Couture Productions - Aggie Fest 2011

So, here's the performance Couture Models put on this past April as a part of the Aggie Fest celebration. Since the staging wasn't something that could be helped, due to school accommodations, I won't say much on that. However, the overall production was a good show. Couture does what they do best, banji-pump their way through and give a mix of burlesque and Golden Delight realness.

Ranzeno Frazier on Entourage Modeling Troupe (Part 2)

The second part to my interview with Ranzeno Frazier. We discuss respect, competitions, and his favorite show from the troupe's catalog. 

Epiphany and Mozik: “One Show” Review (Part 2)

Here's a continuation of the previous post.

Paris (Mozik)

Mozik’s theme was Paris, the birth place of high fashion. What better troupe to tackle this challenge than a troupe whose fashion has been some of the best and most creative in North Carolina on the east coast?

The scene took place in the Louvre, one of the most famous museums on the planet.  Like Epiphany, I couldn’t get much from the voice over to understand the entire premise of the scene. The part I got was Mozik’s (MMT) executive board wondering around and being found by a curator, who then shows them the cultural works housed in the museum.

Infinity Modeling Troupe... 1st yet again

So here's a clip from Infinity Modeling Troupe's latest competition piece. I don't know what it's titled...but the setting was in a museum, and similar to the film Night at the Museum, the exhibits come to life and fierceness happens.

Honestly, besides the continued banji-pump, museum curator kicking off her skirt not very seductive, and the traffic runway I've seen a thousand times from modeling troupes over the years, this was a GOOD show! It had the variety of music/energy level, consistency, and creative staging. 

The fashion was OK, uniformity again with very little variation in group routines, but hopefully that will be fixed next year. 

Overall, it was an entertaining spectacle. I don't know who else competed, but I can see how Inifinty got first place. 

Epiphany and Mozik "History in the Making"

Well what do ya know? Winston-Salem State's two modeling troupes, Epiphany and Mozik, will be hosting a joint fashion show April 4th 2011. This is definitely history in the making since the last time both troupes appeared on the same stage was to battle it out in 2008. This show isn't like that at all, both troupes will be in two scenes, walking together in a show of unity and school spirit! It took almost a decade for this to happen, but hey, at least it's getting done! I'm so proud of the leadership from both troupes in organizing this, and the university for not tying them both down in RED TAPE *cough*. As for whether or not I'll be in the audience, that remains to be seen...for now, don't bank on it kids.

Side note: Isn't this video lovely! The photo shoot seems like it was kick ass too! 

Bon Vivant: Domestic Violence Program

The following video is of Bon Vivant Fashion Society, a troupe based at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). I'm putting this clip up on here for two reasons, one, to start as a precursor to a post I'm going to do about exhibition shows vs competitions vs intermissions. The second reason I'm posting this, because their ending runway was cute. I haven't seen anything like it in a long time and it mixed j-sett with performance modeling in a classy way. I was taken back by the beginning at first but the show warmed up on me. The music selection for the intermission show was consistent as well. Good urban glossy RnB from contemporary artists made this a smooth, performance.

O'Shea Couture ECSU Spring 2010

I'm at a loss for words right now...please forgive me for this speechless moment.
I have a lot to say about this performance. For one, I'll commend the choreographers on the difficulty and creativity of the routines. Good job to the models for pulling off said choreography. This show was good, but it was not GREAT!

For the entire time, the same genre of music played in the background, the same clothing was worn by the models all show long, and the energy was one long bar that didn't go up or down. The first time I saw this I admit to fast forwarding to the end because of this fact, I was bored. It's the same show put on by eastern North Carolina troupes who continue to emulate the DMV modeling style don't rely on their own personal inspirations. Not get me started on props! Yes, NC Triad (Greensboro, High-Point, and Winston-Salem) and Charlotte troupes have spoiled me when it comes to executing good overall staging. If only the rest of the state's groups would discover the magic a good backdrop can help manifest.

Regional Aesthetics (part 3)

This is the final addition to my east coast modeling troupe regional aesthetic article.

Florida is home to some very interesting troupes in the United States. The state is a giant peninsula with a tropical climate and a cultural clash between Anglo-American values and the Latin American heritage of its many residents.  It’s a state where the beach, and the millions of dollars in tourism profits it brings annually affect the life of its inhabitants, influencing public policy, environmental regulation, cuisine, and most notably, fashion.  Indeed, of the regions of the east coast outside New York City, Miami is arguably the most important hub for retail.  It is fashion industry that has a heavy influence on the performance modeling style of the Florida troupes, which have become an anti-thesis to those in North Carolina and the D.C., Maryland, Virginia areas.

