My mother told me she always knew I was going to be a dancer because I was constantly moving even in her belly. As a child, my favorite thing to wear was a tiara. I would pout if they made me take it off at preschool. I got into your basic dance studio training with recitals for ballet, tap, and jazz. Once I got a little older, I joined an additional kid’s dance company that did more creative group acts that were more of a production. In high school, I began take contemporary dance classes and joined the pom squad. These led me to taking classes with the judges of So You Think You Can Dance and getting to perform and march at The Macy’s Thanksgivings Day Parade in New York. That was a neat way to end my youth dancing.

As a young adult, I ended up at a college hoping to minor in Dance, but in the first class I was asked by the professor why I wasn’t majoring. “You can’t answer me why not…and it’s clear how much you love to dance…so let’s switch your major.” The focus in college was more modern dance technique. I learned other great skills such as how to create and sew my own costumes, stage makeup, lighting, stage managing, and choreography. I graduated early and soon set off for a summer in Chicago to dance and plan my next steps. It was then I received news I was accepted for an apprenticeship for a dance company in St. Louis. This led me to making a home in St. Louis shortly out of college. I ended up joining another dance company after a season and enjoyed also sewing our costumes. After an opportunity to dance in Italy, I had questions from the other dancers about St. Louis since, “there aren’t many dance opportunities there aside from a few companies.” This was true, and I had danced with almost all of them except for one more. So I auditioned, but I didn’t make it. Honestly, it wasn’t my style, and most of their numbers were as backup dancers. But it still hurt to be told, “no”. This is when I decided, “I must not be backup dancer material…time to find the spotlight!”

I wanted to find what dance had been missing for me. I tended to overthink my movements, worry about others viewing me and if I was good enough in my performance. I was working as a dance teacher but was missing performing. My mother surprised me by signing me up for an aerial silks class. I swear the moment I grabbed onto the fabric and lifted from the air, all the thoughts in my head went quiet. I had in my hands what had been missing. I was in control.
I was inspired to be more daring. I got a facial piercing, I signed up for burlesque classes, I dyed my hair both black and blonde. I was ready to find more of me.

In my first burlesque class at Van Ella Studios with Greta Garter, I knew I could dance but I wanted to understand the history and art of Burlesque. I listened but didn’t stay quiet. I moved to the front of the room. I stared at myself in the mirror, in my heels and boa. I became Eevee.

Suddenly, it all made sense. I could be sexy and silly. I could mess up, laugh, and keep going. I knew I was in command of the room no matter my next move. This is when my confidence began to build. I stopped worrying about dance steps, and instead focused on who I was as I performed. I fell in love with this new me. I no longer had to learn stuffy choreography or wear an outfit I hated. I got to chose the music, make my costumes, rehearse when I wanted to, perform for who I wanted to, build my brand, and sign my name to my art. I was in complete control. I was focused, fearless, and I had found who I was meant to be. I’m so thankful for each “yes” and “no” that led me to here.

I did a solo debut, took workshops often, and began filling up my calendar with performances. I then began to combine aerial and burlesque for some fun acts off the ground. I even changed my name for a bit to Evelyn Invert, The Upside Down Flirt! I got into modeling as Eevee Amour and began landing covers. I loved this, I loved how much I was performing, I loved who I was being. And then the pandemic began.

My shows and photoshoots got cancelled. I was stuck inside with a closet of sparkles with no stage to shine on. Virtual shows tried to go on, but I decided to take this time to revamp costumes and plan the next phase of me. It was easy to succeed in St. Louis; the people have that midwest kindness where everyone in the audience says, “Wow, you were incredible! I could never do that!” and I knew I needed to be challenged. I needed to be the least sparkly in the room. I needed to grow. I needed to move.

Hollywood began calling my name. I don’t know why…I only visited twice in high school for a dance convention and hardly left the event. But there was a little tingle when it was on the list of places to go. So I decided it was time, packed up my sparkles, and made it to California.

I wanted to play it cool when I first got here, ease in just in case I maybe got started with the wrong troupe first. But I got lucky; The Broad Brigade reached out right away to book me and soon asked me to join. I couldn’t do aerial at their shows but it was great to get back into more classic burlesque and meet more Los Angeles performers.

After some time performing in Hollywood, I knew I needed to change my stage name again. This time, to something more glamorous and fitting for burlesque or aerial or whatever I pick next. It was at an event that a man met me for no more than five minutes, I was not in costume or anything special, but he said to my friend, “she is absolutely effervescent.” I fell in love with this word, I knew it was who I wanted to be next. So Evelyn Effervescent was my new stage name. This has led to a variety of tag lines, which you can find scattered throughout this website.

I love being a Hollywood Showgirl. I love being Effervescent. I love my sparkly life.