We live in a visual-media world in which the search for the most perfectly beautiful people is feverishly pursued. But what about people who look ordinary? They are going to miss out in the stampede for like-me and look-at-me. There must for instance be some ordinary-looking women in Adelaide, South Australia. Melony and Mark Cherrett could make a movie about that. With help from the Choo-La-La dance community and the Australian Cultural Fund.
We don't see "behind the scenes" activity, the organising, the choreography. We see some women. Each of the women that we are shown being interviewed (the first hour of "Unleash") has a different set of problems. Double hip replacement, so no more sport. You can have lots of fun friends until you have children, and then they slip away. "It's when you're not connected that you start to feel lost." Putting on a lot of weight after marriage broke up. Struggling with a brain tumour. Recovering from a car crash. Came from a culture where a woman's body is to be kept hidden away. Never felt attractive. Stretch marks. Unable to overcome inhibitions. Mood swings and dark thoughts.
For us the audience, these interviews are not dull stuff - they're quite inspirational. Because we already know that most of these women are going to come together, and work hard, and practise some moves. And then they're going to put on some very frivolous costumes, go out onto a stage, and in front of an audience they are going to do burlesque-fusion. They're going to dance, and wave their bits around. And they're going to love it.
Most women like to dance. It's a physical activity that is satisfying in itself, unlike going to work, feeding the baby, cleaning the house, getting meals ready, doing the laundry, and all those other results-driven chores. "Cognitive therapy didn't work for me, but dance did." Getting together with other women to have fun. Liberating, empowering, getting out of your comfort zone. "Negativity about my body went away." Self-confidence returns. We even see some supportive husbands.
We don't see "behind the scenes" activity, the organising, the choreography. We see some women. Each of the women that we are shown being interviewed (the first hour of "Unleash") has a different set of problems. Double hip replacement, so no more sport. You can have lots of fun friends until you have children, and then they slip away. "It's when you're not connected that you start to feel lost." Putting on a lot of weight after marriage broke up. Struggling with a brain tumour. Recovering from a car crash. Came from a culture where a woman's body is to be kept hidden away. Never felt attractive. Stretch marks. Unable to overcome inhibitions. Mood swings and dark thoughts.
For us the audience, these interviews are not dull stuff - they're quite inspirational. Because we already know that most of these women are going to come together, and work hard, and practise some moves. And then they're going to put on some very frivolous costumes, go out onto a stage, and in front of an audience they are going to do burlesque-fusion. They're going to dance, and wave their bits around. And they're going to love it.
Most women like to dance. It's a physical activity that is satisfying in itself, unlike going to work, feeding the baby, cleaning the house, getting meals ready, doing the laundry, and all those other results-driven chores. "Cognitive therapy didn't work for me, but dance did." Getting together with other women to have fun. Liberating, empowering, getting out of your comfort zone. "Negativity about my body went away." Self-confidence returns. We even see some supportive husbands.