Since 1981, Ffolliott "Fluff" LeCoque has worked as the company manager of Donn Arden's Jubilee, a 90-minute classic Vegas showroom spectacular.
"I am in charge of all the dancers and singers in the show. It's much like any other managerial position," LeCoque said. For nearly 22 years, she's held down the job of keeping tabs on a cast of 100.
But before joining Jubilee!, LeCoque was busy fulfilling her own performing dreams.
"I was a dancer all my life. I started as a principal dancer for Mr. Arden for many years," she said. LeCoque holds a degree in Drama from the University of Washington in Seattle. She spent many years dancing and doing choreography around the United States and overseas.
She worked in Las Vegas when she first came to town in 1947. Then she left and came back in 1963. She worked at the Desert Inn until 1970 on three different stages. She was in "Hello Hollywood," "Hello Hollywood 2" and "Pizzaz."
She came to what is now Bally's hotel in 1973, but back then it was the MGM Grand.
She worked in "Hallelujah Hollywood," first as a performer, playing the widow in the Titanic sinking sequence--an act that's been a mainstay in Jubilee! since it opened.
Most of Jubilee!, including the Titanic sinking and the Samson and Delilah sequence, has been part of the show since its July 30, 1981 opening. Little has changed.
"We've changed the opening. It originally had five sections, now it's down to 3 sections. The first and second parts of the opening are relatively new, but the third part is from the original," she said.
So much of the show has stayed the same, and even though the dancers change, some of them stay in the cast for quite a while.
So how does LeCoque ensure the show stays fresh night after night? "By talking to them--a lot," she laughed,"We have clean up rehearsals and maintenance rehearsals between shows. We seldom rehearse during the day because the showroom is used for other purposes, like conventions. So we work very late at night. The late show ends at 12:10 a.m. and we stay to do clean-up rehearsals for as long as it takes."
Although she isn't involved with the few specialty acts that break up the major sections of the show, she is actively involved with casting and recasting the show. She said that dancers and singers in the casthave to re-audition for their spots every six months because that is the length of every contract they offer. Indeed, you may remember the recent reality series on E! Entertainment entitled Vegas Showgirls: Nearly Famous. The behind-the-scenes show looked at four showgirls and two showboys from Jubilee! who were preparing for end-of-contract auditions.
"On average, about 25 new singers, 50 new girl dancers and 20 new boy dancers come to each audition," said LeCoque.
There are 12 singing positions in the show, six men and six women.The singers have to look great, too. "Singers should be 5'8 [ladies], but sometimes we cheat," LeCoque laughed, "Sometime we have to make adjustments, but that's only for someone who is maybe an inch or two under the minimums. Someone who is 5'4 isn't possible because of the costuming."
Before considering singers and dancers' great looks and height (5'8 minimum for women and 5'11 minimum for men), LeCoque says talent and ability to dance or sing are most important. More specifically, dancers must have proficiency in ballet, jazz and tap.
"For background, ballet is necessary for line and Jazz and tap for rhythm and style," she said, "We're not specifically one thing or the other. We're a conglomeration of all styles put together. You have to be able to do everything"
On average, about 30 new singers and dancers are integrated into the cast each year, she said.
She also said that some people can stay in the show for quite a while. "There's a nucleus of people that are out of their teens or early twenties who are ready to be more settled in their lives, and they'll stay for quite a while. Then there are those who are very young and still have the desire to live like a gypsy. They'll stay between six months and two years. To young people, six months is a long time, and a year is an eternity."
But she says it's really an individual thing and depends on each person's goals for his or her career and lifestyle.
Current cast members try out on the last day of auditions. New dancers and singers who have been called back will be asked to join them. LoCoque explained that some performers come in with their hair down, little make-up and very covered clothing. If they see that these performers have potential, they're asked to come back and will be guided as to how they should show up in terms of their make up, hair, and dress.
Even though Jubilee! is a topless show, not all of the performers have to bare their chests. There are 28 topless women and 3 principal topless dancers. But 22 dancers are covered throughout. LeCoque says it's up to the women in the show.
"The topless girls make more money than the dressed girls. We never force anybody to go topless. It's their choice," she said. Sometimes a woman will start the show as a covered dancer and by the time she re-auditions, she'll request to do the show topless.
"As a matter of fact it's a compliment for us to ask them to go topless because we're very particular. Lots of girls have never seen a topless show like this before. Their view is different from what it actually is," LeCoque said.
But no matter what route a dancer chooses, LeCoque has seen changes in the dancing business in Vegas. She said maintaining skill is essential.
"The dancing is getting a lot more competitive now. They need to keep up their skills. One big problem is dancers and singers who don't keep up training. You have to really study your craft all the time.Somebody who's serious about dance will do that without being told. But others may let that slide," she said.
Just because the dancers are making a great living in a glitzy Vegas show with lots of spectacular Bob Mackie gowns and a steady routine, it doesn't mean there's room for slacking off. After all, they must perform twice every night except Fridays. LeCoque said that, as a part of the hotel, which is owned by a large corporation (Park Place Entertainment), the show has rules and regulations that are taken very seriously. They have to maintain business and theatrical integrity, too, she said.
LeCoque stressed bottom line: "You have to enjoy it. Once you don't enjoy it, it's time for you to leave the show before somebody tells you to. And if you keep up your skills, you have a far better chance of getting another job."