Bucks Cabaret in Dallas will be the first EDI host club to ever hold the contest in three different clubs at EDI West, while the EDI East lands in Memphis at the Pony Club
ED Publications, producers of the industry’s most prestigious “showgirl” dance competition—the EDIs—have announced the competing entertainers for the 2019 EXOTIC DANCER Invitational East and West Contests. The EDI West will be held at Bucks Cabaret in Dallas/Ft. Worth April 25-27, while Jerry Westlund’s Pony Club in Memphis will host the EDI East June 5-7.
For the first time in the six-year history of the EDI contests, the event will be held at three different clubs on three consecutive nights. The EDI West’s Newcomer Division will be held at Bucks Cabaret in Ft. Worth on Thursday, April 25th; the Showgirl Division will be held at Bucks Wild in Dallas on Friday, April 26th; and the Finals of the EDI West (top three competitors from each division) will be held at Bucks Cabaret in Dallas on Saturday, April 27th.
“We’ve never been able to do this type of format before because very few club chains in the U.S. have multiple locations within a tight radius,” says Dave Manack, Founder of the EDI Contest and ED Publications’ Associate Publisher. “Bucks Cabaret definitely has a commanding presence in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and we’re very excited to work with great people like Bucks’ Curtis Wise, Kevin “Rich” Richardson and all of the great staff at Bucks!”
After hosting the EDI East in 2017 at his Indianapolis club, noted feature showgirl enthusiast Jerry Westlund has returned to host the EDI East in 2019 at his Memphis venue, one of the top clubs in his Pony Clubs/Fantasy Showclubs chain.
“We are very happy to be working with Jerry again, because there are few people in the country who ‘get’ showgirl entertainment as clearly as he does,” says Manack. “When Jerry is involved in an EDI, we know that’s it’s going to be a fun and memorable event!”
The EDI lineups are as follows:
EDI West Showgirl Division: Justice, Bellzora, Lady Sirene, Shay Lynn, Mila De Luna, Dinah Might
EDI West Newcomer Division: Cali Marie, Michelle Lynn, Alexandra Belle, Cassius Chay, Pixie Raye, Alice Wanderlust
EDI East Showgirl Division: Annie Lane, Natasha Nova, Janine Jericho, Shar Zayn, Bambi Wilde, Lori Lane, Blake Monroe, Amanda Parker, Ruby Ryder
EDI East Newcomer Division: Raven Kali, Aerial Lee, Bailey Fox, Stacia Dianna, Autumn Rayne, Heather Heaven, Kali Reign, Angel Marie
The EDI West will also boast a special guest performance from 2018 EDI West (Showgirl) Winner and 2017 ED’s Entertainer of the Year Award Winner Angela Sommers. The EDI East will present a special guest performance from 2017 EDI East Winner (Showgirl) Winner Aria Moon.
The EDI contests showcase entertainers in two divisions competing on three straight nights: Newcomers (entertainers with two years or less of “feature” experience) compete on the first night; Showgirls (established feature entertainers) compete on the second night; and the top three competitors from each division compete in the Finals on the last night of the competition. Cash prizes are awarded for both divisions, as well as main titles and mini titles (including sashes and trophies). In addition, the winner of the Showgirl Division will become an automatic nominee for the ED’s Overall Entertainer of the Year, the most prestigious award in the industry for national, touring feature entertainers. (Note: Division assignments are at the discretion of the contest producers.)
The EDI contests are co-produced by Lexi Lamour, are hosted by Bobby Mac, and are sponsored by GentClubShirts.com. Coverage of the 2018 EDI West and EDI East, including exclusive interviews, are featured on this site. For more information, email kris@edpublications.com or visit theEDIs.com and ExoticDancer.com.