Fifteen pairs of hips gyrate in perfect unison and then 15 ladies drop to the floor in a series of synchronized athletic lunges, right on the beat of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face."
This is not a music video, part of "America's Best Dance Crew," or the info-mercial for “Flirty Girl Fitness.” It is a rehearsal of Dancefx's Strip Aerobics Performance Ensemble as they prepare for Charleston's first-ever go-go review show, "A Naughty New Year."
"It is a strip show, but not a stripping show. There are sexual simulations, naughty innuendos and explicit implications, but no nudity will be had…Unless of course a costume malfunction happens," says choreographer Jenny Broe.
Scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at the South of Broadway Theater in North Charleston, the show highlights the sultry talents of the ensemble, as well as some adventurous students from the downtown Dancefx studio and performers from the Charleston Dance Project.
All dancers involved should expect a whole coal mine from Santa come December if the performance is as naughty as Broe promises.
However naughty the show might be, Broe does not think it will bring to mind a seedy Vegas-esque cabaret with copious amounts of skin and dollar bills.
"The major theme is naughty, obviously, but it is also professionalism. These women are pros," she says.
   The Strip Aerobics Performance Ensemble, an eclectic group of ladies from nurses to accountants, has logged several late nights and weekends since September to prepare for this show. They have spent countless hours on seven saucy routines, set to music by the Toadies, 50 Cent and Lady Gaga, to name a few.
   "[They all] have a common interest. They all love to dance, like to get a little naughty and wanted to learn the art of strip aerobics so they could perform it for the Charleston public," says Broe.
    In order to protect their civilian identities, the ensemble, which includes a few C of C students and alums, will adopt nom de plumes befitting their sexy alter egos, such as "Mercedes Bends," "Cinnabuns" and "Borne Toshache."
   One ensemble member who is a C of C student by day and "TBA" by night is preparing for her first performance as a member of the ensemble. Though she has been dancing for over 10 years, she finds strip aerobics to be unlike anything she has ever done before.
   "The Strip Aerobics Performance Ensemble is such a creative and awesome dance class and style. Everyone adds a piece of their personality to the pieces and they all come out looking fantastic," she said.
 Though all of the performers' personalities are evident, there is also a good deal of Broe's personality and style since "A Naughty New Year," is the first show Broe has choreographed entirely by herself. She is careful not to reveal too many of the show's surprises as she discusses the challenges of creating this one-of-a-kind performance.
   "Similar to how musicians struggle to vary their sound, I had to vary my style and movements, although some movements are meant to tie each piece together. There should be a very ‘variety show’ feel to it. Something for everyone, I'd like to think."
   The high-energy variety show promises to be a hit, but probably not with the very young or very old, so leave your grandmother at home unless she likes to watch fishnet-clad, whip-toting ladies shake and drop it to Flo-Rida. Broe predicts that the college-aged set will love the show, but is also banking on a 25 and up crowd, especially since for those of age there will be beer and wine available for a donation.
  Tickets are $8 if purchased in advance by calling Dancefx at (843) 637-4722 or emailing Broe at Jenny@dancefx.org, and can be bought at the door for $10.
The performance is definitely not to be missed; as one of the ladies in the ensemble says, "My husband tells me to put on my little outfit and practice my pieces, but I told him that he has to come to the show."