Kerojo at FAAM Awards

I'm a sucker for good production! This show started off magically. Smoke, props, costumes, oh yeah! The only downers were, once again, fashion (uniform clothing, no costume changes). I give this show a B- for good scenery, nice color palette, and good fashion silhouettes. As for the countless queen corps trapezing on the runway, if you're gonna have all that effeminacy on stage, go all out. The ancient Egyptian men (straight and gay) wore make-up, flashy jewelry, and flowing robes. The macho silhouette created from the clothing worn in this show seemed so contrived and out of place on the dainty fairies who wore them. Don't be afraid to take it there guys, you might as well...

YouTube Personality Lonnie and MC RJ Speak Modeling Troupes and Ballroom Culture

My sista' girl directed me to this insightful interview on YouTube and you know I had to post it! *Thanks Sodom* Anyway, this interview was of ballroom MC RJ Balenciaga, who is a commentator and ballroom runway legend. The two discussed, amongst all things, the blurring fusion of modeling troupe and ballroom culture in the DMV area. Now you all know how I am in regards to this subject. I'm a purist and proud of it! So for this to be brought up and discussed is something I, and other traditional performance modeling enthusiasts, love and agree upon. I also can see how disrespectful it can be to label modeling troupe events and participants the same as the ballroom scene, seeing how the latter group has had to suffer for decades to manifests their creative talents. I just pray the troupes in North Carolina will continue to keep the separation between ballroom and performance modeling clear and distinct. They are two different worlds and each have their own rules and guidelines.

Kerojo Presents...Monsters (circa '07-08)

I thought this was a lovely show when it first aired on YouTube way back. I've grown to appreciate it more as time has passed. The fashion was good, they could have expanded the color palette once the music became more club oriented though. Just a thought.

The Art of Competing: Dynamic Energy

Yes, that’s a diagram that you see, all will be explained in due time. Two of my band directors once told me that a key to a great musical piece is changing dynamic levels. Dynamics in music refers to sound level and quality. No matter how nice a melody is, if it never changes or progresses it’s flat and can become a bore. The same can be said of a performance spectacle, whether in theater, choral singing, dance, and even performance modeling.

Cute Models Inc. show from '09

Living Legends Entertainment Salt Performance

Here's the video of Living Legends Entertainment's "Salt" show. The opening with the video was cute, and it started off strong, but I lost intrest in the show 3 minutes into it. The music, fashion, and group routines became very stagnant. The energy level remained the same through out the entire show. Not much changed, and you all know how I feel about those uniform outfits in a modeling troupe show...not impressed.

Just NAKED!!!

You've gotta love those raw, sensual Florida troupes. Though troupes in more northern regions of the eastern USA seem to have left the army of bikini-clad vixens back in the mid 2000's, such an image has become a staple of this region's shows. As tactless as this clip is, I love it! Is it any wonder this is the region of the nation that mothered the FAMU sex tape?! This brings back memories of Verge's Sean Paul "Temperature" inspired 4 seasons competition piece in 2006, and vintage Mozik/Epiphany.

The Troupes of WSSU: The Vice Versa Productions Story (Part 2)

Vice Versa as M.O.D. attending Epiphany's 2009 spring show

Last month I wrote a piece about the life and death of Vice Versa Productions (VVP), a troupe from WSSU. Now I will finish the tale of this group, summing up what killed the organization and how to not let such a thing happen to yours.

Virginia State University's Kerojo Modeling Troupe - Competition Piece - East Carolina University - 2010

Feast your eyes on this lovely show from Kerojo, one of VSU's modeling troupes. I loved it! The rouines were different and precise, the clothing followed a black and silver color theme but each model had on unique and varied attire which was great. Whoever thought of placing the disk skirt with the train on one of the female models should get a shoe thrown at them for evoking my favorite disco diva, Grace Jones!

Regional Aesthetics (Part 1)

Clearly, performance modeling has been revolutionized by the modeling troupes of the east coast. However, not every troupe is from the same region, and each region has fundamentally different styles. For this post I will talk about the three most dominant regions: DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia), North Carolina, and Florida. I've chosen these regions because of the amount of material they have created and that's viewable on the internet; and because of the sheer presence they have had on the modeling scene.

Modeling Troupe Critiques From A Vlogger

The next video is from Emore'J Couture, a DC fashionista who has a channel on YouTube. Some of his videos are critiques of DC, Virginia, and Maryland area fashion shows. These are a mix of professional runway events and performance modeling productions. His vitriolic delivery will cause you to either be turned on or off, however for the most part he is correct in his critique of some of the less tactful things that happen in the urban fashion world. 

Top 10: Don'ts In Runway

Ok, so some of these I can agree with, minus the Jessica White, Chanel Iman, and Beyonce disses. However, if you're new to performance modeling or teaching newbies, this could be a good watch.