A flight of fancy
Wearing their trademark sunglasses, the Flyboys of Flag Troupe Houston take the art of flagging, that some call flag-dancing, into the realm of choreographed stage performances, and create a visual spactacle of moving color and light put to music that ranges from an upbeat frenzy to the mystical and ethereal. By spinning their shimmering, brightly colored, and luminescenet flags in a synchronized set of choreographed movements, the Flyboys enthrall and delight their audiences with a display of lights and colors dancing in harmonized unity.
The troupe was formed in late 2002, and was originally a foursome until the fifth member officially joined in Februay of 2004. Since then, the group has gained new members as well as said goodbye to others. The troupe first performed at Houston's legendary RICH's dance club, located in the heart of midtown, and the club was designated as its official home until it closed its doors in June of 2004 (the club has since re-opened under new manahgement). The troupe's first major production was the Lift-Off event held at the George R. Brown convention center in downtown Houston.
The art of flagging, or flag-dancing, has ancient roots, and has various incarnations. This most recent form of flag-dancing began surfacing in dance clubs and circuit parties in the mid-1990's, and is itself a recreation of the fan-dancing found in gay dance clubs in the early 1980's. Flag troupes began forming in the late 1990's, most notably Axis Danz founded in New York City in 1998, which has been featured in various important mainstream venues, including a video by Mariah Carey. The Flyboys are the ONLY other performance flagging troupe in the United States that does choreographed, synchronized flag-dancing shows.
In the last three years the troupe has shared the stage with TV star Jai Rodriguez, performed with pop vocalist Amber, and has been noted in several publications, including Outsmart, the Washington Blade, the Houston Chronicle, Genre, and This Week in Texas, Most recently the troupe performed in New orleans at their first majoy circuit party event, and drew a crowd of hundreds to the first known stand-alone flag-dancing event when they premiered their new number "Demonium."
Currently, the Flyboys continue to perform for private and public events. Interested patrons wanting a brand new show should note that it takes several weeks to produce a brand new number. however, previously performed numbers can usually be performed within days of a request.
The original members of the Flyboys of Flag Troupe Houston were: Marco Roberts (founder and leader of the troupe), Edward Stewart, Michael Alberts, and Toby Black.
(For our official page with LOTS of videos go to http://www.houstonflyboys.com)
FLYBOYS 2009
The Houston Pride Parade is almost here, and you know what that means: It's time to celebrate! This year marks the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, so you'd better brave the mild, toasty weather, and show your colors. You know we will, because as has been true since 2007, the last thing you will see before the parade begins, will be the Houston Flyboys flags waving and spinning high in the air.
The Parade's official start is 8:45 PM, so the Flyboys will take to the streets at 8:30 PM, and introduce the evening twilight to the crowd with the soft glow of rainbow colors moving to the sound of music. You know parking is tough by 5:00 PM, so get there early, enjoy the Pride festival, and make an evening of it. There are lots of bars and restaurants within walking distance. Consider too, all the interesting, fun, and even fair, out-of-town visitors you will see (and perhaps meet?) out on the parade route.
The family reunion is only once a year: be a part of the BIG event.
Here's to 40 years of our fight for our human dignity!
Come see the us as we return to South Beach for the 3 Annual Leathers and Feathers 3 Costume Ball- FIREBALL! Tell your friends. Free giveaways throughout the night. Costumes are encouraged!
http://houstonflyboys.com/http://www.myspace.com/sobehouston
http://www.southbeachthenightclub.com/The Flyboys of Flag Troupe Houston will return to the fabled, legendary, and all-around queen of Houston's grandest parties, as the featured entertainment of this year’s Bunnies on the Bayou on Easter Sunday, April 12. You probably know that BOTB is the biggest gay party in Houston, save the Pride parade itself. But, did you know that this year the Bunnies on the Bayou will host their 30th annual event? That's three solid decades of outdoor Bunnies action! What once started as a small private party in 1979 has turned into Houston's largest annual outdoor cocktail party. So great in fact, that people come from near and far to be part of this huge non-proft fundraising event.Once again, the Houston Flyboys show will be the live entertainment at the event, making this our 6th year straight with BOTB. It will also be the 9th year Flyboy founder Marco Roberts has performed as a flagger at this event, and this year Marco will be saying goodbye to Bunnies on the Bayou as a perfomer. With all these milestone markers, this year we are going for a full-scale production featuring nine performers - that's 9!, wer'e the biggest flag-dance troupe in the US - backed up by spectacular props and special effects. It will be the 2nd largest show we have ever staged. We promise lots of color, flash and daring sash!We are also going back to the waterfall this year, once again, taking our chances over narrow blocks overlooking a watery precipice (we try not to look down), for a spectacular backdrop for the show. So, come out on Easter Sunday, see your friends under the sunshine in the beautiful surroundings of the Worthham Center's courtyard and waterfall, and enjoy a show not likely to be reproduced again anywhere at this scale and grandeur, as we recall the carefree days of 1979-1980. Don't wait for Bunnies on the Bayou 40!Fore more info...http://houstonflyboys.com/http://www.bunniesonthebayo
u.org/http://www.myspace.com/bunniesonthebayou
Flyboys 2008
The last few months have been busy for the troupe. After a spectacular premier at Houston's Southbeach in November 07, to a moving performance for Dancers Against Cancer in December 07, the troupe is back in their boots already rehearsing for this springs upcoming shows. Spring 08 will see the flyboys like never before. If you thought our last show was great, be prepared to be amazed yet again! Visit our page often for further updates, pictures, and event details!
