Vicki Cafarella of Unleash fame uses burlesque to shake off stress

She is one of 12 women featured in the film Unleash, a documentary that follows participants over nine weeks in the lead up to a burlesque performance. Each person shares their story of resilience as they uncover their inner spark while preparing for the show.

While she classifies herself as retired, Vicki spins a lot of plates: she works two days a week for a jeweller in the city, teaches yoga, is a carer for her father and her musical husband Tony and together they are preparing her dad's first book for publishing. In mid-2022, she also had a hip replacement, so she tries to take some down time with movement and meditation.

At the age of 50, Vicki decided to become younger, not older and try new things. Among them were piano, belly dancing, trading at the Rundle Street markets with her hand made designs, and starting a jewellery valuation business in the city.

With all this while lecturing in gemology and taking on the carer role, she was feeling stressed. In 2013, her mother suggested she apply to be a participant in the 'Yoga for Stress Study School of Psychology' research project, via yoga classes at the University of Adelaide. The application was successful and it inspired a passion, becoming a yoga instructor herself.

In 2017 she met Melony Cherrett (Unleash's creative director) who was running her own yoga classes along with her dance group Choo La La, which offers burlesque dance fusion classes, and that they were working on a show for the Adelaide Fringe Festival.

"I thought: 'that sounds incredible, how do I get into that?" She said: "you could join us." And the next thing, Vicki was performing burlesque.

"I did it for discipline and fun. I love dancing and I'm a big freestyler, but this is discipline - how do you do steps? How do you fit in (within the performance)? How do you get on and off the stage?"

At her first show, there were about 80 performers and 800 in the audience. She performed in five shows that year, the dancers grew each show and then expanded to other hubs.

"I was like 'How is this possible!' But you're in it together with a group of fun people, so the energy, support and confidence comes from being in the group and sharing the experience together," Vicki said.

Several years later and Vicki has done several public performances including the Fringe, along with community halls and events.

"I came to burlesque initially while looking to get rid of stress through yoga, and was always watchful for other opportunities to bring more enjoyment into my life through just giving things a go," Vicki said.

At Choo La La, people sign up for a block of dance classes that go for nine or 10 weeks, and they can choose to perform at a show at the end of that block or do the rehearsal only.

The build up before a show and behind the scenes - the rehearsals, performers helping each other get dressed, and running down side streets in full costume to get onto a stage through a theatre's side doors - are the most fun parts for Vicki.

Once on stage, any fears, inhibitions or worries evaporate.

"You just go blank and do it," she said.

The film, shot in 2021 by production company 'All Sourced Up', follows one particular show. Vicki didn't know if and when the film would be completed, or if she would make the cut, until it was screened in November 2022 at Wallis Cinemas. Upon seeing the film for the first time, Vicki said: "What an amazing and wonderful surprise!"

"We thought, being a documentary, that it would be shown at a community hall; we didn't know that it'd be shown at cinemas.

"It was such an incredible experience to see the way they had edited the film; I was really impressed with the whole thing."

The film has since been screened in Sydney and Melbourne.

The production team went into Vicki's home when they were shooting material for the film. They asked Tony if the crew could film him singing a song he wrote for Vicki - which they did. Unbeknown to both Vicki and Tony, that entire song and performance was added in the closing credits to the film.

"We thought it must have been cut, but what a surprise when it appeared on the screen - we had tears in our eyes," she said.

"The stories of the other women are incredible; such a vast cross-section of people, willing to allow us into their personal lives'. It's very inspiring - very moving."

By sharing her story, she hopes to show people that it's good to try things and that age, size and shape are not blockers.

"Everyone has a person within them that they've locked away because of the pressures of life. Just explore. Be curious about things and keep moving, learning and sharing" she said.

"Just do something for yourself each day, that your future self will thank you for."

Choo La La has a series of cabaret shows at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, including Suburban Showgirls (March 12), The Ultimate Showgirl Experience (March 17 and 18) and Choo and Peek (February 25). Click here for more information.