Pure entertainment

Performer known to encourage crowd to join in on the fun

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A bet among co-workers changed a one-time professional ballerina, turned corporate-world worker, into a street performer.

Kiki Kalor, who performs regularly at Josette's Bistro, 4983 W. Flamingo Road, changed her occupation on a bet, and she hasn't regretted it.

Kalor has been performing her show, "The Kiki Kalor Express," for about three years. And yes, Kiki Kalor is her real name.

"I started singing in 2002," said Kalor, who was born in France. "Prior to that I was a professional ballerina. Then I just discovered that I could sing."

After learning Kalor could sing and dance, her co-workers made a bet that she didn't have the nerve to go perform in an open-air promenade, popular among street performers, in Santa Monica, Calif. To win the bet, Kalor went and performed, and she enjoyed it. So much, in fact, that she quit her corporate job and made street performing her full-time career -- until she became popular enough to be hired by clients on a regular basis, which incidentally didn't take too long.

"That's how I started my career," Kalor laughed. "And I developed my whole show there. It's a great way to do it because you get instant feedback. You figure out really quickly what works and what doesn't work."

About seven months ago Kalor decided to move from Los Angeles and make Las Vegas her home.

"My clients said to come here, so I listened," the Summerlin resident said. "I love it here. It's so exciting, a very, very exciting place to be. It is the entertainment capital of the world. People from around the world come here to be entertained. There is no other place like that."

The idea of Kalor's shows, which are usually around 50 to 60 minutes in length, is for the show to become a party in which the audience feels free and is encouraged to interact during the performance.

"In my show I want them (the audience) to party and have a good time," Kalor said. "I like to keep things high energy and upbeat."

Upbeat would be one way to describe Kalor's personality. Although she is slight of stature, she seems to have endless energy and a powerful voice.

Kalor's internationally inspired cabaret show features songs in English, German, Italian, Spanish, French, Russian, Armenian and Latin, and incorporates standard Broadway classics as well as American songs that take you on a tour of our own country, including "Minnie the Moocher," "When You're Good to Mama" and "New York, New York."

"The great thing is I start out like a wallflower singing torch songs and by the end everyone is up dancing on chairs and singing," she said.

Kalor currently is performing every Wednesday at Josette's Bistro.

Kalor updates her show themes to keep them new and innovative. Upcoming shows include Wednesday's "French Songs & Champagne," "James Bond Song Night" on April 12, "Broadway Cabaret With Kiki" on April 19 and "Country Western Craziness" on April 26.

Josette LeBlond, owner and namesake of Josette's Bistro, said she enjoys hosting Kalor's performances because the two just seem to fit together.

"She sings songs from different countries and France," LeBlond said. "And this is a very French restaurant. It works very well."

Kalor also works private and corporate parties.

"I don't want to be just another singer," Kalor said. "And I don't think I am. I let the people really relax and let their hair down. If your cell phone rings, that's OK. If you want to sing and dance, that's OK. It's a party, just have fun. That's the point. I create memories for people, and if I do that, then I've done my job, I feel good."

For more information, visit www.kikikalor.com.