I created something in 2012 that I brought back because I knew it was important and part of what I wanted to leave this world.
The Follies Girls.
A group of dancin' dames from all walks of life, sizes, ages, cultures, orientations who unite together to create dance all under the rubric of variety entertainment.
But don't let what I'm doing fool anyone.
My life has been about representing women of all walks of life and upholding them as strong, independent yet connected and a force together, is the main reason I do what I do. I get very frustrated when someone in the group loses sight of that and becomes more about "me me me" than "us us us". We all have a right to shine. All of us and we DON'T have to be in every number to show solidarity with one another.
To those who criticize the sexy component of The Follies Girls...we are sexy because WE choose to be, we know we are, and sexy-powerful-beautiful is our own power that others have used against us throughout our lives. In here...we own it. Together. And we are there to support, create and elevate one another. We do that by dancing together. We each have a voice within the whole, but when we come together our voices get louder even if we speak not a word.
The MEN I have chosen all this time to be involved with the project or any iterations of that project, are our allies. We create for humanity's gaze. Not male, not female. Every single person - sometimes we delight, sometimes we disturb. But at all times, we have a RIGHT to be here and take up the space we do.
There has ALWAYS been intention in everything I do. I'm annoying that way. And even though I seek to entertain and provide levity in a world that is maddening, there is much more in my art and those who can see it matter most; those who can't? I'm doing my work under the radar...slowly changing the landscape. Forcing them to confront the smiling beauty that may unsettle their narrow field of vision.
And I will do this...until the last breath I take on this earth.
<3 Anna Maria Terlinden Rogers - Founder of The Follies Girls