DARLING STILETTOS-INDIVIDUAL BIOS

Ace

Raised in a small Oklahoma town, Ace Harper threw herself into her dancing at a very young age. Evolving into an in-demand choreographer before she had even graduated high school, Ace spent her teenage weekends flying around the country assisting top choreographers. Following a stint working with the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders, Harper–who had spent her summers in L.A. from the age of 15 –moved to the City of Angels for good at 18.

Exposed to an array of musical styles as a dancer, from ballet to Black Sabbath, Ace’s affinity for rock & roll landed her dancing gigs for Lenny Kravitz, Motley Crue and Velvet Revolver. Now, with the rise of her own dance group, Darling Stilettos, Ace says, “What we do is so different from what’s out there. We truly believe in the spirit of rock & roll and what it stands for. There’s always room for more women, especially in rock & roll.”  

As for the song choices in Darling Stilettos’ repertoire, Harper says she is equally drawn to punk rock and “the classic shit,” adding, “AC/DC and Led Zeppelin songs are the best for dancing. AC/DC just has that sexy groove you want to shake your ass to. And ‘Whole Lotta Love’ always makes me dance too. Especially that breakdown when John Bonham just goes off!”

Gina

Hailing from the farms and forests of Hell, Michigan, Gina Katon was one of three girls raised in a strict household. Although music was a significant part of her upbringing (her father is a rock blues musician) Gina’s dedication to virtually every conceivable style of dance ended up being her ticket out of, um, Hell. Briefly touching down in New York, Gina discovered that Los Angeles was a much better fit, and has lived in the area for five years.

Brought up on artists such as Green Day, Aerosmith and Prince, Katon’s love of hard rock has only grown thanks to her participation in Darling Stilettos. Digging everything from Rainbow to Marilyn Manson to Blondie, the charismatic, self-assured Katon says loves to perform. “Most of all, it just feels good,” Gina says. “I’ve always been aware of the power of my sexuality. It’s a certain confidence. It keeps your head up and adds a little spice to your soul. Girls, don’t be afraid to be sexy! It’s glorious.”

Jersey

Despite a strict upbringing in Runnemede, N.J., Darling Stilettos’ own Jersey found her way into plenty of mischief –including being kicked out of public school for brawling–before she left the East Coast behind for L.A. Attending three different high schools, Jersey holds the distinction of being kicked out of public and parochial institutions for brawling. Inspired by her old man’s classic rock collection and her older brother’s Guns N’ Roses and Motley Crue discs, this Garden State native fused her love of dancing with rock music. “It’s so free and so intense and with the right mixture of elements, it’s the total euphoria,” she says, citing faves like AC/DC, Zeppelin and The Stones.

Citing the Stilettos’ chemistry as “magnetic,” Jersey says, “We work hard and we play hard. We’re hot rocker chicks who can actually all dance. When we step onstage, we rock it out. We get to really embrace our gift of being hot sexy women in stilettos–flipping our hair, laughing, singing and looking and feeling great. What girl wouldn’t want that?”

Lindsey

Deadwood City, California’s own Lindsey–one of six siblings–doesn’t exactly cop to being rebellious, but she makes up with it by being mouthy and opinionated. Although she says she grew up dancing to music others her age had never heard, she made up for lost time thanks to her brothers’ Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins and Rage Against The Machine CDs. With a will to succeed, she too, split for L.A. after high school and soon enough met up with Darling Stilettos. “When you feel good about yourself and who you are, then it shows,” Lindsey says of DS’ onstage vibe. “People will respond to that. Plus, a short black dress doesn’t hurt either.”  

“When we get on stage, people are always happy,” Lindsey laughs. “They’re like, ‘Yeah, hot girls.’ “But they have no idea what to expect. As soon the music starts they kind of stare for a while with half smiles. But as the set builds so does their excitement! They start singing along and cheering loud every time a new song comes on that they really like. By the middle of our performance, everyone is jamming! They’re like ‘Oh! These chicks can really tear it up!” I always feel like we go out there and really win them over. In the beginning they're just happy to see us. But by the end, they're a DS fan, asking when we’ll be back and how they can see us again.”

Megan

South Korean-born Megan was adopted and raised in Greeley, Colorado and jokes that it “literally smelled like cow ass.”  Turned on to her oldest brother’s Guns N’ Roses and Nirvana discs, she admits she “was the token Asian who did her own thing” and was drawn to dance in her youth.

After relocating to L.A., she joined forces with Darling Stilettos. “It’s a collaboration. We’re a fine line of sexy gals who can do it all. We’re a family that will stick up for each other no matter what.”

“Dancing for people is so satisfying,” Megan concludes. “Being able to perform and connecting with them reminds me of why I do this. It’s about me making them feel good and seeing their reaction.”