After a short hiatus, the feature entertainer came back with stronger moves and lighter wings.
(NOTE: This story was written by Carly Gooch and appears in the July 2024 issue of ED Magazine.)
With a rich background in art and an unwavering passion for dance, Phoenix Phires has been seamlessly integrating her artistic talents into her dance performances for over 12 years. Her creative vision shines through not only in her unique choreography but also in the intricate props she crafts for her shows. While she would gain recognition for her captivating shows featuring the giant feathered wings and her work with fire, her journey wasn’t without its twists and turns.
She hit the ground running early in her career, working with performers she admired like Christina Aguchi.
“After I met her and found out she lived two and a half hours away from me, I would drive up and train with her every week to work on becoming a better performer,” Phoenix recalls.
Aguchi encouraged her to enter her first competition at Grand Daddy’s Gentlemen’s Club in Wisconsin, where she won first runner-up along with a slew of mini titles. Aguchi offered other guidance, which Phoenix remembers as some of the best advice she received as a young performer.
“She told me to get high-quality promo, and to make sure it’s up to date,” Phoenix says. “It’s the first thing that everyone sees before you even enter a club. You want the patrons to easily recognize you when you arrive.”
Phoenix shot many of her favorite promos with Alfonso from Mad Creativity, who she recommends to anyone looking for high-quality content. Most recently, Ashley of ViceErotica shot her newest sets, creating some amazing custom shots, including some dressed as Miss Argentina from Beetlejuice in honor of her recent EDI award for her Beetlejuice performance.
After securing numerous wins and titles early in her career, Phoenix quickly ascended beyond her newcomer status. Within her first couple of years, she was performing against elite features like Lacey Rain and her mentor and friend Christina Aguchi.
“I came close a few times in those early shows, but never took the showgirl division crown,” she says.
With a few years of featuring under her belt, Phoenix decided to go on hiatus from performing to develop a deeper understanding of her craft and grow her unique, artistic voice. She stayed busy producing shows outside of the industry, teaching aerials and working on her skills. Phoenix couldn’t stay away from the industry for long though, explaining how she missed the creative thrill of performing.
“I missed the featuring, traveling and dancing,” she says, so she set to work on applying the newfound experience and knowledge to further enhance her shows.
“I am thrilled that Phoenix Phires has returned to our industry, brining her captivating performances to the Pony Clubs once again!”
– Jerry Westlund owner of The Pony Clubs
got wings?
Upon her return in 2022, Phoenix filled her schedule quickly and began performing at clubs she used to frequent before her hiatus. Among the innovations she added to her performances were the new foam wings, serving as a physical representation of the evolution in her career.
“The first set of Phoenix wings were mechanical and they weighed a ton!” she says. “The new wings are much lighter and they move a lot more realistically to real feathers.”
It didn’t take long for the awards to start piling up again, earning titles like the 2023 ED Awards’ MissExoticDancer.com of the Year and medals from the 2023 Stripper Olympics. She also won first runner-up and Crowd Favorite in the 2023 Monroe’s Tournament and was a 2024 Aerials Angels medalist.
It came as no surprise she was invited to perform at Exposé Gentlemen’s Club in their Elite Championship during this time, where top performers compete for a chance at the title.
“I was honored to be invited two years in a row!” Phoenix says.
During the first Elite Tournament, she performed with her phoenix wings for the first time since her hiatus. She would later discover fans and staff had been waiting for years to see their return.
“Sometime last year when I returned to Exposé for a booking, I brought an entirely different set of shows to perform, and not the Phoenix show,” she recalls. “All weekend long I was asked where the wings were.”
Thus began her “Got Wings?” branding initiative. What started as a joke between her and Exposé staff became a graphic that she now uses to sell merchandise like stickers and magnets.
CEO Dino Palmiotto of the San Diego-based club says of her, “We are proud that Phoenix Phires has made Exposé her home club. Phoenix demonstrates the highest levels of professionalism, personal initiative and devotion to our industry. Definitely an example of a true feature.”
