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Big, Bond & Beautiful – Annual Variety Show
 The RoughRiders of South
Florida
are pleased to announce our 10th Anniversary Variety Show
Extravaganza at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Amaturo
Theatre, located at 201 SW Fifth Avenue, in downtown
Fort
Lauderdale. The RoughRiders’ Annual Variety Shows have become one of
the year’s most anticipated events, playing to sold-out audiences year
after year. Big, Bond & Beautiful promises to be another
incredible show filled with music, dancing, singing, comedy, female
impersonation and just plain fun. Join the RoughRiders and our many
friends who are scheduled to appear: Sally
West, South Florida Lambda Chorale, Tiffany Arieagus, Southern Country
South Florida SunDancers, Meagan & Company, Jennifer McClain,
Derrick Buford, Bacabuda Arts, Alfred Lewis
aka Bette Davis, and those incredible Julie Christies!
Show
dates are Saturday, August 13, at
2:00pm
and
8:00pm,
and Sunday, August 14, at
7:00pm.
Tickets are available via the AutoNation Box Office 954-462-0222 or
online at www.BrowardCenter.org.
Big, Bond & Beautiful
has been made possible with support from Pride South Florida and the
Broward Center’s Arts Access Program. The Broward Center’s Arts Access
Program was designed to assist smaller organizations aspiring to present
performances for, and about, their communities. For more information
about the RoughRiders, visit
www.rrofsf.org.
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The concept of
South Florida having its first all-male country western dance
team was the brainchild of Mike Banfield, the team's Founder and
original Director. Mike had traveled to the International Gay
Rodeo in San Diego in 1994 and had the wonderful opportunity to
experience an all-male country western dance team called, The
Midnight Cowboys.
Mike, who was part of an existing co-ed dance team from Southern
Country South Florida, thought it would be a novel idea to
create the only all-male dance team in the state of Florida.
Over the 1995 Memorial Day weekend, Howard Cunningham was hired
to help create this new team. Howard's roles on the team have
continued to grow as choreographer, costume designer, and
dancer. He has remained tireless in creating one of the most
unique dance teams existing in the nation today.
The first practice was in October of 1995 with twelve dancers to
start this new venture. During the first few rehearsals, the
name for the team was chosen, The RoughRiders. The team's first
performance in public occurred at a hoedown sponsored by
Southern Country Charlotte in North Carolina on February 24,
1996. From the audience response, the dance team knew that they
had struck gold with their routines.
Since performing in Charlotte, some of the original members have
retired, only to be replaced by other dedicated dancers eagerly
wanting to be part of this team.
The RoughRiders decided from the beginning to create a unique
style of dance that was not typical country western in look.
Through the years, they have become known as the top in their
field when it comes to Cabaret numbers and the use of many
props. In October 2001, the all-male status of the RoughRiders
was broken. Our first official female dancer, Sandy Bryant (who
had always been a dedicated honorary member), became a full-time
member of the dance troupe.
The RoughRiders are currently club members of the International
Association of Gay and Lesbian Country Western Dance Clubs (IAGLCWDC).
The RoughRiders have been together since October of 1995 and
continue to have a bright future in their hometown of South
Florida and internationally. n addition to performances at
numerous benefits and events in Orlando, Key West, and
throughout South Florida, the RoughRiders have traveled and
performed in Charlotte, Washington DC, Boston, Toronto, Houston,
San Diego, and Montreal.
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