LOCKHART BROWNLIE is a Proud Australian at Heart

Bro-lesque has been popping up all over SoCal. Bringing glitz and glamour with artistry and hot boys, it is a call back to the classic burlesque shows with enough modern flair to making it unique in the market. Bro-lesque’s creator and front man Lockhart Brownlie is no stranger to stages.

Lockhart started training in dance at an early age when he would sit in the back of his sister’s dance classes. After being one of the most sought after choreographers in Australia, he would start his international career by working with Katy Perry on her two world tours, performing at Super Bowl Half Time, presidential campaign shows, films, and multiple televised award shows around the world. He also worked with Taylor Swift on her tour, collaborated with Britney Spears on her Domination Vegas residency, JLO’s tour, also in Wicked on Broadway, and has been featured on Glee, True Blood, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Minx on HBO, and Magic Mike Live for Britain’s Got Talent and more. He has also choreographed for many lifestyle brands, hair companies, and even collaborated with Sir Elton John for his Oscar nominated song I’m Gonna Love Me Again. Not bad for the new kid on the block.

Entertainment has always been a family affair and with his family’s support, he was able to get through a bout of being bullied.

I grew up in Tasmania, which is the separate island of Australia. It’s small, it’s small minded, and I was like one of the only guys dancing during my whole childhood. Especially when I kind of got into like doing ballet dancing and having to wear the tights and dancing around the girls with the tutus, it kind of switched into a whole other form of bullying because then it really turned into like, oh, you’re just the sissy, you’re the little ballerina boy. I’m not even sure sometimes how I kind of got through it because there were moments that I just didn’t want to leave the dance studio because there were kids outside harassing me. The kids were vicious. There was one time where there was a group of like kids circling on their bikes around the dance studio that I was in by myself. And I was terrified.

My mom and dad have been so supportive. Actually, my whole family, we’ve always done amateur musicals together, even my dad. He was like the last one still doing these amateur musicals and would walk up to work with eyeliner and mascara on and make a thing to say, oh yeah, I’m just, you know, performing in the local musical of Oliver or Hello, Dolly. I’ve always had that really supportive family, which honestly, I think was what got me through those awful years.

Taking part in amateur theatre would give him the tools of the industry, so when he was ready for his first professional gig, Wicked, he was more than ready. While most of his peers stayed with the show for a number of years, that being a pinnacle, Lockhart was ready for the next challenge, part of what makes him such a diverse performer. He left the comfort of working a long-lasting contract to head to LA.

I like to achieve. I like that sense of success and I’m always thinking about my next goal. I think that is what my addiction is, is kind of that like the chase, that excitement of the accolades or what it feels like to get people going, oh yeah, you did that. Okay, cool, well now what else can I do? I’m 33 and I’m already kind of chasing my next kind of dance journey that’s off the stage, you know? And that’s kind of where I’m now kind of aiming my goals at. And that gets me really excited.

While visiting Los Angeles, he happened to see a chance audition at the now defunct Debbie Reynolds  Dance Studios for McDonald Selznick Associates. Wanting to see if dance auditions in the US were like what was shown in the movies, he joined a line of hundreds of dancers and did his thing. He was one of 12 chosen to join the agency. From there, he had to make the choice – to become a Broadway NY dancer or an LA show dancer. He moved to LA where his quickly growing career would unfold. His first big gig? With none other than Katy Perry, with whom he would develop a long-lasting partnership.

That was a huge call of probably 300 to 400 of just boys though this time. They were looking for four guys for the European Music Awards. I booked the job and it was really surreal. That was obviously my first job working with an international pop star. We did the European Music Awards in Madrid, they built this separate stage in the city around this gorgeous monument. And it was a free concert for the city so there were maybe 30,000 people. It was the first time that you just felt that energy come over you. “Firework” was huge at the time, and we had a giant big firework show at the end, and it was just like, what is this life? And that’s when it kind of became real.

Working with Katy Perry would give Lockhart his best career memory to date.

I was with Katie’s California Dreams Tour, and we went to Australia and we were in Melbourne. All my family came and watched and doing “Firework” and being in Australia and knowing that your family’s there, and we did this one move where we put our hands up into the skylight like fireworks and I got so emotional, I was tearing up. I took the risk. I like left this contract in Melbourne. I went to America, was dealing with lawyers and visas and but I was living my dream, I got that dream job and to be back in Australia was incredible.

Between TV, awards shows, and stints with Taylor Swift and Britney, he was in constant demand. What is it about his talent that he thinks the industry responds so well too?

That’s a hard one. I think it’s all about timing, and I talk about that a lot now with my mentoring and teaching. Obviously, I’ve got all the training and the skillset behind me, but there is that little sense of timing that happened where I guess just in demand in the industry. I kept on going from job to job to job and that just doesn’t happen. I know who I am as a dancer and I know my talent, and I am fully confident walking into those audition rooms. I know what I’m going to present and serve.

Lockhart’s latest project Bro-lesque is a celebration of dance and also of the male form in staged, gay erotica. It’s not a stripper act, it’s not a go-go boy act. We know our community is under attack with an obsession of our sexuality and the content we are putting out three. Was Brownlie ever afraid of focusing branding on the gay side of that? It’s one thing being sexy on stage with JLo, it’s another to be in such a pointedly gay show.

Bro-lesque is a celebration of dance as an art form, including burlesque. It should be appreciated and celebrated regardless of the type of costume or the degree of revealing outfits. It’s important to note that there are straight versions of burlesque dance shows that often wear even less than my performers. The negative attention from conservatives is driven by their tendency to label anything they perceive as ‘left field’ and draw unwarranted criticism.

My mission for Bro-lesque was to create something that celebrates the male body while showcasing and highlighting queer dancers. It’s a unique blend where art meets sexuality. I envision Bro-lesque as a fusion of Magic Mike and Broadway Bares, where sensuality and creativity come together. The next step for us is to create a theatre show.

Always a proud Australian at heart, Lockhart is co-owner of The Tasmanian Dance Expo with Renee Ritchie, an organization very near his heart. He mentors dancers around the world and continues to share his message of owning yourself.

During this Pride season, my message to the LGBTQ community is simple: be your authentic self and let it shine bright. Embrace who you are with pride and confidence, knowing that your uniqueness is a beautiful gift. Remember to be kind to one another, for our community is built on love, acceptance, and support. Take the time to connect and get to know your community, as we are stronger together. And when the time is right, don’t be afraid to use your voice to make a change.