CALLED TO THE BAR
AUDITIONS have been taking place at Cardiff’s Coyote Ugly Saloon under the watchful eye of the famous bar’s founder Liliana Lovell.
She’s flown over from the United States to make sure the girls chosen to work at the new venue, which opens its doors on Wednesday, December 14, are exactly what she’s looking for.
The boss said Cardiff is in for a real treat when the venue finally opens in the old Square Club in St Mary Street and that the women who are picked for the roles made famous in the 2000 cult movie Coyote Ugly will all be pretty special.
Coyotes have to have a strong personality and be able to perform confidently; she’s not looking for trained dancers but someone who has a “kick a**” personality who feels comfortable dancing on the bar and interacting with people.
Making drinks is only half the job at the saloon. The Ugly girls will have to learn choreographed dances to perform on the bar.
But if you think the whole idea of getting up on a bar and performing for the audience is sexist, she says to think again.
“This is all about feeling comfortable with yourself and having the confidence to get up there and dance. I have girls who are all different shapes and sizes, different looks, and they are all wonderful.
“They feel good about them- selves and nd they make others feeleel good. That’s female empowerment.
“Also, it’s often the women who have most funun here. You can come,me, have a drink and nd dance on the bar where no men are allowed.”
And she’s certainly not disappointed by what she’s seen en so far.
“I have seen some ome really goodod girls and nd only two wo or three e of them m a r e t r a i ned d dancers. W We’ve had an o opera singer, a bril brilliant breakdancer breakdancer, so many tale talented girls coming in.” Once the they’ve been picked,pic Liliana and her team of Coyote experts will start tr training the them. S She sa said: “T “They will perform a r rout tine about every 40 minutes but there’s a lot of freestyling going on in between too. They will gradually evolve from that first audition and it does take a couple of months but it’s going to be an amazing place for people to come and hang out and have fun.”
Liliana, who founded the first bar in New York and has since opened more than 20 worldwide, said: “Cardiff is a beautiful city and is brilliant for entertainment with its bars and clubs. I think we’re going to fit in just beautifully here.”
There are rules that customers have to obey, which include no men on the bar, no touching the girls on the bar and don’t bother going if you are easily offended. And you may get wet. “You ask for water, you’ll wet,” said Liliana. get