Alysia Clarke knows her way around a stage. She’d been dancing for seven years, but it was a Pole Competition in Dayton, Ohio and a meeting with established features Natasha Nova and Bailey Fox that prompted her career shift from dancer to performer.
“I was inspired to become a feature when I met (them),” says Alysia. “It was the first time I had seen a show at all on a stage in my seven years of dancing.”
After the competition, Alysia reached out to Natasha on Instagram and picked the brain of the former ED’s Overall Entertainer of the Year and multiple EDI title-holder.
“About six weeks before EXPO 2019, she messaged me a list of everything I would need to do to be a feature and get ready for EXPO. Once I had seen so many amazing performers at that event, I decided I wanted to be a showgirl.”
Alysia started featuring in September 2019, after her first taste of EXPO with Natasha, Bailey and Lori Lane.
ED Magazine spoke with Alysia, courtesy of Bob Chiappardi and StripJointsMusic.com, to ask about how her initial foray into dancing, her favorite entertainers in the biz, and, of course, her musical tastes — on and off-stage. And don’t miss Alysia’s personalized Spotify playlist courtesy of Bob Chiappardi and StripJointsMusic.com! (All photos by Mad Creativity)
ED: What club or clubs were your first as a dancer? What brought you into the club for the first time to try dancing?
ALYSIA: I started dancing in Columbus, Ohio in 2012, but I also worked in food service and went to school so dancing was more of a side job for extra money. I actually started in strip clubs at 18 years old and had never even thought about going in one until my friend said something when we drove by a club. I’m that girl that wore Converse to prom and had never walked in heels, so I honestly thought it was a joke when she suggested we audition. The club I started at gave me my first dance name, first outfit and heels to dance in. I remember being so painfully shy when they would run uptime specials. Nine years later, you’d never know watching me on stage. I would say I never really stuck to one club though until I started dancing in Dayton, Ohio at Cheeks Gentleman’s Club in 2015. I got really good at pole dancing while working there over the years. They have a practice pole for anyone to dance on that I utilized fully, as well as the free food (just tip the chef!). I moved across the country since then, so I have not been back since right before COVID-19 started, but some of my fondest industry memories are still from that club and the people in it.
ED: Was this your first Expo (May 2021 in Miami)? If so, what did you think about it, and your experience as an Awards Show trophy girl?
ALYSIA: It was my second EXPO! I thought it went much smoother than my first EXPO because I knew what to expect and didn’t have to take in everything and everyone being new. I loved being able to see familiar faces I hadn’t seen since pre-COVID and I was thankful to be able to participate in a lot more this year than EXPO 2019. Being a trophy girl was such a treat! I was able to present Bambi Wilde her “Social Media Entertainer of the Year” Award as well as Shar Zayn’s “Entertainer of the Year” Award. I look up to both of these fantastic women and my heart was exploding for them.
“I’m that girl that wore Converse to prom and had never walked in heels, so I honestly thought it was a joke when (my friend) suggested we audition. The club I started at gave me my first dance name, first outfit and heels to dance in. I remember being so painfully shy when they would run uptime specials. Nine years later, you’d never know watching me on stage.” — Alysia Clarke
ED: Who are some of your favorite feature entertainers? What type of feature shows inspire you or get you motivated to try something new?
ALYSIA: Ms. Parker is my current favorite feature running and I say that because everyone is constantly improving. She has been slaying competitions all year and for good reason. I watched her take both Stripper Olympics 2021 Champion and NightMoves Showgirl Invitational 2021 Champion. She is incredible every time she hits the stage! The way she embodies the character she’s performing is inspirational to me.
That being said, Natasha Nova is not only my best friend, but also has been a constant inspiration to me industry-wise since I met her. She is incredible on and off the stage. I am always amazed by her genuine kind heart. Overall she has helped me become a better performer and a better human being all around.
Do we have time for one more? Hayla Faye has been an inspiration to me since I competed with her at the 2019 Stripper Olympics. Her skill set is absolutely phenomenal and I have been happy to see her doing some great things in the industry lately!
