Behind The Curtain – From Outback Rancher To Strip Entertainer
If you’ve followed my profile pieces, both here and previously with VegasChatter, you know that I have an enormous amount of admiration for performers. Along with the emotional and physical sacrifices they make to keep you entertained, their dedication can sometimes be extreme.
To pursue their artistic passions in Las Vegas, it isn’t unusual for entertainers to relocate from very far away. Aaron Lucey came to Sin City from about as far away as you can imagine – the deep Australian outback. And his current gigs in several Strip productions are pretty far removed from his former life as a rancher.
Aaron grew up way outside of Brisbane in the Australian state of Queensland. He cut his teeth…as well as skin and scalp…on the family’s 24,000-acre ranch. His grandfather gave him his first horse right after his birth, and Aaron was riding and herding by the age of two (yes, two!). At the age of six, he could drive any vehicle on the family’s property. He and his four siblings–all sisters–were brought up by parents with an interesting philosophy: “”We are raising adults, not children”.
While developing his rancher skills at the remote estate, Lucey had a deep desire to learn dance. That meant lots of parental support…and plenty of travel to the cities…so Aaron could attend classes. After achieving a Diploma in Performing Arts and an AQF Certificate IV in Dance Performance, he hopped aboard Princess Cruise Lines for a two-year stint.
Leaving his family and home wasn’t easy for this rough-hewn cowboy, but working aboard cruise ships paved his future, as he made friends with lots of Sin City natives. From there it was a hop/skip/jump to the Unites States and the bright lights of the Strip. Aaron’s been here for a little more than three years, and to say that he’s has made a name for himself in Las Vegas would be an understatement.
Not long after arriving, Aaron became Dance Captain for legendary Melinda – The First Lady Of Magic. When Aaron and I first met, two summers ago, he was part of the entertainment team at Victor Drai’s LIAISON Nightclub inside Bally’s. Since then, he’s displayed his dancing skills at Frank Marino’s Divas Las Vegas, V – The Ultimate Variety Show, VEGAS! The Show, Dancing Queen and Legends In Concert.
Not content just to perform (Aaron is also proficient in gymnastics, aerial silks/straps, and trampoline) this Aussie has become a choreographer and instructor. He’s lent his talents to a wide assortment of corporate, charity and special events, including the Broadway Bares Solo Strips fundraiser that we told you about last September. And he just came off a wildly successful stint as Assistant Choreographer for the annual New Year’s Eve Gala at Wynn/Encore.
Aaron with host Bryan Chan at the 2015 Broadway Bares – Solo Strips fundraiser
Last month I shadowed Aaron for two nights, taking in one his hilarious performances as a member of the dancing undead in the surprise hit Zombie Burlesque. He shared his story over dinner and was bubbling with enthusiasm over the opportunities which relocating to Las Vegas has afforded him. And he was eager to share his dreams for the future:
“I am currently in the process of working on a new idea for a show, for which I am collaborating with top choreographers and aerialists. I am also starting a new online dance course for beginners. My biggest vision is to open up a Performing Arts College on a massive scale…creating the perfect environment for our kids to become the greatest and most inspiring artists the world has ever seen. While all of this is in the process, I will continue to perform, choreograph and teach”.
Being so far from home is a bit easier to deal with when you are keeping this busy. Fortunately for Aaron, a position was created for him where he could also work alongside his countrymen and friends. He’s been hired as the assistant choreographer and director for Australia’s Thunder From Down Under, where he and his fellow Aussies show off their moves (and quite a bit more) at Excalibur.
Aaron Lucey (front, center) with the cast of Australia’s Thunder From Down Under
Aaron and I took in Thunder from the back row of the theater on the second night of our meetings. I watched him bobbing and weaving in his seat, reflecting the moves of his dancers onstage. He pumped his fist into the air during one performer’s acrobatics, covered his face during a (very) small gaffe, and high-fived his dancers as they strutted by, working the crowd. Aaron was very much in his element, and the experience of watching him view his work unfold in front of an audience was electric.
It was clear to me that this former rancher from Australia is indeed where he belongs. The thumping music of Vegas may have replaced the hoofbeats of horses and cattle…stage lights have now taken over for the glare of a midday sun.
But for Aaron Lucey, Las Vegas is the new Outback…and a show-business frontier waiting for him to tame.
[Images courtesy of Aaron Lucey via Facebook, cast photo courtesy of Australia’s Thunder From Down Under]
A fitness buff and Vegas fan. Sam enjoys shows, bargains, and cheap healthy eats.