Phoenix has a wide variety of costumes and props that she performs with, but a few of them really stand out as being a part of her signature show.
“Aside from my fire skills, the things I really get recognized for are the Phoenix show, Wednesday Addams and my newest creation, Beetlejuice.”
flying straight
With an impressive roster of sets under her belt, Phoenix, along with her preferred travel agent Vickie from Travel Source, have compiled some helpful tips for executing a traveling show.
“Pack your smallest costume in your carry-on bag in case your baggage gets delayed,” Vickie advises. This ensures performers are not stuck without anything to wear for their first show, particularly if they are performing that same night.
Other advice is relevant for all travelers, like the fact that the least expensive day to buy tickets is Tuesdays, and the first flight of the day is always on time. The women also advise signing up for airline frequent flier programs, as they are usually free and come with benefits, such as inflight wifi access and helpful travel alerts.
“We are proud that Phoenix Phires has made Exposé her Home Club. Phoenix demonstrates the highest levels of professionalism, personal initiative and devotion to our industry.”
– Exposé CEO Dino Palmiotto
“One of the most common things I get asked about all the time is eating healthy and planning meals while traveling,” Phoenix says. “It has taken me years of trial and error to figure out how to eat well, but I feel like I have finally nailed it down.”
Her secret? Meal prep. Phoenix cooks all of her meals for her bookings ahead of time. As long as there are no liquids (think sauces, dressing, etc.) it is all allowed through TSA. She typically packs all her food in a lunch box with ice packs that are frozen solid.
“Another tip is to just pack your cooked protein like chicken or shrimp, and then pick up your fresh fruits and microwavable veggies at the local grocery when you arrive at your destination.”
Eating healthy has always been a priority for Phoenix, and she says it’s one factor that contributes to any performer being at the top of their game. Other factors include maintaining discipline through consistent training and practice to provide a great show, but Phoenix says to be a full-package performer, you have to be friendly and interactive with customers on and off the stage.
all fired up
Perhaps the most notable aspect that distinguishes Phoenix in her field is the quality of her shows and the use of creative costumes and props. The most noteworthy – and potentially most dangerous of which – is her fire. Though Phoenix learned her fire skills from highly trained professionals and has been practicing them for over 12 years, she still has a slew of other safety precautions in place.
Some of those precautions include always having a fire safety blanket on hand, and initiating safety discussions before a fire show.
“I brief whoever is helping me so they know what to expect,” she explains. “This ensures they’ll know if something is going wrong, and what to do if I need help.”
Phoenix also has a fire safety certification and fire insurance to cover all her bases.
With such a wide array of skills and talents, it’s no surprise she was invited to compete in the 2024 EDI East Competition hosted by the Pony Clubs in Huntsville, AL.
“I absolutely love going to the Pony Clubs,” Phoenix says, “Each one that I have been to has just been a wonderful experience. The staff, the dancers, everyone is always so welcoming. It really makes you feel at home.”
Jerry Westlund, founder and owner of the popular Pony chain says, “I am thrilled that Phoenix Phires has returned to our industry, bringing her captivating performances to the Pony Clubs once again!”
Phoenix performed her Beetlejuice show for the EDIs, after which she was crowned the winner of the EDI East’s Showgirl Division. After returning home with this coveted title, Phoenix reflected on her journey and her most recent accomplishment.
“After taking time to work on my skills, and less than two years into my return, to go up against an incredibly talented list of performers and then to be crowned EDI East Champion is a dream,” Phoenix says.
Whether it’s throwing fire or weaving through twenty-foot-high silks, Phoenix Phires has put her mind, body and soul into her craft. Through her perseverance and thoughtful creations, she is a true testament to the beauty of merging art forms, captivating audiences with every performance.
For more information, visit linktr.ee/phoenixphires.