2008 SPRING UPDATE!
Spring Season 2008 is here, and that means you will soon see not just humming birds and butterflies flitting about blooming gardens, but also the flags of the
Flyboys of Flag Troupe Houston taking to the air, as the flag-dancers make their appearance at several events during the months of March and April - all of them in downtown Houston. Each of the shows will be different, so even if you happen to see all three, you will see something new each time.
First in line is the grande damme of all Houston parties, The Bunnies on Bayou 29 outdoor cocktail and dance party taking place on the beautiful courtyard grounds of the prestigious Wortham Center on Easter Sunday afternoon. The Flyboys have been part of this annual event since 2004, and have traditionally used this venue to premiere new routines. This year will be no different, as feature two new routines: one, a classic everyone will recognize, and the other a very special Flyboys dance mix called "Tabrizian Prayer/Battle for the Favor of the Gods." "Tabrizian Prayer: Battle for the Favor of the Gods" is the tale of a Persian king who comes to pay a lavish and soulful homage to his gods in order to gain their favor against his enemies, only to find that a rebel prince has also come to seek the gods favor so that he may prevail in his rebellion against the king. As the intensity of their spiritual duel grows, each enlists the help of allied noble lords in beseeching the gods for aid against the other. If you miss this show, your next chance to see this new special production won't be till late June. For details on BOTB 29, check the www.bunniesonthebayou.org website.
The BOTB show will be followed by an appearance with the Bayou City Performing Art's Gay Men's Chorus of Houston show: "Totally Awesome: Echoes of the 80's," at Jones Hall on Monday, March 31. Another first for Flyboys, as they flag-dance for the first time to a live chorus, and for the first time at Jones Hall. Showtime is 7:30 PM, and tickets start as low as $19. See the www.bayoucityperformingarts.org website for more information.
Next is a stint as the halftime show for the Houston Roller Derby match up on Sunday, April 13 at the Verizon. Doors open at 4PM. Guaranteed that this will be a first for many in the audience to see flaggers, let alone the synchronized Flyboys. What is not guaranteed is what they'll make of it. We predict shock followed by awe. Details coming soon to www.houstonrollerderby.com.
Come see us sometime this Spring, and see the new numbers, the new flags, the new costumes, and the new boys.
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Flash CountdownIt is official, The Flyboys of Flag Troupe Houston have been invited to participate in 2 big as Texas Pride Events this summer. Pride Houston has invited the boys to return for yet another year. Come join thousands and thousands of local Houstonians and visitors from all over the world Saturday June 28,2008 to celebrate 30 years of Houston Pride. The troupe will be be joining many local talents in amping the audience for the parade. Those who missed the Bunnies on the Bayou performance will be treated to remix of their spring show. Check out Pride Houston's website form many more official Pride events. http://www.pridehouston.org/home/
Pridefest in San Antonio has extended their arms out to welcome The Flyboys for their 2008 Pride Celebration. Offering southern hospitality and open arms as many Texans do, The troupe has been invited to participate in San Antonio's Pride events Saturday July 5, 2008. Already having performed in places such as New Hope, PA., New Orleans, to name a few..the troupe is excited about mesmerizing and enchanting a new audience with their chorographed flag dancing, trademark sunglasses, and let's not forget those costumes!
http://www.alamopridefest.moonfruit.com/#
Pride is not just a weekend event where one goes out to watch a parade in the hopes of catching beads, t-shirts, or a glimpse of some cut boy or girl in revealing clothing. Pride means appreciating the many people, organizations, and events in history that have allowed the GLBT community the freedoms it has now. There are still many obstacles and challenges we face on a day to day basis. Show your true colors and involve yourself in worthwile efforts and campaigns that will move humanity as a whole forward. And yes, you can still have fun while doing it. Have a safe Pride!
AIDSWALK HOUSTON
Flyboys 2007
This spring season is turning out to be a busy one for The Flyboys of Flag Troupe Houston. The Flyboys were featured in TWT magazine's March 30 issue, the first known article on flaggers in a Texas publication. For those that missed the TWT issue, you can visit FlaggerCentral.com, the most comprehensive resource on the Internet on all things flagger, to read the full article. A week later the troupe performed at the Jungle 15 Afterhours party, hosted by Spoiled Boyz and held at the Venue Club in downtown Houston, flawlesly premiering their new routine set to Beyonce’s “Ring the Alarm†(Free Mason Mix) in the early hours of Easter Sunday morning. A few hours later, with four hours of sleep, they followed that performance with their Easter show at the annual Bunnies on the Bayou party, where they were greeted with a loud and warm reception by the large crowd that showed up despite the cool weather. Exclusive photos and video will be coming soon.
Coming up next, the Flyboys will soon be featured in HX Philadelphia magazine, in anticipation of their first foray into the Northeast. On May 18, the Flyboys will board an afternoon flight to New York, and will arrive later that night at New Hope, Pennsylvannia, to join in the town’s new annual pride festival known as New Hope Celebrates. The Flyboys will be the opening act for their main Saturday night event, which will be headlined by the inimitable comedian and impersonator, Jimmy James. The troupe will perform again the following day at the Farewell T-Dance, the closing party of the weekend festival, which will include the legendary New York personality, Lady Bunny. New Hope is an artists’ enclave located between New York City and Philadelphia, and the festival receives thousands of visitors from the Atlantic Board region.
Get Your Own!
Get Your Own!
