Las Vegas Weekly

November 24, 2009 · 9:06 AM

The Rose to bloom in winter

By Xania Woodman

Photo: Flickr via Chesil

Despite the chill, a Rose will bloom in Las Vegas come December, says a source close to The Rose, the diminutive “burlesque cocktail room” poised to debut in the space that formerly held Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce. At just 4,600 square feet, The Rose looks to be the most intimate of December’s crop of new clubs. This year’s pledge class also includes Vanity at the Hard Rock, Light Group’s Haze at Aria, and Eva Longoria Parker’s Eve also at City Center’s Crystals.

Originally slated to have opened Labor Day weekend, The Rose was until today rumored to be soft-opening on November 27 (and has since been pushed back a week at the least), with a live performance by DJ Steve “Kid Millionaire” Aoki Friday night and a VIP opening the following night with DJ 88 (aka Bree Cohen). According to a source who has already seen the nearly finished space, The Rose resembles "a mixture of Paris, L.A. and New York.”

“We’ve made no official statement at this time about the future use of that space,” says MGM Mirage vice president of public affairs Gordon Absher.

Despite the fact that MGM Mirage is not ready to comment, the Weekly found The Rose listed on Dim Mak DJ Steve Aoki’s busy schedule for November 27. No word from Aoki’s manager whether he will still be able to make the soft opening if it is indeed rescheduled to December 4. Aoki is scheduled to spin at Privé that night, but as The Rose is also represented by Opium Group public relations (parent company to Privé), perhaps the ties will allow for Aoki to make the switch from Privé to The Rose after all.

So far, the list of resident DJ talent reads like a one-off special event with event producer Brent Bolthouse and Vegas’ own DJs Five and 88 spinning weekly. A flier confirms DJ Five as the Wednesday night resident, with DJ 88 confirming that she herself has the Saturday night honors.

Like many of the clubs in town, The Rose already has its own Facebook and Twitter accounts. Since October 30, friends and fans have been able to read about The Rose’s choreographed burlesque shows, price-per-guest VIP seating (as opposed to bottle minimums; Pure Management Group has also made this change recently to all of its Vegas venues). “The Rose's decor will feature rich gold and black flock patterned wall coverings, lush lavender and gold banquettes, antique picture frames featuring backlit LED imagery, a grand gold antique mirror bar, and a private lounge featuring Louis XIV style furniture and a private pink Corian bar,” the Facebook note reads.

“Early December,” the young lady on the other end of the line said when the Weekly called the number posted on Facebook.

According to an ad on Craig’s List, an audition for burlesque dancers was held on November 14 at the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theatre inside the Holsum Lofts. “From the creators of the Perfecto show at the Palms Hotel,” the ad reads, referring to Belluscious Productions and CEO Genevieve Cleary.

“Everything went really great,” says Belluscious talent manager Amanda McIlvaine. Over 50 women showed up for the audition, after which 12 were hired. Six dancers will work each night the club is open, which only closes on Mondays. The dancers are now in rehearsals for their four to five shows per night. “There are going to be performances and interaction throughout the whole night, as well as the choreographed performances,” says McIlvaine. Via the ladies’ can-can, Charleston, and sexy bondage numbers, “The atmosphere and the mood and the vibe of the whole clubs is going to change drastically over the course of the night.”

We’re looking forward to seeing that! Now we just need someone to formally acknowledge The Rose’s existence. Preferably before the doors open.

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