Meet Geraldine “Gigi” Metayer of “FANTASY.”

She shines on the stage at Luxor, captivating audiences with her magnetic presence, precision, and artistry. Known for her dynamic performances and dedication to the craft, Gigi brings both glamour and intrigue to every show, embodying the excitement and spectacle that make “FANTASY” a must-see Las Vegas production.

Gigi’s Dance Journey Began At The Age Of 7

At the young age of 7, Gigi began learning ballet. She also studied piano, guitar, drawing, and painting, so dance was one of the many “artistic activities” she enjoyed as a child. It wasn’t until her late teens that she realized dance was something she wanted to do more.

“I was 18 when I heard about a family friend starting her professional dance training and it inspired me to get back to dance,” she told The 702 Vegas. “After six months in an intensive vocational school, I knew it was what I wanted to do.”

Thinking back to a specific memory that sticks out from those early days of dancing, Gigi shared, “When I was a kid, my ballet teacher was very old-school French, and she would hit us with a stick to correct our posture. I was terrified of her.”

Along her journey, dance has taught her a few big lessons.

“Persistence, healthy habits, and routine,” she said. “Dance careers can be short, so taking care of your instrument – your body – is essential. A career in show business also develops a mental resilience that is helpful in everyday life. You can encounter many challenges as a dancer; physically, emotionally, and financially. Learning how to keep pushing despite the ebbs and flows is one of the greatest lessons dance has offered me.”

Gigi Was In Several Shows Before ‘FANTASY’

Before joining the cast of “FANTASY,” Gigi had several other gigs.

“I worked in several cabarets, movies and TV shows in Paris, and toured the U.S., Canada, and Europe with various productions,” she said. “In Vegas, I was part of ‘Jubilee,’ ‘Tournaments of Kings’ and ’53X’ before joining ‘FANTASY.’”

Her first time on the “FANTASY” stage was a bit stressful for Gigi. She’s been part of the show for more than seven years now and “loves” the cast.

“I was incredibly stressed. I had auditioned four times and really wanted to be part of the show, so there was a lot of pressure to do a good job and impress our producer, Anita Mann,” Gigi shared. “I love my cast. It never feels like work; more like having fun with my friends. I also really appreciate that the show is updated so often with different choreographers. It keeps inspiring, stimulating, and challenging, even after seven-and-a-half years.”

Being A Professional Dancer In Las Vegas

Being a professional showgirl in Las Vegas means sometimes hearing “crazy things.”

“Due to the nature of the show, some audience members confuse us with strippers and do not always realize that there is a lot of training involved, topless or not,” she explained. “Another funny thing is that some people believe dancing is not a real job, but after seeing the show, they are very impressed and tell us, ‘You are really good, you should do this professionally.’”

Speaking of being a showgirl, Gigi said the term “showgirl” has “evolved a lot over the last few decades.”

“So the way we identify as showgirls might mean different things for different dancers. For me, the hardest part is the nostalgia,” she said. “Las Vegas doesn’t always support the art of being a showgirl like it used to. We don’t have many big lavish productions anymore, so it can be difficult to watch this part of the city’s culture slowly disappear. But classic showgirls have recently started to become popular again, and I hope it continues.”

When asked what she wishes people knew about being a showgirl, Gigi said, “It is more than lashes and feathers.”

“It takes years of training to know how to walk like a showgirl and how to dance while carrying backpacks and headpieces that can weight more than 20 pounds,” she shared. “There is a lot of technique and discipline involved, but as dancers, we trick the audience by making it look easy.”

Vegas Fun When Not On Stage

When Gigi isn’t on stage wowing the audience, she enjoys the live music and burlesque scenes in Sin City. She said, “Apart from the main productions on the Strip, we see a lot of very talented, creative and colorful performers who keep bringing fresh artistry to this town.”

As far as what her future holds, Gigi hopes to support and assist the next generations of dancers on their journeys as a mental health provider. She said her next career will be in psychotherapy.

“I’m especially passionate about working with performers and athletes, which are communities close to my heart,” she shared.