The Follies Girls: Knoxville's Unique Showgirls and Dancing Dames - Live Entertainment, Education, Empowerment

The HERstory of The Follies Girls

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 15:08:09 -0700

January 1, 2012 :

The Follies Girls were Created in Knoxville, TN

Anna Maria Terlinden Rogers aka Nipsy Tussle decided to spread her wings and create a dream that she’s had since she was 5 years old. It all began the first time she saw The Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. As a life-long dancer who began to become a bigger-bodied dancer during puberty she knew she’d never be able to squeeze into the beautiful costumes of the dance troupe her dreams thought maybe one day she could audition for she often thought. Why can’t there be a chorus line of very unique and very different dancers of all sizes.

February 27, 2012 :

The Follies Girls first show “A Night at the Cheese Shop”

After seeing a production of the show Cabaret at age 13 at the State Theatre, where she first started dancing at age 4, I loved that each of the Cabaret / Kit Cat Club girls were very different women, of all different sizes and ways of life who performed together and the seed was planted. After starting her own dance concept SIZEMOLOGY in 2008, attending Salome Cabaret Burlesque Academy soon after, and having a very modestly fun time as a solo burlesque performer, the desire to have what I dreamed of all along kept tapping me on the shoulder.

A group of unique, women of all ages, sizes, walks of life dancing together like the Cabaret Girls or a less perfect version of The Rockettes.

September 12, 2015:

The Follies Girls changes….

We started out simply and boldly and then it got a bit large and fabulous, but a little unruly at times and prone to divisions that was never my...Read More

The Broadway Matinee

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:07:02 -0700

This one was a mamoth undertaking, but more beloved than we as producers anticipated.

When we announced doing a Broadway appreciation show, we had no idea how many of the current cast members of The Follies Girls saw this as an incredible opportunity to play their favorite characters or roles. We were flooded with act submissions, on top of our already determined group numbers. It was something almost every single member of the cast wanted to do and it felt amazing to work hard at giving each person a chance to shine.

One of the most notable changes for this show was our stage manager taking the reigns as emcee, and Marian McDees on her first go round handled it with charm and grace and like a pro. On top of that having Whip Stitch take on Stage Management as well as serving as our seamstress was a huge score for us, plus soon to debut performers: Honey B, Sweetheart Buffet and Sister Sin rounded out the very much appreciated volunteer behind the scenes core we needed to pull this off.

First up were some special projects that were on two of the choreographer's minds: "Cell Block Tango" from Chicago, "Look at Me I'm Sandra Dee" from Grease, and "Take Me or Leave Me" from Rent were numbers that both Charm Chartreuse and Swanky Bubbles wanted their opportunity to interpret, and it allowed them to curate the cast for each - with all three of those targeted goals for them being SHOWSTOPPERS! Including in those the official Follies debut of Swanky singing. Nipsy Tussle wanted another bold opportunity to showcase her choreography to "Mein Herr" from Cabaret, which was beautifully matched by Charm Chartreuse's choreography for "Sexy" from Mean Girls and "Fame" from the movie musical of the same name. These challenged our Advanced Jazz Team to channel their theatrical skills while also digging deep into some serious jazz technique. In addition, "Twenty Four Hours of Lovin" from Best Little Whorehouse in Texas choreographed by Nipsy Tussle -...Read More

Knoxville's NEXT Sweet Thing: HOUSE OF STRAYS

Fri, 29 May 2026 10:35:39 -0700

Dreams.

We all have them. I was 5 years old when mine started. At thirteen those dreams were evolved after seeing the show "Cabaret," and in 2009 they completely grew once a lady walked into my dance class.

More on this story of mine soon. For now though, please check out INSIDE OF KNOXVILLE for this amazing story and announcement: https://insideofknoxville.com/2026/05/house-of-strays-knoxvilles-most-interesting-bar-that-hasnt-opened-yet/

and give them all the love and support as they continue to bring this dream into reality. I for one, am extremely excited this is going to exist here in Knoxville. So much love!

xox - Nipsy

Our Studio & Events for May 2026

Fri, 01 May 2026 13:52:12 -0700

Email or comment below with any questions - we hope to see you soon!

