The Thinnest Woman Wins

Try some delicious Low Carb Theater! Laugh the fat right off in this one-woman tour-de-force from New York City featuring a beauty pageant, baton-twirling and inappropriate body hair.

The Thinnest Woman Wins is easily 24 years in the making. That was the year, at age 16, when Dixie FunLee Shulman won the title Miss Majorette of America. Two years later Shulman became a University of Georgia majorette--a year after that she was kicked off the squad for being too fat. Five years later the story became her signature solo "Twirl," probably the world's only baton-twirling, modern dance piece that comtemplates padded bras, taped buttocks and weekly weigh-ins. The Thinnest Woman Wins has appeared in Milan, Edinburgh, Montreal, NYC, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Boulder.

"Shulman is a warm, engaging performer whose intelligence, candour and wit keeps us switched on throughout."
-The Scotsman

"The reason it succeeds is due mostly to Shulman's unexpected, rare and buoyant optimism; and ultimately, her authenticity."
-The List

"By the time the piece ends-silently--Shulman has become a powerful, beautiful woman."
-Village Voice

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.DIXIEFUNDANCE.COM

Dixie FunLee Shulman directs Dixie Fun Dance Theatre, whose mission is to create dances that are reminiscent of pop art, political cartoons and expressionist painting all combined and expressed physically. The choreography typically combines outrageousness and humor with serious subject matters. The result is provocative theatre that is entertaining while promoting social and political change. Her choreographic process begins in the library. Movement is never just for the sake of moving, instead, all of the choreography directly reflects the specific ideas and imagery generated by the research.

Dixie FunLee Shulman created Dixie Fun Dance Theatre in 2000 in New York City. The company has performed at home in many venues including Dance New Amsterdam, Dance Theater Workshop, PS122, Joe's Pub, Symphony Space, Joyce SoHo, Dancenow/NYC Festival, La MaMa, HERE Arts Center, Dixon Place, BAX, WAX, BAAD! and BRIC. Shulman has performed The Thinnest Woman Wins at Teatro dell'Elfo in Milan, Teatro Annibal Caro in Civitanova Marche, Italy, at the Gilded Balloon in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Studio 303 in Montreal, Christ Church at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, and Atlanta's First Glance Festival. Dixie Fun Dance Theatre has received funding from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund/New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, as well as the Puffin Foundation, Open Meadows Foundation, Seattle Arts Commission, and the King County Arts Commission.

Showtimes

Tue., Aug. 5 @ 5:30 p.m.
Thu., Aug. 7 @ 10:00 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 8 @ 5:30 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 9 @ 1:00 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 10 @ 7:00 p.m.

Show details

Venue: Intermedia Arts

Duration: 60 minutes

For ages 8+

Created by Dixie FunLee Shulman

From: New York, NY

Website: www.dixiefundance.com

Genres: Solo, Dance, Comedy

Warnings: Nudity

Overall rating

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User reviews

Honesty about women
by Red Kempf Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
I was able to meet with Dixie about half hour prior to the show and only for about five minutes at that. I had no idea what I was in store for. This is the only performance I went into blindly, not even knowing the name till I was seated. It blew my mind. Her blunt and beautiful words and movement were fantastic from the opening where she shaved her arms and showed off her hairy armpits to the final naked number. It was educational and poignant. Cellulite is a word invented by Vogue, bet you didn'tknow that. She captivated us with her grace and imaginative ways. She performed injured and I loved all of it. Strength has a new meaning and I love my lumpies more from her.

Terrific show
by Sherry Larson Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
I worked tonight after seeing this show. I was operating an elevator at the Target Center taking people from the suites to NBA City. A woman got on with a bunch of roses and handed me one. Told me she thought I was beautiful. I have a similar body type to Dixie. Then she told me, I probably didn't think I was beautiful. At which time, I bite my tongue, thinking "f... you, you condescending bitch, I know I am beautiful!" Thanks Dixie!

15 Friendly Pounds ...
by Lee Spears Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
of bold, beautiful entertainment. Dixie flies in the face of 100 years of ludicrous self-loathing with humor, candor, and a new appreciation for what's remarkably average. She has an injury that is preventing full range of motion with her dance, and talking about that is a little distracting. You leave feeling sheepish, shameless, and lifted up. A rare treat.

very real
by emili bal Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
She did an awesome job portraying what our society thinks of as being beautiful and "normal" and then comparing those images to real life. Very raw and personal - it makes you leave the theater really thinking about things. Great performance! Would def recommend!

a healthy look at self image
by russ yttri Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
This guy really enjoyed the show..... everyone has self-image issues. Dixie puts it ALL out there and comes to term with self. Her comfort with her body is inspiring.

Praise For Thinnest Women Wins!
by dana morrison Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Dixie's performance is a spot on depiction of the insecurities women feel and the pressure we feel in our society to achieve that "perfect body" and how the race for perfection leaves most of us feeling unfulfilled and disappointed. I admired her candidness, bravery and sense of humor as she exposes those very humorous and sometimes painful choices women make in our quest for beauty . I wish every pre-teen girl could see this.

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