ED: For anyone who hasn’t seen you perform before, how would you describe your “personality” as a feature entertainer? What do you want to be known for?
ALYSIA: My stage personality is cute, flirty and sexy, but I pack a lot of power that people don’t usually expect in my performances. I’m often mistaken for being younger than I am, which in turn makes people underestimate me. The most frequent compliment I get is “Wow, you were incredible! I did not expect that!”
Ultimately I want to put on the best show I can and be remembered for, not only a spectacular performance, but the kindness and respect I show guests and the club I’m invited to. I want to have a “WOW” factor on and off the stage. I also strive to be a better version of the person I was yesterday, so I hope to be known as the girl that is constantly improving and bringing new moves to the table.
ED: We do these articles in conjunction with StripJointsMusic.com; they market music directly to strip club DJs. What are your favorite bands/artists, songs, or style of music to dance to? What gets you in the right mood on stage?
ALYSIA: My favorite song to dance to right now is a single recently released by LIGHTS called “Prodigal Daughter.” It makes me feel sexy when I’m practicing at home and I plan to add it to one of my shows. I enjoy dancing to most of her music because she is so wicked talented.
I work with Jimmy Boucher most of the time at my home club Monroe’s Palm Beach. He plays a lot of good remixes by David Guetta that I love to dance to including “Titanium (Alesso Remix)[feat. Sia],” “Dreams (feat. Lanie Gardner)” and “Impossible (feat. John Martin).” He also introduced me to “FMRN” by Lilyisthatyou.
You can’t go wrong with Disturbed’s “Down With the Sickness” in my opinion. It is my favorite song to dance to on stage for pole work. If I could dance to rock music and make good money every day, I would, but I have found over the years that it is not everyone’s cup of tea.
What really gets me in the mood on stage is music that the crowd is into. Nothing beats someone’s favorite song coming on and them noticing every trick you do on stage to their vibe.
I pack a lot of power that people don’t usually expect in my performances. I’m often mistaken for being younger than I am, which in turn makes people underestimate me. The most frequent compliment I get is “Wow, you were incredible! I did not expect that!” — Alysia Clarke
ED: Off stage, what are your favorite bands/artists to listen to? If you could see anyone in concert, who would it be?
ALYSIA: Courage My Love has always been my go-to band to practice to and recently I added their music to two of my shows. They are a three-piece band from the Kitchner/Waterloo area in Canada consisting of twins Mercedes and Phoenix Arn-Horn and Brandon Lockwood. I actually covered their music on flute, then met them at Warped Tour in 2017 and have remained friends with them for the past four years. They started out Alternative and have blossomed in the past two years with inspiration from the shoegaze genre.
My favorite songs they’ve made are “Goodbye to Giving Up” from their alternative days, as well as “Teenagers” based around the movie “The Breakfast Club,” “Harlequin Romance” and “Remission”. Recently the twins have broken off on a side project while Brandon tackles college and created “SoftCult.” They’re tackling real issues through music, which I find inspirational. Check out “BWBB” and “Another Bish” by SoftCult.
Off the stage, recently I have been listening to Zach Berkman, tiLLie, Making April and In Motive. Dave Escamilla left Crown the Empire a few years ago, created In Motive and recently released two new songs “Start It Over” and “What I Have to Give” that I am obsessed with. Making April only has one incredible album and dropped off the grid after 2010. They don’t make club music though so I always end up listening to them in the car. tiLLie is an artist that pours her heart and soul into her music and I always enjoy seeing what she comes up with next. If you’re a Princess Peach fan, her new song “Peachie” is worth a listen as well as “I. R.L.”. Zach Berkman was a happy accident that I shazamed while watching a TV show. His music is not club-style music, so I find it refreshing to listen to outside of work. My favorites of his are “All that I Know” and “Never Look Back”.
Don’t miss Alysia’s personalized Spotify playlist courtesy of Bob Chiappardi and StripJointsMusic.com! (All photos by Mad Creativity)
