You're reading: At last, an all-male striptease that bares all

Ukraine's capital lacks male strip show, you say? Well, nine strippers and their managers are aspiring to fill the void in Kyiv's nightlife

n Ukraine, are slowly gaining popularity in Kyiv. Fortunately for those who live for ladies’ nights, nine strippers and their managers are aspiring to fill the void in Kyiv’s nightlife.

Formed only six months ago, “Guys from Heaven,” Ukraine’s first all‑male, ballet striptease made their debut on March 7 at Evrika.

Although the cover charge (for the show) was pricey – Hr 60 for women and Hr 80 for men, the show was well worth it.

Unlike most male strippers, hired more for their looks than for their dancing talent, these curvaceous men are professional dancers who know how to work a crowd as well as the strippers’ pole, leaving nothing to the imagination.

Whether they were dancing to Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” or to the theme song to “Cabaret,” the routines, albeit far from anything resembling ballet, were diverse and intriguing.

Once the audience was warmed up, the repertoire ventured into more provocative, crowd‑pleasing dances. The most memorable and explicit scenes involved the whips, chains and leather of “S&M,” and a routine called “Sodom and Gomorrah,” which depicted three Roman noblemen in an orgy, taunting and raping a slave.

Yet, for all the shocking, borderline‑grotesque dances, Guys from Heaven maintain that the main purpose of their program is to exhibit the beauty of the male form “without being offensive.”

“We want to show the beauty of the male body, and do it in an intriguing fashion,” said Serhy Larkin, director of Art Consulting, the agency that created Guys from Heaven.

“Up until now Ukrainian nightclubs would invite mainly Russian and other foreign male erotic shows to perform in Ukraine,” Larkin said.

Art Consulting saw a need for male strip troupes. Until recently, most male strippers in Ukraine performed on an individual basis, as opposed to belonging to a troupe, like the U.S.‑based Chippendale Dancers.

Searching for the right individuals turned out to be an arduous undertaking.

“The tryouts were severely competitive,” Larkin said. More than 450 men tried out for one of the nine slots.

The requirements were not limited to a nice physique and a pretty face. The “guy from heaven” would have a combination of good looks, superior dancing abilities and ooze sexuality.

“There are some men who dance well, but their faces are like stone – without any passion,” Larkin said. “Strippers need to know how to look at a woman in a way that makes her feel desirable.”

Like the British pop group Spice Girls, each of the nine strippers has their own stage name. Jam, Blade, Flash, Kid, Narcissus, Hammer, Orange, Billy and Devil have distinct characters to accompany their stage names.

The group would like to branch out from nightclub performing and take their show to the big stage, like theaters and concert halls. The group’s managers are also arranging a tour abroad.

Until then, Guys from Heaven will be baring it all every Wednesday evening at 9:30 p.m. at Evrika.