annelise Eastes

We recently connected with Annelise Eastes and have shared our conversation below.

Annelise, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
Twyla Tharp’s book “The Creative Habit” greatly shaped the way I approach art. As the title suggests, creativity is a habit just like anything else. I have days where inspiration strikes and I can’t wait to get in the studio to try out new ideas. More common, however, are days where I walk into the studio with no ideas and just start moving. We tend to view creativity as free-flowing and spontaneous, but structure and discipline are catalysts for artistic expression. Oftentimes I give myself prompts or improvisational exercises to encourage exploration, which helps to strengthen the “creative muscles”. Collaborations are another avenue that help to break out of creative ruts and delve into new concepts. I especially love the challenge of combining different artistic mediums and finding ways to highlight the beauty and truth of each art form.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a Choreographer and Entertainment Manager who coalesces art and entertainment to explore themes of femininity, sensuality, and women’s empowerment. I strive to inspire reverence for femininity by demonstrating that women can simultaneously be sensual, intelligent, and multidimensional.

Most of my background is in ballet and I have a BFA in Ballet Performance with a minor in Business Administration from Butler University. I have had a uniquely diverse performing career, which culminated in performing as a soloist and ensemble member for the show residency A Touch of Burlesque in Las Vegas.

I have choreographed acts for the Barcelona Burlesque Meeting & Festival, Instrumental Bodies’ residency at the Foundation Room, Off Strip Fantasy Ball & Cabaret, 1Oak NYE Takeover of Aspen Kitchen, and an opening act for Ludacris at the Ogden Theater. As a choreographer, I have earned titles such as “Industry Disruptor”, “Rising Star” and “Top New Creator” as well as a JCA Collaborative Grant.

As an Entertainment Manager, I have managed dancers in nightclubs and worked as a stage manager for the show residency Extravaganza in Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas. I have directed dozens of collaborative art projects incorporating dance alongside other artistic mediums including photography, videography, clothing design, live music, poetry, painting, and shibari.

In addition to events and performances, my two ongoing projects at the moment are my Patreon and my newly launched Cabaret Heels class. On Patreon, I share my creative process virtually and discuss my work in depth with my inner circle. I also have over 100 exclusive photo sets and videos posted there from various dance projects. Cabaret Heels is a dance class I host in Sacramento, CA based on showgirl technique that focuses on femininity, sensuality, and elegance. There is already a wonderful sense of camaraderie among the dancers in this class and I look forward to growing this community.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The first quality that comes to mind is perseverance. I firmly believe that being able to keep going despite setbacks and discouragement is even more important than being talented. In the entertainment industry especially, we deal with constant rejection and criticism. Sports are similar, and athletes deal with this by putting up an emotional wall. Performing artists, however, must simultaneously have a thick skin and be emotionally vulnerable. It’s a difficult balancing act and one that requires a certain level of stubbornness.

Networking is a skill that has been crucial to my journey. The best advice I can give to those who are looking to develop their network is to think about what value you can provide and lead with that. Do what you can to uplift and support others without expecting anything in return. Reciprocity is ingrained in human behavior, so in my experience, the support often comes back around. However, people can tell if you’re not genuine in your motives. Learn to celebrate the successes of others in your field because it truly is a win for the industry as a whole.

I also love to learn and this quality has had great impact on my journey. Any time I take on a new choreographic project, I start by researching the character, concept, or archetype I’m using as the foundation of my piece. I thoroughly enjoy going down the rabbit hole with books, movies, articles, videos, etc. to figure out what elements I can use to most accurately convey my message. As a philomath, I love the business aspect of entertainment as well. Between finances, marketing, management, and operations, there is always more to learn and improve upon. This quality has served me well, however, I will caution others with similar tendencies against trying to do everything yourself. Try to weigh cost, time, and impact when deciding whether you should delegate a task.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Email or Instagram are typically the best ways to connect with me. I’m always looking for artists across a variety of mediums to collaborate with and am currently looking for more dancers to hire for performances and studio projects. My ideal dancer is someone who has a strong classical foundation and either has experience with heels/burlesque or is open to learning. If that sounds like you and you’re based out of Sacramento or the San Francisco Bay Area, please email me your resume and reel.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Richard Novella, Eliza Marie Visuals, Sin Ropes, T77 Photography, Ben Mayben

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