Why BURLESQUE?

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:05:12 -0700

Have you ever watched a burlesque performance and thought, "I wish I could do that?" Well, this is your sign! Learning the art of burlesque is so much more than just costumes and sparkles—it's a journey of self-discovery, confidence, and pure, unadulterated fun.

Burlesque is a powerful tool for building self-assurance. It encourages you to embrace your body, your movements, and your unique personality. Through playful exploration of bumps, grinds, and struts, you'll learn to command the stage and, more importantly, command your own presence.

Whether you're a seasoned dancer or have two left feet, burlesque offers a welcoming space to connect with your body.

Some key movements you'll master include:

Bumps & Grinds: The foundation of classic burlesque movement.
Bevels & Struts: Essential for graceful movement across the stage.
The Power of Standing Still: Learning when to pause and captivate your audience.

In our bootcamp, you'll learn a fun movement choreography that will get you comfortable with the basics!

It Taps in to Your Creativity

A burlesque act is essentially a mini-play! It's an opportunity to tell a story using movement, props, and facial expressions. You'll dive into the world of The Storytelling where you can discover:

The Studio Schedule Week 4/19/2026 - 4/25/2026
ART and The ARTISTS: Life Drawing and Beyond, Performing Artist as Models
Wednesday 4/22/2026 @ 6:30 PM
We also are proud to host this community arts event each month. Meet your muse for the evening and amp up your creativity with a live model and the visual art medium of your choice monthly plus surprises. We've tried to have RUBY in February (she had a fender bender), March (Nipsy got food poisoning), so THIRD TIME is the charm right?
Welcome to ART and The ARTISTS: Life Drawing and More at The Bird and The Book ! Get ready for a unique experience designed for visual artists as well as the performing artists in our wide community of East Tennessee.
The Bird and The Book will serve up libations are you explore creation. Food and beverages will be available for the entire event for purchase and we highly encourage you to partake in the yummy goodness they have to offer!
Still confused?
Essentially, it's an evening of creativity and inspiration as we combine the worlds of art and performance, two aspects of art that should mingle often and get to know one another. Our talented performing artists from the area will model for you to draw and sketch , paint, sculpt or whatever your medium may be, capturing their unique costuming and expressions.
Call time for Performer between 6:00 PM and 6:30 PM
Visual artist's check in @ 6:30 PM
Creation Session begins @ 7:00 PM
Get to know one another, get...Read More

MAY 2026 SCHEDULE

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:34:37 -0700

Here's our updated May schedule for the studio and events coming up.

We are going to temporarily halt tap dance classes until we get enough tap boards or appropriate flooring for everyone to actually hear their tap sounds. We apologize for the inconvenience but look forward to hopefully offering it in the fall.

In the meantime here are all the goodies.

The Week Ahead 04/12/2026

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:03:47 -0700

WHAT'S UP for the week ahead beginning 04/12/2026?
Well here it is...feel free to ask questions in the comments below, DM us, email us at info@thefolliesgirls.org or TEXT 865-240-5033. See you soon!
#thefolliesgirls #weeklyplanner #thingstodoknoxville #dance #knoxville

The Week Ahead 03/29/2026

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 09:24:26 -0700

WHAT'S UP for the week ahead beginning 03/29/2026?
Well here it is...feel free to ask questions in the comments below, DM us, email us at info@thefolliesgirls.org or TEXT 865-240-5033. See you soon!
#thefolliesgirls #weeklyplanner #thingstodoknoxville #dance #knoxville

The Week Ahead 03/22/2026

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 07:32:58 -0700

WHAT'S UP for the week ahead beginning 03/22/2026?
Well here it is...feel free to ask questions in the comments below, DM us, v email us at info@thefolliesgirls.org or TEXT 865-240-5033. See you soon!
#thefolliesgirls #weeklyplanner #thingstodoknoxville #dance #knoxville